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
1,279 matching releases

Breakdown of Scottish Government advertising spending costs: FOI release

How much was spent by the Scottish Government on advertising in 2018/19, 2019/20, 2020/21, and how much has been spent this year to date (2021/22) on advertising. Please include a breakdown of ALL costs including: 1. Cost of television advertising 2. Cost of radio advertising 3. Cost of newspaper advertising 4. Cost of...

FOI withheld 55 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.27(1)O
Published
2021-10-06
Reference
FOI/202100231696
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

List of Scottish Government special advisers 2021: FOI release

A list of Scottish Government special advisers as of March 24, 2021 and their area of expertise as well as for a list of Scottish Government special advisers as of August 5, 2021, and their area of expertise.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers s.25(1)
Published
2021-09-29
Reference
FOI/202100235832
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 advertising: FOI release

1) A list of all media outlets, including but not restricted to, newspapers, TV stations, radio stations, & the internet, who have received payments from the Scottish Government or its agents for advertisements regarding all information concerning the current pandemic, the restrictions, and vaccines. 2) A detailed bre...

FOI withheld 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts spending s.2 s.33 s.33(1)
Published
2021-09-15
Reference
FOI/202100225513
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

COVID-19 cost of targeted advertisement: FOI release

1. The amount of money spent by the Scottish Government on advertising campaigns encouraging the public to accept a Covid-19 vaccine when offered it, from December 2020 to the date of this request. 2. Breakdown by month and medium (eg TV, Google, Facebook, Twitter, radio, print). 3. Breakdown by spend per targeted camp...

FOI partially withheld 65 score 18 working days correspondence contracts spending s.33 s.33(1)
Published
2021-09-10
Reference
FOI/202100226589
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Transcript of interview between journalist and Education Secretary: FOI release

You asked for a transcript of the interview between the P&J and Education Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville.

FOI unclear 75 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence 2 attachments
Published
2021-09-06
Reference
FOI/202100224700
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Education, Public sector

Communication between Kenny MacAskill MP and Neale Hanvey MP: FOI release

Any email/whatsapp communications or meetings between Kenny MacAskill MP and Neale Hanvey MP and Scottish Government Ministers from Feburary 27th 2021 to March 28th 2021.

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings whatsapp s.38 s.38(1)
Published
2021-08-26
Reference
FOI/202100224533
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Consultation data on Citizen Space: FOI release

For a research project, we have analysed the case of "We asked, You said, We did" of the Scottish Government. Is it possible to have some statistics for the period from 2015 to 2020. In particular: 1) the n. of consultations closed per each year. 2) the n. of the published responses per each consultation per each yea...

FOI unclear 50 score 33 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2021-08-24
Reference
FOI/202100223045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Publication of information in the media about civil servants: FOI release

Any policy or guidance you have on how the Scottish Government deals with the publication of information in the media about civil servants”. You noted a particular interest in “understanding the approach to the media seeking to publish damaging information about junior civil servants i.e. non-senior civil service grade...

FOI unclear 50 score 19 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2021-08-10
Reference
FOI/202100218105
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Senior staff executive team question and answer session: FOI release

It is my understanding that the Scottish Government senior staff executive team carries out Q&A sessions with other government staff and there have been three of these since last July. Can I please have a transcript of all questions and answers for each session from July 2020 to date? If that involves too much work, co...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence s.38(1) 8 attachments
Published
2021-07-26
Reference
FOI/202100218490
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Communications regarding Freedom of Information request: FOI release

Any correspondence (emails, letters, phone calls, handwritten notes or any other documents) regarding an FOI request that sent on the 5th of May 2021 (reference number 202100199466). I would ask for correspondence between the lead official and/or Scottish Government ministers and/or the SG FOI Unit and/or special advis...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-07-26
Reference
FOI/202100217275
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Full-time equivalent media officers: FOI release

Please provide the number of FTE media officers employed by the Scottish government in the financial years 2020/21, 2019/20, 2018/19, 2017/18, and 2016/17. Please also provide the budget for the Scottish government's media relations department in each of those years.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence spending
Published
2021-07-19
Reference
FOI/202100215223
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Custom audience feature used in Facebook advertising campaigns: FOI release

If any Scottish Government advertising campaigns have made use of Facebook's custom audiences feature in order to target advertising and what data was uploaded to Facebook to create the audience?

