Scottish Government FOI Index

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

1,279 matching releases

Spend on external public relations (PR) and communications firms: FOI release

“The amount spent by the Scottish Government on using outside PR/communications firms in the last three years. Please break this down by year. Please include details of the firms used (including name), how much they were paid and projects they were hired to work on.”

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence spending 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-28
Reference: FOI/202200282462
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Breakdown of First Minister expenses and staffing costs: FOI release

The following information regarding Nicola Sturgeon’s expenses from The Scottish Government. 1. Please provide a full breakdown and details of office costs for years 2021-2022 and 2020-2021. This should include, staffing, postage and couriers, stationary and printing, shredding, software and applications, advertising a...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending s.3 s.17(1) s.25(1)

Published: 2022-03-16
Reference: FOI/202200278934
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Guidance on official communications: FOI release

Copies of any style guides or documents used to advise Scottish Government employees or ministers on how to write communications going out internally or to the public.

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-03-03
Reference: FOI/202100268306
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Breakdown of social media spend and influencer information: FOI release

1. How much money has the Scottish Government spent on social media influencers on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in 2017-2021? 2. Breakdown of what the money was spent on in each scenario, I.e how much each post cost, what person was paid, what platform it was published on? 3. Who were the social media influencers th...

FOI not held 40 score 20 working days correspondence contracts spending

Published: 2022-03-02
Reference: FOI/202200275797
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Scottish Budget

Public Relations outsourcing and press office staff: FOI release

"I would appreciate responses to these requests to be broken down by year and cover the period between the 2015-16 financial year. 1) How many times has the Scottish Government engaged the services of an outside public relations or communications firm? I would appreciate if this could be broken down by year as well as ...

FOI clarification 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.25(1) s.12

Published: 2022-03-01
Reference: FOI/202200273223
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Breakdown of marketing spend on Covid-19 public information campaigns: FOI release

“Costs to the Scottish taxpayer of the daily briefings and the information campaign alerting the public to the dangers of Covid.”

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence briefings spending

Published: 2022-02-23
Reference: FOI/202200276186
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Scottish Government communication staff: FOI release

1. The number of communications staff. 2. A breakdown of these staff by job description and/or job title (e.g. number of press officers, heads of press office, directors of communications, social media staff, etc) and for each, their salary bands. 3. If available or applicable, please provide a breakdown of the above d...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence s.3

Published: 2022-02-16
Reference: FOI/202200269219
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Communications with Lorna Slater MSP regarding workload and duties during COP26: FOI release

Please provide any communications between minister Lorna Slater and officials in October/November where Ms Slater raises: The scope and nature of her workload/duties; The number of engagements she will have to undertake per day; Her preferences about any limits of numbers of engagements carried out during COP26;

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-16
Reference: FOI/202100262420
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

First Minister overseas travel: FOI release

Was the first minister on holiday abroad anytime from December 1st 2021 to January 7th 2022. If so what were her travel plans?

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-02-15
Reference: FOI/202200271194
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector

Scottish Government Press Office correspondence regarding UNCRC: FOI release

Copies of any correspondence (emails, texts, letters or otherwise) that took place within the Scottish Government Press Office, where the UK Supreme Court decision on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill was discussed.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence s.30 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-14
Reference: FOI/202100257532
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Children and families, Public sector

Creative agencies used by Scottish Government: FOI Review

1. Please list the creative services agencies used by the government during 2021. 2. A list of all appointments made under each agreement during 2021 - detailing the creative services agency used, campaign name, the lead artist / provider and agreed fee. The following questions relate solely to the creative service age...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts s.3 s.25(1) s.17(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100257826 Review of 202100248294
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Total cost of First Minister Christmas cards: FOI release

I would like to know using FOI act how much this Xmas card cost to design and print to the Scottish taxpayers.

FOI unclear 50 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100266101
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Media campaign fronted by Janey Godley: FOI Review

With reference to the recent media campaign fronted by Janey Godley (JG), I am seeking the following information: (1) Who initially proposed JG to front the campaign? (2) All internal communications proposing and discussing the proposal for JG to front the campaign. (3) All communications with the creative services age...

FOI not held 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.7 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-02-09
Reference: FOI/202100257829 Review of 202100248293
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Prevalence and development of health campaigns which use acronyms: FOI release

Information relating to the prevalence and development of health campaigns that use acronyms such as FACTS and FAST with a specific focus on the following: 1. Why was an acronym chosen over a slogan for the FACTS campaign? 2. How much did the Scottish Government dedicate to FAST (Stroke campaign) or was it solely the W...

