Scottish Government FOI Index

21,863releases indexed

39,476attachments found

29.7avg calendar days

8,112partially withheld

2016-06-13oldest in sample

2026-05-20newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,112 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263 2025-10 217

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days

Clear

1,032 matching releases

Proposed South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan: EIR release

Any advice given to Ministers on rejection of the Proposed South East Scotland Strategic Development Plan (SDP) between 20th July 2018 and 19th May 2019.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) s.20 6 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: 202200298249
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Permitted Development Rights review - phase 3: consultation: EIR release

Information relating to section 6.2 of the public consultation on Phase 3 of the Scottish Government’s review of permitted development rights. As the information you have requested is 'environmental information' for the purposes of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 (EIRs), we are required to de...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence meetings s.6 s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(5) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-12
Reference: 202300364088
Directorate: Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic: Public sector

First Minister's advice and statement regarding handling of harassment: FOI release

The Scottish Government’s review of Alex Salmond’s submission to the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints Committee where he identified 46 documents that were inappropriately withheld during the civil and criminal cases that had subsequently been passed to the Committee by the Scottish Government. The ...

FOI withheld 80 score 536 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.26 s.25(1) s.30 s.35(1) s.36(1) s.38(1) s.35(2) s.34(1) 14 attachments

Published: 2023-12-11
Reference: 202100170091
Directorate: Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic: Public sector

BBC Scotland 'Disclosure': FOI release

Details of any meetings between the First Minister OR Cabinet Secretaries OR any Ministers with responsibility for sexual health AND any persons or organisations (including third party representatives) wishing to discuss so-called “buffer zones” around sexual health clinics and any other facilities where abortions are ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-11
Reference: 202200301765
Directorate: Population Health Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Independence Referendum Bill Supreme Court Correspondence: FOI release

Any correspondence between special advisers, senior civil servants within either the constitution or legal directorate, and ministers within the Scottish Government and SNP party officials around the Supreme Court reference of the independence referendum bill. This should cover the calendar year of 2022 and exclude MSP...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers meetings s.25(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-08
Reference: 202200332044
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Guidance on non-departmental bodies, advisory bodies, working groups, and commissions: FOI release

Any Scottish Government documents that offer guidance in setting up: non-departmental public bodies working groups commissions any bodies that contain members paid to advise the Scottish Government

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-08
Reference: 202200330276
Directorate: Public Service Reform Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Correspondence regarding Deputy First Minister statement on COVID-19 Inquiry: FOI release

All correspondence, briefings, question and answer preparation and notes provided to Shona Robinson in preparation for the ministerial statement on October 31 2023 entitled: Covid-19 Inquiries (Scottish Government's provision of information).

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2023-12-07
Reference: FOI/202300383809
Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Background information on S6W-11314: FOI release

Please provide all internal memos, advice, procedural notes and other communications prepared in response to question S6W-11314, asked by Gordon MacDonald on 30 September and answered by George Adam on 3 October.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 11 working days correspondence s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-07
Reference: 202200323491
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Communications between the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information team and Michael Matheson: FOI release

Copies of communications between the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information team and Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport. Please include communications with his office and his Special Advisers, and restrict the search the dates between 4th April 2022 and 15th November 2022

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-12-07
Reference: 202200330329
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Lord Advocate statement to Parliament on her referral to the Supreme Court on the matter of an Independence Bill being within the competence of the Scottish Parliament: FOI release

Please provide all correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate from June 2022 in relation to requests for the Lord Advocate to provide a statement to Parliament on her referral to the Supreme Court on the matter of an independence Bill being within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.30 4 attachments

Published: 2023-11-30
Reference: 202200309710
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Lady Haldane's opinion on the petition for Women Scotland LTD for judicial review: FOI release

Are you able to release any external or internal legal advice to Ministers following Lady Haldane's opinion on the petition of For Women Scotland Ltd for judicial review of the revised statutory guidance produced by the Scottish Ministers under section 7 of the Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act 2018...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 62 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.7 s.38(1) s.36(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-30
Reference: 202300337958
Directorate: Equality, Inclusion and Human Rights Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Children's health and wellbeing census: FOI release

You asked for correspondence between the Scottish government and Councils on the census matter between those December 2021 and 24 March 2022. You asked for an unredacted copy of Annex A of FOI 202100260600 https://www.gov.scot/publications/foi-202100260600/ as the response to this FOI had been heavily redacted. The S30...

