Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,792releases indexed
39,278attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,073partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,073 unclear 7,195 not held 3,052 released 1,533 already published 668 cost limit 605 clarification 348 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4905 s.20 4252 s.34(1) 3567 s.39(2) 3455 s.30 2866 s.17(1) 2763 s.25(1) 2372 s.10(4) 1971 s.11(2) 1559 s.29(1) 1168 s.2 1152 s.3 903

Timeline

2026-05 339 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 1,275 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 961 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 919 releases · 31.1 avg days Learning Directorate 859 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 725 releases · 40.0 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 631 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
309 matching releases

Background information on S6W-11314: FOI release

Please provide all internal memos, advice, procedural notes and other communications prepared in response to question S6W-11314, asked by Gordon MacDonald on 30 September and answered by George Adam on 3 October.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 11 working days correspondence s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-07
Reference
202200323491
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Communications between the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information team and Michael Matheson: FOI release

Copies of communications between the Scottish Government’s Freedom of Information team and Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport. Please include communications with his office and his Special Advisers, and restrict the search the dates between 4th April 2022 and 15th November 2022

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-12-07
Reference
202200330329
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Lord Advocate statement to Parliament on her referral to the Supreme Court on the matter of an Independence Bill being within the competence of the Scottish Parliament: FOI release

Please provide all correspondence between the Scottish Government and the Lord Advocate from June 2022 in relation to requests for the Lord Advocate to provide a statement to Parliament on her referral to the Supreme Court on the matter of an independence Bill being within the competence of the Scottish Parliament.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.30 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-30
Reference
202200309710
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meeting between Jamie Hepburn and Alan Renwick from UCL: FOI release

Can you release any briefings, minutes and correspondence relating to the meeting between Jamie Hepburn and Alan Renwick from UCL on 27/04/23?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-30
Reference
FOI/202300369081
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cost of First Minister's Christmas card and staff members working on independence referendum: FOI release

How much of taxpayers' money was used to print the FM’s Christmas card this year? How much of taxpayers' money was spent on the 29 civil servants' wages that were working on the Independence Referendum and what they are being re employed to work on now?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 25 working days over deadline correspondence ministers spending s.38(1) s.34(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-29
Reference
202200334524
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Fixed penalty notices: FOI release

In your email, you requested the following information: I am interested in the decision to include Fixed Notice Penalties (FPNs) as a penalty for breaching the Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions) (Scotland) Regulations 2020, and the decisionmaking process behind this. Please provide copies of any correspon...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence briefings s.20 s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200307546
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Press conference at Bute House about Supreme Court ruling: FOI release

All correspondence between ministers, special advisers and civil servants regarding the prospect of holding a press conference at Bute House on 23/11/22 about the Supreme Court ruling. This should include emails, text, WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram, Messenger or other electronic communications, and handwritten notes.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 18 working days correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.36(1) s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200332116
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Laptops and bicycles pledge & funds for legal challenge to Court of Appeal: FOI release

The provision of laptops and bicycles would be offered once you were re-elected. Many months later this has not transpired. Can you confirm as to why this manifesto promise has not been followed through? Also when is this likely to happen? The Court of Appeal declined the SNPs appeal. How much did this legal challenge ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 13 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200332970
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper: FOI release

Any correspondence, meeting minutes, briefings or notes, between the Scottish Government and Elaine Lorimer of Revenue Scotland, relating to their input in the Scottish Government's 'Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence' paper, as referenced in the FOI response reference 202200325598.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200331391
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

£20m independence fund: FOI release

What is the Scottish Government now doing with its £20m independence fund due to the Supreme Court ruling? If they are using it for independence how are you justifying it considering the Supreme Court ruled the government cannot legally legislate for a referendum? Any correspondence (including emails, WhatsApps) betwee...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers spending whatsapp s.25(1) s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.17(1) 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-28
Reference
202200331939
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Legal advice on independence referendum: FOI release