FOI unclear 50 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence

Published: 2022-02-07
Reference: FOI/202100265342
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Total spend on radio advertising in Grampian area: FOI release

The spend by all Departments of Scottish Government on radio advertising in the Grampian area regarding any topics that are directly or indirectly related to COVID-19 and variants between the dates of June 1st 2021 and December 14th 2021 inclusive, broken down by week number.

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending

Published: 2022-02-04
Reference: FOI/202100264035
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Letter sent to Scottish households on accessing Scottish Health system: FOI release

1. How many copies of this literature have been sent to households up until the date of the receipt of this request? 2. Do you plan to distribute any further copies of this literature to households, as of the receipt of this letter? 3. Please advise the total expenditure in sending this literature to the households tha...

FOI not held 45 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2022-02-03
Reference: FOI/202100263405
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Communication and costs of work with Stripe Agency: FOI release

1. Copies of communications between the Scottish Government and the Agency called ‘Stripe’ in the last 12 months. 2. Details of the costs to the Scottish Government relating to the work carried out by Stripe for St Andrew’s Day. 3. Any other costs to the Scottish Government relating to Stripe in the last 12 months.

FOI cost limit 45 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.2 s.12

Published: 2022-02-01
Reference: FOI/202100259036
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Money and tax, Public sector

Information regarding complaint made by Alex Salmond: FOI review

I previously sent an FOI regarding an allegation that the name of a complainer had been revealed to Mr Geoff Aberdein by a senior Scottish Government official. A complaint had been made about this by Mr Alex Salmond, and I asked a series of questions regarding this. It is only recently that I have been made aware throu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence s.21(4) s.1 s.2 s.26 s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) s.6 4 attachments

Published: 2022-01-31
Reference: FOI/202100254262 review of 202100244471
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Law and order, Public sector

Breakdown of alcohol spending for Bute House: FOI release

I would like to access the following information collected in each of the past 5 financial years. 1. How many bottles of wine have been bought by the Scottish Government, or by external companies on behalf of the Scottish Government as part of a contract for BUTE HOUSE. For each financial year please outline the total ...

FOI not held 45 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence contracts spending s.1 s.17(1)

Published: 2022-01-27
Reference: FOI/202100257157
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Meetings attended by First Minister week commencing 18 October 2021: FOI release

For the week beginning October 18, 2021, for any meeting attended by the First Minister, the location, topic, attendees, time and date, alongside all minutes, notes, agendas, memos, handouts, linked to each meeting.

FOI withheld 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-01-27
Reference: FOI/202100255927
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Media advertising expenditure on COVID-19 and vaccination advice: FOI release

"The amount of expenditure that the Scottish Government has spent during the pandemic on media advertising, be that television, radio, printed press including postal leaflets and online to advise the public about Covid 19 and vaccinations.”

FOI released 75 score 18 working days correspondence spending s.20

Published: 2022-01-20
Reference: FOI/202100258267
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

First Minister official meetings on 2 November 2021: FOI release

Email traffic between the First Minister's staff and: The staff of the Prime Minister of Belgium, regarding their meeting on the 2nd of November The staff of EIB president Werner Hoyer, regarding their meeting on the 2nd of November Associates of Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate, regarding their meeting on the 1st of...

FOI unclear 80 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings s.17(1) 4 attachments

Published: 2022-01-18
Reference: FOI/202100252780
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

Information regarding Scottish Government intranet page: FOI review

Your request, reference 202100244010 I am looking for some information about the Scottish Government’s intranet page. Can you release information about who can access to the intranet? Are you able to say how many people in total? Can you release the questions asked and results of any and all polls on the Intranet betwe...

FOI already published 80 score 12 working days correspondence s.21(4) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.39(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-01-13
Reference: FOI/202100254583 review of 202100244010
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector, Work and skills

All events held in Bute House in the last five years: FOI release

A list of all events held in Bute House, hosted by a Scottish Government Minister (including the First Minister) in each of the past 5 financial years, including the current financial year to date. Please include the number of guests invited and the total itemised cost of the event.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2022-01-05
Reference: FOI/202100257159
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Guidance on display flags on official cars overseas: FOI release

The protocol / guidance used for displaying flags on official cars used by the First Minister on her visits to foreign countries.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers

Published: 2022-01-05
Reference: FOI/202100253807
Directorate: Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic: International, Public sector