FOI cost limit 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts spending s.12 s.30 s.33(1) s.36(1) s.38(1) s.38 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-28
Reference: 202200299353
Directorate: Learning Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Staff mental health: FOI release

How many mental health breaks/requests have (a) Scottish Government directorates and (b) Scottish Government executive non departmental public bodies (NDPBs) received in each of the last five years. Please break this information down by year and by directorate/ NDPB. How many internal grievance cases are currently live...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.12 s.38(1) s.15 s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-28
Reference: 202300358887
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal advice on independence referendum: FOI release

The amount spent on legal advice regarding the Scottish Government’s prospectus for an independent Scotland between 07 September 2021 and the date of response to this inquiry? Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, brief...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-27
Reference: 202200287065
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Employment settlement considerations: FOI release

Please provide a breakdown, by year, of how many employment settlements the government has had to consider since 2017. By employment settlement, I am referring to what is described as a "potential settlement" or "potential settlement payment", or "potential settlement of claim" or substantively similar wording as discl...

FOI not held 45 score 75 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.6 s.17(1)

Published: 2023-11-24
Reference: 202200332042
Directorate: People Directorate
Topic: Public sector

External legal advice: FOI release

Request for Information 1: The total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice since April 1, 2020. (I.e. 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 to date). Request for Information 2: Please break this down by the list of associated cases or disputes, and their individual cost. Request for Informa...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2023-11-21
Reference: 202200332507
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Allocation and use of the Debt Levy within the Scottish Government: FOI release

The total debt levy allocation to Scotland as a sum of money in 2022/23 and 2023/24. The organisations in Scotland that have been allocated debt levy funding for 2023/24 with a breakdown of the respective awards of funding to each organisation. The Scottish Minister who approved this allocation of funding, the timeline...

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers meetings

Published: 2023-11-21
Reference: 202300345542
Directorate: Tackling Child Poverty and Social Justice Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Sea lice sampling data for 2021/22: EIR release

Marine Scotland Science fund local fisheries trusts to conduct sea lice sampling of sea trout. The results to 2019 have been published on a spreadsheet available on the Scottish Government website. Results after 2019 are published by Fisheries Management Scotland on their website but as a PDF. Requests to FMS for a co...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence s.20 s.39(2) s.6(1) s.9 s.10(5) s.21 4 attachments

Published: 2023-11-21
Reference: 202300337272
Directorate: Marine Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Information relating to the organisation's total spend on external legal advice since 1 April 2020: FOI release

The total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice since April 1, 2020. (I.e. 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 to date) Please break this down by the list of associated cases or disputes, and their individual cost. If possible, please provide the final settlement or damages or other court man...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 10 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) s.34(1)

Published: 2023-11-20
Reference: 202200332491
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

SQA equalities judgement: FOI release

Any correspondence relating to the SQA equalities judgement.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 428 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.25 s.30 s.30C s.23 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-13
Reference: 202100246964
Directorate: Education Reform Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Letter referenced by John Swinney in Stage 3 debate on UNCRC Bill: FOI release

Internal or external correspondence between 04/03/2021 and 04/06/2021 on the topic of the letter referenced by John Swinney MSP in the Official Report from the Stage 3 debate on the UNCRC (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 81 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings s.29(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-10
Reference: 202200280656
Directorate: Children and Families Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Ferguson Marine spending since Scottish Government takeover: FOI release

How much the Scottish Government has spent in the Ferguson Marine yard since the Scottish Government took it over.

FOI released 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending

Published: 2023-11-10
Reference: 202300339354
Directorate: Economic Development Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Failing A75 30mph street speed controls within Springholm: EIR release

Transport Scotland to provide us with the information requested below within the statutory time limit. We wish to know on what date Transport Scotland or its relevant road maintenance contractor became aware that the inbound speed activated halt signals located at Springholm west were failing to respond to approaching...

FOI/EIR clarification 55 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence meetings contracts s.20 s.39(2) s.21 s.8 s.28

Published: 2023-11-10
Reference: 202200295416
Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal advice provided regarding independence referendum: FOI release

Please provide me with the legislative advice and reference provided to the Scottish Government and First Minister relating to the proposed Independence Referendum as referred to by the Information Commissioner in recent media.

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-10
Reference: 202200299367
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice: FOI release

1. The total spend, broken down by financial or calendar year, on external legal advice since April 1, 2020. (i.e. 2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23 to date) a) Please break this down by the list of associated cases or disputes, and their individual cost. b) If possible, please provide the final settlement or damages or othe...

FOI cost limit 45 score 32 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.12 s.20 s.26 s.21 s.33(1)

Published: 2023-11-09
Reference: 202200332510
Directorate
Topic: Public sector