Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,864releases indexed
39,478attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,113partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 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

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

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
7,795 matching releases

Former Minister for Mental Health's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request 202400426487 MSP Claire Haughey What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400430870 Review of 202400426487
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Shona Robison's Covid 19 WhatsApp messages: FOI Review

Original request 202400427831 MSP Shona Robison's What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI202400430842 Review of 202400427831
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Director General Scottish Exchequer WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

“Alyson Stafford Director-General Scottish Exchequer What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400427872
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021: FOI release

1. Requesting Clare Haughey's WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438990
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request: 202400435281 You asked for Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 78 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436608 Review of 202400435281
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

HMP Glasgow information: FOI release

1. The first draft of the letter the Cabinet Secretary for Justice & Home Affairs sent to the Criminal Justice Committee on 5 February 2025 regarding an update on the proposed HMP Glasgow and all subsequent edits, amendments and comments suggested by officials, special advisers and ministers before the final version wa...

FOI cost limit 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.30 s.33(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.12 s.33 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
FOI/202500451844
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Strath Oykel Wind Farm correspondence: EIR release

All internal correspondence between the ECU and the Scottish Ministers regarding the Strath Oykel Wind Farm (WIN-270-18 (Section 36 Wind Farm)).

FOI/EIR already published 80 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.36 s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.10(4) s.6(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
EIR/202500451979
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Public sector

First Minister phone call with Taoiseach documentation: FOI release

All documentation held surrounding John Swinney's phone call with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, on February 4, including email correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the call and briefings relating to it.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
FOI/202500452337
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care's use of ministerial cars: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about Neil Gray's use of ministerial cars, including correspondence sent to and by the government, including internal correspondence, minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, between January 6 2024 and the date of this FOI, that being 5th February.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.29 s.30 s.39(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500451287
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Public sector

National newspaper spend: FOI release

1. The total value of news subscriptions paid for the National newspaper by the Scottish Government in 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 so far. Where possible, please breakdown these payments by the directorate responsible for paying these subscriptions too. 2. Of the media monitoring services the Scottish Government pays...

FOI unclear 50 score 11 working days correspondence ministers contracts spending
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500452859
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Strict climate change test specifications: EIR release

Appearing on the BBC Question Time programme on 6th February 2024, the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, said the Scottish Government’s position is that new oil & gas licences in the North Sea should only be granted if they are compatible with a strict climate change test. Please provide the specifications of the st...

FOI/EIR partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence ministers s.20 s.39(2)
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
EIR/202500451996
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Summit of health and social care leaders information: FOI release

With regard to the summit of health and social care leaders held at Bute House on Monday, 3 February 2025, chaired by the First Minister, I request: 1. Any minutes, notes, or official records taken during the meeting, including direct or paraphrased comments made by the First Minister, particularly any reference to ha...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings whatsapp s.5 s.25(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.38 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500452061
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

Justice budget information: FOI release

1. Total money in the 2023 and the 2024 budget allocated to Justice, please provide details of what money was allocated to Justice 2. Total money allocated to Legal Aid in the year 2023 and 2024 3. Breakdown of money allocated to criminal legal service and civil legal services and any other breakdown that is relevant...

FOI not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings spending s.15 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.29 s.30 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500451976
Directorate
Safer Communities Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scotia Gas Networks (SGN) correspondence regarding the First Minister's visit to the H100 project: FOI release

Any correspondence between SGN and Scottish Government officials and meetings in the lead up to John Swinney's visit to the H100 project on 04/02/2025. This should include emails, text messages, whatsapps, letters and minutes of any meetings.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 s.39(1) 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500451356
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Public sector

Closure of the Queensferry Crossing documentation: EIR release

All documentation held by Transport Scotland, including correspondence sent/received and internally, briefings, analysis, minutes/notes from meetings, about the Queensferry Crossing shutting due to ice, between November 15 2024 and the date of this FOI.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.20 s.39(2) s.11(2) s.34(1) s.10(4) s.6(1) 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
EIR/202500451602
Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Road maintenance funding formula: EIR release

Road Maintenance funding formula Please share any documentation, communications/emails or meetings where the multiplication of road length by number of roads was discussed. This includes but is not limited to Ministerial meetings/comms. I'm particularly interested any consideration around why the formula assumes a sin...

FOI/EIR unclear 75 score 63 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings 8 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
EIR/202500449587
Directorate
Local Government and Housing Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector, Transport

Standard security arrangement queries: FOI release

Information regarding standard security arrangements by Scottish Ministers and James Callander and Son ltd (SCO 24779). Documentation on floating charge contained in charge SC02 4779 0019 created 28 April 2016 and registered companies house 18 May 2016. What was the Scottish Ministers involvement with this private com...

FOI unclear 80 score 15 working days correspondence ministers spending s.75 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500451884
Directorate
Topic
Farming and rural, Public sector

Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle: FOI release

Correspondence held by the Scottish Government, including all sent/received and internal, briefing notes, minutes/notes from meetings, about the Eid Mubarak celebration at Edinburgh Castle, funded by the government, between April 1 and May 1 2024.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 120 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.32(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202400432000
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Access to Information Rights in Scotland: FOI release

You set your request in context by referencing the Scottish Government’s response to the Access to Information Rights in Scotland consultation: Access to Information Rights in Scotland Response to analysis of consultation responses published in November 2023, noting the following commitments made by the Scottish Govern...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.4 s.6 s.17(1) s.38(1) s.36(1) s.29(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500450915
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Iterative Plan Review (IPR) process relating to the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy: EIR release

According to this answer to a written question asked in the Scottish Parliament... https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers/question?ref=S6W-12268 ... the final programme for the Iterative Plan Review (IPR) process relating to the Sectoral Marine Plan for Offshore Wind Energy (SMP-OWE)...

FOI/EIR unclear 50 score 17 working days correspondence ministers contracts
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
EIR/202500451991
Directorate
Offshore Wind Directorate
Topic
Energy, Public sector

Legal aid and payment queries: FOI release

In relation to legal aid and payments over the years - Could you please provide per year, the amount of money paid to the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service and the amount paid to the legal aid fund. I'd like this split into the previous First Ministers and if you could state who the Justice Minister and Financ...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500451283
Directorate
Justice Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions: FOI release

All briefing materials provided to Ministers for appearances at Scottish Parliament portfolio questions sessions on 5 February 2025. I mean to refer to briefing materials compiled or given at any time in the current Scottish Parliamentary term, but to narrow down these materials to just those provided for Portfolio Que...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.33(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-18
Reference
FOI/202500451876
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector