Scottish Government FOI Index

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

685 matching releases

Civil servants working on Independence in the modern world paper: FOI release

Can I please request the following information: The number of civil servants who worked on the Renewing Democracy through Independence paper from the Scottish Government. The total number of printed copies of this paper were made in total. If you can’t give me the overall total number of printed copies of the paper,...

FOI unclear 55 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.17(1)

Published: 2023-11-23
Reference: 202300358658
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Staffing numbers for Draft Independence Referendum Bill: FOI release

"The Scottish Government published the Draft Independence Referendum Bill on 22 March 2021: The total cost of this to date. Not including the consultation. The number of civil servants that worked on this at the time and their pay grades."

FOI unclear 55 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.25(1)

Published: 2023-11-23
Reference: FOI/202300376995
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Referendums Scotland Bill Team staffing: FOI release

"The most recent number of civil servants that are/were in the Scottish Government’s Referendums Scotland Bill Team. What are/were their pay grades? The general Scottish Government pay grades of the time that these civil servants were employed."

FOI already published 55 score 19 working days correspondence s.25(1)

Published: 2023-11-23
Reference: FOI/202300377174
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Staff remuneration costs and number of staff who worked on Operation Unicorn: FOI release

I would like to know the staff remuneration costs and number of staff who worked on Operation Unicorn in the Scottish Government over the past two years, in particular, the Protocol and Honours Team. I would also like to know if the staff costs of the Protocol and Honours team as well as the staff numbers in that team ...

FOI not held 40 score 18 working days correspondence spending

Published: 2023-11-23
Reference: 202200326095
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: 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

Correspondence from public relating to second independence referendum: FOI release

Any correspondence (e-mails and letters) from the public to MSPs in the Scottish Government (meaning all SNP and Green MSPs) regarding a second independence referendum from 29 March 2023 to present. If this is too broad of a search, to narrow it down, I am looking for all correspondence (e-mails and letters) in which ...

FOI not held 70 score 16 working days correspondence ministers s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-16
Reference: FOI/202300375668
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Constitution and democracy, Public sector

Building a New Scotland white papers: FOI release

In relation to the series of white papers being prepared by the Scottish Government under the title ‘Building a New Scotland’: The expected publication date of future releases, the number of papers expected still to be released and which topics they will focus on How many meetings have been held to discuss the content...

FOI cost limit 70 score 30 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings spending s.17(1) s.12 s.30 s.27(1) s.20 4 attachments

Published: 2023-11-16
Reference: 202200328230
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

Cost of preparing Building a New Scotland publication: FOI release

1. How much money was spent on writing and developing the Building a New Scotland- A stronger economy with independence prospectus? Breakdown of these costs. 2. How much money was spent on writing and developing the second independence and first independence prospectuses in the series and breakdown of these costs? 3....

FOI unclear 55 score 26 working days over deadline correspondence ministers meetings contracts spending s.2 s.17(1)

Published: 2023-11-14
Reference: 202200325194
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

Independence referendum two final spend: FOI release

Can you please forward me how much money has been spent on obtaining a legal decision to determine if Scottish government can hold an independence referendum without consent of UK government now that the Supreme Court has made a ruling.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-12
Reference: 202200331649
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Cost of Draft Referendum Bill to the Supreme Court: FOI release

Please could I request, under Freedom of Information laws, the costs relating to the Scottish Government’s reference of the Draft Referendum Bill to the Supreme Court. If you can provide the total cost for the reference, as well as any breakdown you are able to provide (such as lawyers fees, staff cost, etc).

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: 202200331719
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Supreme Court costs of independence referendum: FOI release

Could you please inform of all the costs associated with the recent Supreme Court decision on Independence Referendums?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 8 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-12
Reference: 202200331771
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Supreme Court costs: FOI release

Please tell me the cost in legal fees for taking the case to the Supreme Court which you knew in advance you could not win? Why is this government happy to play games at the expense of the taxpayer?

FOI partially withheld 90 score 9 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.27 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-12
Reference: 202200331892
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Supreme Court costs (accommodation/travel/subsistence): FOI release

In relation to the costs associated with the Lord Advocate’s referral to the Supreme Court (https://www.gov.scot/publications/independence-referendum-supreme-court-referral-legal-costs/) could you please provide a full breakdown of the travel and subsistence costs. For all accommodation costs, please confirm who the a...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence spending s.39(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.17(1) 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-12
Reference: 202200335464
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector

Legal advice provided regarding independence referendum: FOI release

Please provide me with the legislative advice and reference provided to the Scottish Government and First Minister relating to the proposed Independence Referendum as referred to by the Information Commissioner in recent media.

FOI unclear 75 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers 2 attachments

Published: 2023-11-10
Reference: 202200299367
Directorate: Constitution Directorate
Topic: Public sector