Scottish Government FOI releases

State pension and benefit payment responsibilities: FOI release

1. The source content and date of the secret cabinet briefing paper from John Swinney Finance Secretary (at the time) that was subsequently leaked. 2. Since 1 January 2012, any briefing papers, communications etc that clarified or otherwise that Scotland, if independent, would be responsible for the payment of pensions...

Correspondence regarding preparation of prospectus for an independent Scotland: FOI Review

Your original request asked for: 1) The number of full time equivalent staff in the Scottish Government who are currently, or are planned to begin work on the "prospectus for an independent Scotland", as mentioned in the Programme for Government on September 7. 2) Any internal correspondence sent from or to the First M...

Scottish Government compliance with specific acts: FOI release

1. Does the Scottish government comply with the bill of exchange act 1882?? 2. Does the Scottish government have the slavery act 2015 in its policy?? 3. Is the council tax a lawful contract or a legislative statute?? 4. As a sovereign scot see treaty of Arbroath confirmed by first minister Nicola.Sturgeon.msp@parliamen...

Freedom of Information (FOI) statistics from 2018 onwards: FOI release

1. The number of FOIs dealt with by the Scottish Government in a) 2021 b) 2020 c) 2019 d) 2018. 2. The number of FOIs not responded to within the 28 day time frame in a) 2021 b) 2020 c) 2019 d) 2018. 3. The number of FOIs not responded to within 20 days of receiving confirmation following a clarification request a) 202...

Responsibilities and roles of MSPs and Scottish National Party (SNP) MPs: FOI release

“The responsibilities of MSPs and SNP MPs in relation to responding to constituents emails. Are they duty bound to respond to constituents correspondence or is this something that they can totally ignore if, example, they don't like the questions being asked? What course of action can a constituent take if several emai...

Appointment of two Scottish Green Members of the Scottish Parliament: FOI release

In anticipation of the appointment of two Scottish Green Members of the Scottish Parliament as Junior Ministers you queried whether the First Minister would in turn remove two existing Ministers from her ministerial team.

Communication between Scottish Government Minister and officials: FOI release

1. Any and all communications between Scottish Government ministers and officials and a) Progress Scotland Limited ; b) Mark Diffley Consultancy and Research Limited; c) Invicta Public Affairs Limited: d) Charlotte Street Partners Limited and e) Halogen Communications Limited. 2. Any payments from the Scottish Governme...

Covid-19 briefings relating to restrictions: FOI release

1. Minutes from any formal four nations discussions with Michael Gove and other representatives from UK, Welsh Governments and Northern Ireland executive between October 1 and January 15 on the topic of Covid-19 and four nations alignment on restrictions/measures. 2. Notes taken by Scottish Government staff or minister...

James Hamilton QC investigation evidence submitted: FOI release

- All evidence submitted to James Hamilton QC as part of his investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the Ministerial Code. - Details of all meetings held by James Hamilton QC as part of his investigation into whether Nicola Sturgeon breached the Ministerial Code. Please include minutes, call logs, list of a...

Human beings as patented GMOs: FOI release

How is it recorded on Scottish Government systems that a Human Being cannot be patented as a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and that this is enshrined in Scots Law? As with the earlier Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 request (now at the Internal Review stage) on the Nuremberg Code, if the Scottish Gove...

The Scottish Government average response time to Freedom of Information requests: FOI release

Broken down per month for the past 3 years: The average time for the Scottish Government to respond to a freedom of information request. (This is the period of time from when the request was received until the response was issued from the Scottish Government)

Longest response time to a Freedom of Information request: FOI release

Broken down by year for the past 10 years (I am happy to receive the information either by financial or calendar year): The single longest wait for a Scottish Government response to a freedom of information request. (This is the period of time from when the request was received until the response was issued from the Sc...

FOI references of all recorded requests: FOI release

Under FOI please give me an excel (NOT as a pdf) list of all FOI requests you have had since it became law. for each FOI request, please list: date of request date of reply reference number/ID subject/title of the request [each request on the list should include the subject/title of the request please] status [whether...

Statistics relating to FOI requests raised: FOI release

For all FOI requests raised in the last 48 months can you please provide data on all FOI requests including: FOI reference Date Request Made Date Request Answered Number of each type of exemption which have been applied (including exemption Section (para) (clause))

Communication questions regarding Scottish Government: FOI release

1. Is the person answering this pro or anti Scottish Independence? (I have purposely not asked any PII that risks avoidance of this question) 2. How many people are tasked with the responsibility of answering FOI requests sent to ceu@gov.scot ? 3. Who can I write to and communicate with regarding content on Scot.gov ...

Citizens’ Assembly & Citizens’ Assembly co-convener correspondence: FOI release

A copy of all correspondence between former Citizens’ Assembly co-convener David Martin and the Citizens’ Assembly/Scottish Government in 2019 and 2020.

Various questions concerning the Citizens’ Assembly: FOI release

Provide the following information (all information provided in this section must be pre-existing at the date of this request): 1. A copy of any / all documentation required to be signed by the citizens. 2. All instructions and guidance provided to Mark Diffley or his company regarding the selection of citizens. 3. All ...

Freedom of Information Unit staff details and publications: FOI release

You asked for; 1. Do you have a dedicated staff team or department to deal with FoI requests? 2. If yes, does this staff team also: a. Deal with environmental information requests? Yes/No b. Deal with data protection and GDPR? Yes/No 3. How many members of staff (Full/Whole Time Equivalent), currently (latest availa...

FOI requests during 2018 and organisations: FOI release

You asked for "I would like to establish the volume of FOI Requests during 2018 and the source company, individual (if public record) or organisation of each request. Could this be provided in an Excel format? Related to this, I would like the Scottish Government to advise of the estimated cost of the resources to han...

Ministers and Special Advisers roles responding to FOI requests: FOI review

Please provide the following: (A) any and all procedures, guidance, emails that set out the current role of Ministers and Special Advisers in responding to FOI requests and requests for internal review. (B) a risk assessment that sets out the data protection compliance considerations associated with (A).

Public Interest Test used in Freedom of Information requests: FOI review

For the last 500 responses (see note 1) to Freedom of Information requests issued by the Scottish Government please: (A) State the total number of times the Public Interest Test was used. (B) Summarise in a table the total number of times the Public Interest Test was used by FOISA qualified exemption category (an exe...

FOIs from media and political sources and cost of responding: FOI release

1. How many FOI requests were made to you, and responded to, by you, in each the last ten years, from: a) TV News broadcasters based in Scotland b) Radio News broadcasters based in Scotland c) Newspapers based in Scotland d) Political blogs on Scottish politics e) Political Parties, other than the SNP, with MSPs i...

Documents prepared for First Minister in relation to freedom of information legislation: FOI release

Number of freedom of information requests submitted between 1 and 7 September 2018: FOI release

Number and location of Freedom of Information officers or equivalent: FOI release