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
198 matching releases

Scottish Government stance on independence referendum: FOI release

Have Scottish Government employees started work on a White Paper on independence, or an equivalent document to the 2013 document, Scotland’s Future? When did this work start? How many officials have been working on this? What is the cost in terms of employee time, etc, of the preparation of that document? Have the reco...

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1) s.17(1)
Published
2021-02-10
Reference
FOI/202000117911
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Expenditure of independence referendum: FOI release

Since the SNP administration took office in 2007, how much of taxpayers money has been spent on the SNP’s independence project.

FOI unclear 55 score 16 working days correspondence ministers spending s.25(1)
Published
2021-02-09
Reference
FOI/202000117524
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Economy, Money and tax, Public sector

James Hamilton investigation remit: FOI release

Does the remit of the Investigation being conducted by James Hamilton officially include whether there has been ANY breach of ANY part of the Ministerial Code by the First Minister - including section 1.3(c) - or is his brief restricted to the narrower aspects of the Code specified in the remit published by the Scottis...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.1
Published
2021-02-04
Reference
FOI/202000108998
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servant redeployment during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI release

You asked: The number of civil servants redeployed to work in the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate during the COVID-19 pandemic from other government departments. Broken down by month from April 2020 to present.

FOI unclear 50 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2021-01-19
Reference
FOI/202000126288
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public safety and emergencies, Public sector

Referendums (Scotland) Bill Team meetings: FOI release

Can you provide a list of dates of: Any meetings (virtual, in person, over the phone and/or otherwise) between ScottishGovernment Special Advisors and any member and/or members of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 55 score 18 working days correspondence meetings s.18
Published
2021-01-13
Reference
FOI/202000106111
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Meetings between Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, Europe and External Affairs and Referendums (Scotland) Bill Team: FOI release

Can you provide a list of dates of: Any meetings (virtual, in person, over the phone and/or otherwise) between the Cabinet Secretary Michael Russell and any member and/or members of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2021-01-13
Reference
FOI/202000106102
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

The Scottish Government's monthly FOI performance statistics: FOI release

Are other public bodies included in the Scottish Government's monthly FOI performance statistics sent to the Scottish Information commissioner? If the answer is yes, could you please send me a list of all other public bodies included.

FOI unclear 50 score 1 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2021-01-12
Reference
FOI/202000114200
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servant redeployment to support COVID-19 response: FOI release

The number of civil servants redeployed from the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate during the COVID-19 pandemic to work in other government departments. Broken down by month from April 2020 to present.

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence
Published
2020-12-17
Reference
FOI/202000105326
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Referendums Scotland Bill Team - date of formation: FOI release

You asked for: a) The date on which the Referendums Scotland Bill Team was formed. b) The date on which the first civil servant started working as part of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team.

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence
Published
2020-12-11
Reference
FOI/202000106096
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

James Hamilton QC investigation remit: FOI release

Does the remit of the Investigation being conducted by James Hamilton officially include whether there has been ANY breach of ANY part of the Ministerial Code by the First Minister - including section 1.3(c) - or is his brief restricted to the narrower aspects of the Code specified in the remit published by the Scottis...

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.1
Published
2020-12-08
Reference
FOI/202000108998
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Covered cost of staff Christmas parties and other festive arrangements: FOI release

You asked for: The allocated budget for each Scottish Government department to cover the cost of their staff Christmas parties (in whatever form they might take) and other festive arrangements for 2020. Please could you provide the per-head Christmas budget for each department, as well as the total for each (i.e. A d...

FOI unclear 55 score 2 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2020-12-04
Reference
FOI/202000110616
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector

The Referendums Scotland Bill Team: FOI release

Details of the number of civil servants that are part of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team. Details of the remit of the Referendums Scotland Bill Team. (e.g. description of the main duties of the team, key roles of the team and/or otherwise)

FOI unclear 50 score 13 working days correspondence
Published
2020-11-30
Reference
FOI/202000102243
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Government staff engaged in updating the ‘Scotland’s Future’ publication: FOI release

Please could I request the following under the freedom of information legislation. For each of the following years 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020 to present: Details of the number of civil servants working on a paper to update/renew the Scottish Government’s paper ‘Scotland’s Future’.