The amount spent on legal advice regarding the Scottish Government’s prospectus for an independent Scotland between 07 September 2021 and the date of response to this inquiry? Any correspondence (including emails, attachments, typed or handwritten notes, letters, notes/records of phone calls, minutes of meetings, brief...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings meetings s.17 s.17(1) s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-27
Reference
202200287065
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Citizenship independence prospectus: FOI release

1 Could you supply all research undertaken by the Scottish Government so far this year on the following issues with independence. The fiscal plan How will state pensions be paid for? What will an independent Scotland have to do to gain EU membership? How will the border between Scotland and England work if Scotland re...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.17(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-27
Reference
FOI/202300377833
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence: FOI release

On 17th October, the Scottish Government published Building a New Scotland - A stronger economy with independence. It included this statement: "Given the uncertainty over the outlook for the global, UK, and Scottish economies, and future fiscal and economic policy decisions by the UK and Scottish governments prior to ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202200325262
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Slides used for Fiscal policy meeting 30 May 22: FOI release

This is a follow up request to a previous FOI response. Your ref: 202200333877 Annex A in the above referenced FOI response mentions “slides used for a Fiscal policy meeting within the Fiscal policy team on 30 May 2022”. Please provide the above mentioned slides.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 23 working days over deadline correspondence briefings meetings s.25(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300338310
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Independence prospectus meetings, minutes, notes and diary entries: FOI release

A list of any meetings held by the Minister for Independence regarding the independence prospectus papers, since his appointment on March 29. Any minutes or briefing notes on the above. Diary entries for the minister's first week in office.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.23 s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.20 4 attachments
Published
2023-11-22
Reference
202300358434
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Total spend on independence bill to the Supreme Court: FOI release

How much has the Scottish Government spent to date on external legal counsel in taking the independence bill to the Supreme Court? How much does the Scottish Government estimate it will spend on external counsel for the entire Supreme Court case by the end of the case?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
202200326934
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence received around currency of a independent Scotland: FOI release

What correspondence (meetings and e-mails) has Nicola Sturgeon, John Swinney, Angus Robertson and Kate Forbes had with Scottish Green MSPs regarding the currency of an independent Scotland?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence meetings s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.30 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
202200327196
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cost to take independence bill to the Supreme court: FOI release

How much has it cost the Scottish Government to take the independence bill to the Supreme court so far? Please provide a breakdown of these costs. Please supply any estimation about how much the entire Supreme court case will cost the Scottish Government by the end of the case?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 16 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
202200327700
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Preparation of independence referendum: FOI release

I request to know how much it has cost so far for the preparation of Indy ref 2. Including the legal challenge in the Supreme Court in London.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.27(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-20
Reference
202200329265
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Cost to tax payer of Scottish independence UK Supreme Court case: FOI release

The amount of tax payer money that has been spent by the Scottish Government on the recent Court case in the UK Supreme Court to rule on the possibility of Scotland holding another Independence referendum.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 8 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.20 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-16
Reference
202200331746
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Coronation of King Charles: FOI release

All correspondence, notes and information relating to the coronation of King Charles in May 2023.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence s.28(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.20 6 attachments
Published
2023-11-15
Reference
202200332147
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Communications between First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and World Economic Forum etc between 1 January 2020 and 22 December 2021: FOI release

All communications (electronic or otherwise) during the period 1 January 2020 and 22 December 2021 between The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, and the following: The World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Bill Gates The Open Society Foundations George Soros

FOI partially withheld 90 score 72 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) s.25(1) s.20 6 attachments
Published
2023-11-14
Reference
202100267432
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Scottish Green Party Independence - For People. For Planet paper: FOI release

Under FOI laws can you release all correspondence, and any information you have about the Scottish Green party's "Independence - For People. For Planet" paper launched on Monday 7 November 2022. Can you say if any Scottish Government official was involved in the production of this paper and if so what their involvemen...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-12
Reference
202200329247
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Supreme Court case on which judgement has been delivered on 23rd November: FOI release

I write in regard to the Supreme Court case on which judgement has been delivered today, about whether the Scottish Parliament can hold an independence referendum without Westminster’s approval. What were the legal costs of this case to the Scottish Government and/or the Scottish National Party?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2023-11-12
Reference
202200331639
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector