Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

18,099releases indexed
29,946attachments found
29.8avg calendar days
6,650partially withheld
2019-05-15oldest in sample
2026-05-15newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 6,650 unclear 6,023 not held 2,568 released 1,213 already published 588 cost limit 504 clarification 288 withheld 199 transferred 66

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4133 s.20 3541 s.34(1) 3273 s.39(2) 2802 s.30 2391 s.17(1) 2346 s.25(1) 1993 s.10(4) 1663 s.11(2) 1363 s.2 986 s.29(1) 969 s.3 758

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 1,053 releases · 28.0 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 833 releases · 31.1 avg days Marine Directorate 741 releases · 29.0 avg days Learning Directorate 657 releases · 34.7 avg days Population Health Directorate 577 releases · 28.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 553 releases · 36.5 avg days Economic Development Directorate 545 releases · 40.3 avg days People Directorate 513 releases · 25.9 avg days
Clear
513 matching releases

Former National Clinical Director and former Director General for Strategy and External Affairs involvement with the Scottish Government: FOI release

Please confirm that the following two persons are no longer involved with the Scottish Government in any way whatsoever, including external consultancy, whether paid or unpaid, or any interaction in any way with current SG employee. Persons referred to; Jason Leitch, Former National Clinical Director Ken Thomson a f...

FOI cost limit 45 score 19 working days correspondence spending s.12
Published
2026-01-26
Reference
FOI/202500489304
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Recruitment of Scottish Government Civil Service positions located overseas: FOI release

Information about the eligibility criteria for Scottish Government positions located in European Union countries. In particular, you sought clarification on whether it is established Scottish Government policy to require that applicants already hold the right to work in the EU before applying. You also requested inform...

FOI unclear 50 score 7 working days correspondence
Published
2026-01-26
Reference
FOI/202500490106
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Target for reducing the number of civil servants information: FOI release

On 30th September 2025 Shona Robison appeared before the Finance and Public Administration Committee. She was asked about the target for reducing the number of civil servants, and said this: “So for example we need to lead by example and there have been changes made in Director, DG territory, to make sure that we can’...

FOI released 70 score 19 working days correspondence ministers
Published
2026-01-19
Reference
FOI/202500486971
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government employment queries: FOI release

1. The current annual salary scales for civil service grades C1, C2 and C3. 2. The current number of individuals employed in each of these grades, can you also provide the figure as a “full time equivalent” as I am trying to get a sense of how many posts are full time v part time? 3. In each of the past two years can...

FOI unclear 80 score 20 working days correspondence s.5 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-19
Reference
FOI/202500487883
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government employees receiving compensation for losing their position: FOI release

Information over the names of MSPs, ministers or other officials including civil servants and staff who have received any payment related to losing any official position, by way of a compensation or pay off for each year since and including 2017 and can it be made clear whether the payments were contractual or otherwis...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers special advisers contracts spending s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-13
Reference
FOI/202500483313
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers: FOI release

Please provide the following in relation to Special Advisers employed by the Scottish Government from 1 May 2021 to the present: 1. The total number of formal complaints made about the behaviour of Special Advisers, broken down by year. 2. For each complaint: The nature/category of the complaint (e.g. bullying, hara...

FOI withheld 55 score 20 working days correspondence special advisers contracts s.38(1) s.34(1)
Published
2026-01-13
Reference
202500485300
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government spend on agency staff: FOI release

Please provide a breakdown of the total spending by the Scottish Government on agency staff for the 2025-26 to date, separated by: Directorate Grade equivalent of staff hired Length of contract (less than 6 months, 6–12 months, over 12 months)

FOI unclear 80 score 14 working days correspondence contracts spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-13
Reference
FOI/202500484303
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

List of women's networks available to Scottish Government employees: FOI release

How many women networks does the Scottish Government have for civil servants, can you name them and supply the guidance for who can be members?

FOI released 75 score 18 working days correspondence s.25(1)
Published
2026-01-13
Reference
FOI/202500483482
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector

Salary sacrifice scheme information: FOI release

1. the number of phones bought via a salary sacrifice scheme by employees in your department, in the tax years 2023-24 and 2024-25 (detailed separately), and b) the total value of those purchases. 2. the number of laptops bought via a salary sacrifice scheme by employees in your department, in the tax years 2023-24 an...

FOI not held 45 score 18 working days correspondence s.2 s.3 s.4 s.5 s.17(1)
Published
2026-01-12
Reference
FOI/202500484827
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS) board member appointment information: FOI release

You asked for information on the “changing legal requirements” which had impacted the appointment of three new members to the board of Children’s Hearings Scotland (CHS), specifically: 1. A detailed explanation of the specific legal changes referenced in relation to CHS appointments. 2. A list of other public bodies,...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.2 s.3 s.17(1) s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-12
Reference
FOI/202500484747
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Children and families, Public sector, Work and skills

Fairness and diversity impact of online assessments in recruitment queries: FOI release

1. Assessment Design and Use The criteria and scoring methodology used in any online assessments that contribute to candidate shortlisting, including how "suitability" or other composite scores are derived. A list of all third-party providers (e.g., psychometric test publishers or platforms) currently used for online ...