FOI unclear 50 score 20 working days correspondence
Published
2020-11-25
Reference
FOI/202000096466
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Civil servants working within the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate: FOI release

a. The number of civil servants that work as part of the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate. If different to the answer to part of a. of question,: b. The number of civil servants that specifically work on constitutional policy as part of the Constitution and Cabinet Directorate

FOI unclear 50 score 37 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2020-11-11
Reference
FOI/202000093304
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector, Work and skills

Application forms for Scottish Government positions: FOI release

Regarding: The Chief Executive of the NHS Scotland & DG Health & Social Care (Recruitment) CAN I PLEASE AS FOI QUERY HAVE A COPY OF THE APPLICATIONS FORMS FOR THIS, AND INDEED FOR ALL OTHER TOP SCOTTISH JOBS?

FOI unclear 75 score 16 working days correspondence 4 attachments
Published
2020-10-19
Reference
FOI/202000083499
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Devolved Government COVID-19 strategy: FOI release

1. Could the Scottish Government have adopted a different strategy to that of the UK government for the initial management of the COVID-19 pandemic? 2. Would the existing devolved powers of the Scottish Government enable it to have adopted a different strategy had it so wished? 3. Was the Scottish Government obliged to...

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence ministers briefings
Published
2020-09-28
Reference
FOI/202000069523
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Suspension of compliance with the Freedom of Information Scotland Act: FOI release

Can you advise what advice/instruction/guidance was provided by the Scottish Government to Scottish Local Authorities on their obligation to comply with the timescales in terms of responding to a request for information made in terms of the Freedom of Information Scotland Act during the COVID-19 pandemic. Were Scottish...

FOI unclear 80 score 3 working days correspondence s.25(1) s.17(1) 6 attachments
Published
2020-09-24
Reference
FOI/202000079439
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Irish reunification correspondence: FOI release

Any documentation (including correspondence) you hold relating to a potential future referendum In Northern Ireland. I am particularly interested in lines to take, perceived risks, impacts, draft responses and contingencies in the event of a vote in favour of reunification.

FOI unclear 75 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings 2 attachments
Published
2020-09-24
Reference
FOI/202000069569
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Government Minister question decision of Government Official: FOI release

1. Are there any circumstances where a government minister is prevented from querying the decision of a government official. 2. If so, what are they. 3. Is the civil service in Scotland legally independent from the Scottish Government

FOI unclear 55 score 13 working days correspondence ministers s.3
Published
2020-07-22
Reference
FOI/202000046900
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Scottish Cabinet meetings, since 10 March 2020: FOI release

How many meetings of the Scottish Cabinet, chaired by the First Minister, have been held since 10 March 2020 and on what dates those meetings were held.

FOI unclear 50 score 15 working days correspondence ministers meetings
Published
2020-06-29
Reference
FOI/202000040710
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Genus and species of coronavirus disease 2019: FOI release

"In relation to Coronavirus disease 2019: Further to the Public Health etc (Scotland) Act 2008 and Freedom of Information Legislation please inform me of the genus and species of the condition causing the disease as defined in the Act for which there has been enacted "distancing measures".

FOI unclear 50 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence
Published
2020-05-27
Reference
FOI/202000034031
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public safety and emergencies, +1 more … Public sector

Coronavirus - private facilities for use as a temporary hospital: FOI release

Can you please advise whether the Scottish Government has any plans to to requisition any private facilities within Glasgow for use as a temporary hospital, amid the current coronavirus crisis. If so, can you please name said facility.

FOI unclear 50 score 16 working days correspondence
Published
2020-04-20
Reference
FOI/202000023040
Directorate
Constitution Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector