Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

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
541 matching releases

Former First Minister correspondence in 2017: FOI release

-All correspondence between the Scottish Government and Alex Salmond in 2017. Please provide all emails, documents, written letters/notes, texts and Whatsapp messages exchanged between Mr Salmond and Scottish Government ministers and officials. This should include any private email accounts - for example, linked to the...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-28
Reference
FOI/202000077960
Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence relating to visit by Prime Minister July 2020: FOI release

Copies of any correspondence (whatsapp messages, texts, minutes of phone calls, emails, memos, briefings and/or otherwise) between civil servants, Special Advisors and/or the Scottish Government Cabinet regarding Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland on 23 July 2020.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.30 6 attachments
Published
2020-09-15
Reference
FOI/202000065514
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Affordable homes: FOI release

From 3 April 2020 to present: Copies of any internal correspondence (emails, text messages, WhatsApp messages, minutes of calls, hand-written notes, briefings and/or otherwise) between Kevin Stewart and civil servants and/or Special Advisors regarding restarting the 50,000 affordable homes target that was paused by Kev...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-09
Reference
FOI/202000063851
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Housing, Public sector

1,140 hours of funded Early Learning and Childcare provision: FOI release

Any internal Scottish Government correspondence (including emails, letters, text/ Whatsapp messages, typed or hand-written notes, or briefing material) regarding the statutory entitlement to 1,140 hours of funded ELC. I would like this information from 10 June until 08 July.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings whatsapp s.25(1) 8 attachments
Published
2020-09-01
Reference
FOI/202000059199
Directorate
Early Learning and Childcare Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Money and tax, Public sector

£10 billion COVID-19 support for Scotland from UK Government: FOI release

information related the attached article: https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/uk-government-has-spent-more-than-10bn-inscotland-during-crisis-tories-say/ • Any internal emails, or any other form of correspondence including whatsapp messages, texts, phone calls and meetings in which the figures in the attache...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence briefings meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-08-19
Reference
FOI/202000054046
Directorate
Chief Economist Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Documentation relating to FOI 201900009513 & subsequent review : FOI release

Written information held by the Scottish Government relating to FOI 201900009513. All case handling files regarding FOI 201900009513 (both the initial response and the subsequent review) All communication, internal and external, regarding FOI 201900009513 (both the initial response and the subsequent review) Any other...

FOI already published 80 score 17 working days correspondence meetings whatsapp s.30 s.38(1) s.25 2 attachments
Published
2020-08-04
Reference
FOI/202000049606
Directorate
Chief Medical Officer Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Impact of COVID-19 on the Government pursuing indyref2: FOI release

From 1 March 2020 to present: Copies and full details of any correspondence (email, letter, internal briefing, note, note/record of phone calls, whatsapp, text or otherwise) received and between members of the Scottish Government Cabinet from civil servants and special advisors regarding the impact of COVID-19 on the G...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings whatsapp s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2020-06-30
Reference
FOI/202000040731
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Internal communication channels of specific SG directorates: FOI release

You asked for: “Details of all internal communication channels used within the following government directorates / bodies. Please provide the name of the platform and the time for which it has been in use: Constitution and Cabinet Directorate Communications, Ministerial Support and Facilities Directorate Marine Scotl...

FOI not held 40 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp
Published
2019-10-04
Reference
FOI/19/02075
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Ministers and Special advisers internal communication channels: FOI release

Details of all internal communication channels used by Scottish government ministers and special advisers Please provide the name of the platform and the time for which it has been in use This includes, but is not limited to, services such as text messaging, email, Slack channels and Whatsapp chats

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp
Published
2019-09-30
Reference
FOI/201900003700
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Gender Recognition Act (GRA) communications in last 12 months: FOI release

(a) all correspondence received by Nicola Sturgeon regarding the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) in the last 12 months; and (b) all correspondence sent by Nicola Sturgeon regarding the Gender Recognition Act (GRA) in the last 12 months. Your request advises that this should include (but not be limited to) all emails, lett...

FOI not held 70 score 35 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.38(1) s.30 s.5 s.7 s.25(1) 2 attachments
Published
2019-07-04
Reference
FOI/201900001577
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Kelp harvesting - Scottish Seaweed Association, Chemical Industries Association correspondence: EIR release

You asked for the Scottish Government to provide any correspondence held from the following bodies that relates to the commercial use of kelp. Firstly, I am interested in any briefings documents, presentations, reports, emails, text, WhatsApp or other electronic messages, or paper letters. 1. The Scottish Seaweed Assoc...

FOI/EIR not held 70 score 132 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings contracts whatsapp s.1 s.20 s.39(2) s.10(4) s.10(5) 2 attachments
Published
2019-04-02
Reference
FOI/18/03512
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Social media campaign instructions to media agencies: FOI release

A list of target audience briefings (including all instructions) given by the Scottish Government to media buying agencies for the purposes of running social media campaigns over the past two years (up to today's date). Including a break down by campaign and include all available information and the agency involved.

FOI unclear 50 score correspondence briefings contracts whatsapp
Published
2018-07-10
Reference
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Education, Energy, +3 more … Environment and climate change, Health and social care, Public sector

Senior Civil Servants' mobile devices and apps: FOI release

You asked for: How many mobile devices have been issued to Scottish Government ministers and senior civil servants, at Senior Civil Service (SCS) Grade 2 and above and are currently in regular use? Please provide a list of all the apps installed on these Scottish Government issued mobile phones identified above, along...

FOI released 75 score correspondence ministers whatsapp s.17(1)
Published
2017-11-16
Reference
Directorate
Digital Directorate
Topic
Public sector