FOI not held 70 score 17 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.2 s.3 s.4 s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-12
Reference
FOI/202500485953
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government employment tribunals: FOI release

1. The number of employment tribunal cases that the Scottish Government has settled using a settlement agreement, compromise agreement, or similar, for each calendar year from 2020 to 2025 (up to the current date). 2. Of those settled cases, the number that included a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), confidentiality cl...

FOI not held 70 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-12
Reference
FOI/202500482779
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Salary sacrifice scheme queries: FOI release

1. How many civil servants in the department used/benefitted from a salary sacrifice scheme in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 tax years? Please provide total figures for each tax year. 2. How much salary was sacrificed by civil servants in the department using/benefitting from salary sacrifice schemes in the 2023-24 and 2024...

FOI unclear 50 score 18 working days correspondence
Published
2026-01-07
Reference
FOI/202500484825
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

NHS Fife Non-Executive Directors recruitment applications: FOI release

You asked for, in relation to the recent recruitment for two Non-Executive Directors at NHS Fife, advertised in May 2025 and concluded in September 2025, for one member with expertise in finance, audit, and risk and another member to serve as the Non-Executive Whistleblowing Champion: 1. How many applications were rec...

FOI unclear 55 score 10 working days correspondence s.9
Published
2026-01-06
Reference
FOI/202500485560
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Correspondence regarding Stonewall Diversity Champions Corporate membership: FOI release

You asked for all documentation held by the Scottish Government, including correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from meetings, briefings, analysis, about Stonewall membership, from the last three months.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2026-01-06
Reference
FOI/202500483494
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector, Work and skills

Information on Scottish Government employees who have received exit payments: FOI release

Information for the total number of staff who have received exit payments, settlement agreements, or redundancy/severance packages for the years: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25. You also asked for each payment to provide; the year of payment, the staff member’s job title, the reason for departu...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-12-23
Reference
FOI/202500483273
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Diversity staff network spend: FOI release

In each year since 2020-21, including the current year to date, how much has the Scottish Government spent on diversity networks. Please break down by network if possible. For clarity, here is what I mean by diversity network. Diversity Staff Network information: FOI release - gov.scot

FOI released 75 score 20 working days correspondence spending s.17(1)
Published
2025-12-09
Reference
FOI/202500482346
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector, Work and skills

Digital Academy Learning Management Systems (LMS) and Virtual Learning Environments (VLE): FOI release

You asked for information about the use of Learning Management Systems (LMS) or Virtual Learning Environments (VLE) by the Digital Academy and, where information is readily available, any associated departments, service units, or partner organisations delivering education, training, or learner support under your author...

FOI unclear 50 score 14 working days correspondence contracts
Published
2025-12-09
Reference
FOI/202500482345
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government ministerial staff statistics: FOI release

1. The current number of staff that currently report directly to each Scottish Government Minister (please can you break this down by each Scottish Government Minister). 2. The total amount currently paid in salaries to staff supporting each Scottish Government Minister (please can you break down total amounts by each...

FOI not held 70 score 18 working days correspondence ministers spending s.17(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-12-08
Reference
FOI/202500481703
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government categories of employment information: FOI release

The Scottish Government will "employ" staff in a number of different categories of employment. 1. As of todays date (26/8/25) how many "Employees" do they have? 2. How many "Workers" do they have? 3. How many "self employed" people/contractors do they use? 4. Do they "employ" or indeed "engage" others for payment i...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence contracts spending s.4 s.25(1) s.30 s.9 2 attachments
Published
2025-12-02
Reference
FOI/202500481940
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Public Appointment extension to terms of office queries: FOI release

1. Given the guidance on the Public Appointments website in relation to the maximum term of office under a Public Appointment, I am writing to ask under Freedom of Information legislation, under what criteria are extensions to this rule made? 2. In relation to the Public Body, Children’s Hearings Scotland, how many ap...

FOI unclear 55 score 17 working days correspondence ministers s.25(1)
Published
2025-11-20
Reference
FOI/202500481212
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Scottish Government agency staff spend: FOI release

Please provide a breakdown of the total spending by the Scottish Government on agency staff for the years 2023-24 and 2024-25 to date, separated by: Directorate Grade equivalent of staff hired Length of contract (less than 6 months, 6–12 months, over 12 months)

FOI released 95 score 11 working days correspondence contracts spending 2 attachments
Published
2025-11-19
Reference
FOI/202500482083
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Minutes of meeting between First Minister and Sex Matters: FOI release

Minutes of any meeting held between any Scottish Government official(s) or representative(s), including but not limited to Government Ministers, and the organisation 'Sex Matters'.

FOI released 95 score 15 working days correspondence ministers meetings 2 attachments
Published
2025-11-18
Reference
FOI/202500479355
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Equality and rights, Public sector