FOI unclear 50 score 9 working days correspondence
Published
2021-07-12
Reference
FOI/202100217339
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Duration of social media Covid-19 advertisement campaigns: FOI release

Further to FOI/202100195521 on social media spending, information relating to the precise timings that each of these ads was purchased for; to clarify that it's when the ad was first purchased and paid for, and the duration for which the ad was supposed to run for on the respective social media network.

FOI released 70 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending
Published
2021-06-29
Reference
FOI/202100207265
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Covid-19 breakdown of media expenditure: FOI release

1. How much has the SNP spent on media for covid 19 everyday? 2. How much is the budget? 3. Have the SNP used money that could have fed homeless and poorer families just to talk about a virus with a 99.9% survival rate?

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-11
Reference
FOI/202100199714
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Money and tax, Public sector

Scottish Governments annual spend on fair trade goods: FOI release

Data on the Scottish Government‘s total annual spend on fair trade goods, including items purchased for resale, for the financial year 19/20. You asked for the data to be broken down by: Vendor name Whether they were contracted/non-contracted Description of item(s) purchased Total value per order

FOI unclear 75 score 10 working days correspondence contracts spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-06-03
Reference
FOI/202100199142
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence relating to former Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Economy and Fair Work: FOI release

Please provide all Scottish Government correspondence (internal or external) related to Derek Mackay MSP for the one-month period from Monday, February 3, 2020 to Tuesday, March 3, 2020. This would include correspondence involving ministers, MSPs and civil servants.

FOI cost limit 70 score 29 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers spending s.38(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2021-06-02
Reference
FOI/202100190045
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Bute House refurbishment costs: FOI release

"Given recent media coverage on Downing Street spending, over last 14 years how much has been spent by SNP Government on refurbishments of Bute House? What were sources of that financing and was that in excess of the annual public budget? If so where did that funding come from?"

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-01
Reference
FOI/202100197363
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

First Minister Bute House maintenance allowance: FOI release

Does the First Minister of Scotland receive an allowance for costs associated with maintaining and furnishing her official residence – Bute House? If yes: How much is that allowance? And is it an annual payment? Please can I receive a breakdown of what has been spent from that budget, from November 20th 2014 to the pr...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending
Published
2021-06-01
Reference
FOI/202100198297
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building, planning and design, Public sector

Breakdown of Government Car Service (GCS): FOI release

1. Details of The Government Car Service in Scotland (GCS) from April 2017 to April 2021 showing a breakdown of when this service has been used to transport documents to people/addresses. I am looking for a breakdown showing the date of each GCS car trip, where each document was dropped off to and who the document was ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-24
Reference
FOI/202100184349
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Correspondence relating to the draft Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

Copies of correspondence (emails, letters, handwritten notes and/or otherwise) to Mike Russell and/or Nicola Sturgeon from members of the public with any reference to the draft independence referendum bill published 22 March.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence s.38 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-21
Reference
FOI/202100186133
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Government practice around disposal of confidential waste: FOI release

You asked for information on various aspects of the Scottish Government's arrangements for dealing with confidential waste. 1. Has confidential waste been procured via tender or framework or another means? 2. If a framework, could you confirm the name of the framework please? 3. Actual contract values of each framework...

FOI unclear 55 score 5 working days correspondence contracts spending s.3 s.5
Published
2021-05-21
Reference
FOI/202100201930
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Money and tax, Public sector

Annual road vehicle procurement: FOI release

All information held by the Scottish Government from 2016 onward which shows the number of road vehicles procured annually by the Scottish Government and by NDPBs, or as great a subset of the total as is held centrally, broken down by year, by fuel (petrol, diesel, electric) and where possible by agency or body.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence contracts s.17(1)
Published
2021-05-20
Reference
FOI/202100184977
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Transport

Renovations or decorating work at Bute House: FOI release

1) Between May 2007 and November 2014 inclusive, how much money was spent by the Scottish Government on renovations or decorating work at Bute House? 2) Between December 2015 to date, how much money was spent by the Scottish Government on renovations or decorating work at Bute House?

FOI not held 65 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending 2 attachments
Published
2021-05-10
Reference
FOI/202100171833
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Building, planning and design, Money and tax, Public sector

Decisions on unacceptable actions: FOI release

1. Has the Scottish Government procedure on making someone subject to an unacceptable actions decision been considered by independent counsel in order to ensure that there can be no reasonable perception that there might be bias, or that the process is incompatible with Article 6 and Article 10 of the Human Rights Act....

FOI unclear 55 score 6 working days correspondence s.5
Published
2021-05-07
Reference
FOI/202100185878
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills