Transparency index

Scottish Government FOI releases

21,864releases indexed
39,478attachments found
29.7avg calendar days
8,113partially withheld
2016-06-13oldest in sample
2026-06-12newest in sample

Outcomes

partially withheld 8,113 unclear 7,200 not held 3,069 released 1,537 already published 671 cost limit 607 clarification 349 withheld 241 transferred 77

Top Exemptions

s.38(1) 4931 s.20 4280 s.34(1) 3589 s.39(2) 3481 s.30 2878 s.17(1) 2774 s.25(1) 2381 s.10(4) 1987 s.11(2) 1571 s.29(1) 1175 s.2 1158 s.3 908

Timeline

2026-06 1 2026-05 410 2026-04 312 2026-03 217 2026-02 589 2026-01 479 2025-12 177 2025-11 263

Directorate Profiles

Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate 1,279 releases · 27.9 avg days Marine Directorate 967 releases · 29.6 avg days Energy and Climate Change Directorate 923 releases · 31.0 avg days Learning Directorate 861 releases · 34.4 avg days Economic Development Directorate 729 releases · 39.9 avg days Constitution Directorate 685 releases · 36.1 avg days Population Health Directorate 645 releases · 28.7 avg days People Directorate 633 releases · 25.8 avg days
Clear
3,808 matching releases

Correspondence and documentation that include the phrase "return on capital": FOI release

For the period 1st August 2024 - date, please provide all correspondence and documentation including the phrase "return on capital". Please restrict the search to correspondence and documentation involving the following three directorates of the Scottish Government: Energy and Climate Change, Marine and Offshore Wind.

FOI/EIR partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers contracts s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) s.29(1) s.33(1) s.27(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500451993
Directorate
Energy and Climate Change Directorate
Topic
Energy, Environment and climate change, Public sector

Menu and costs for the First Minister's lunch at Bute House: FOI release

All items of information held in relation to the food and drink provided for the First Minister's lunch at Bute House on 13 January 2025 with his advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code and others, including, but not be limited to, food and drink menus and a breakdown of catering costs, including all information in b...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 14 working days correspondence ministers spending s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-26
Reference
FOI/202500453287
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Documents and legal advise relating to decision notice (193/2024): FOI release

In relation to decision notice (193/2024), you asked for: 1) In regards to the legal advice that was released. When were the last edits made to the documents that were released? 2) Any communications (whatsapps, emails, texts anything) by ministers, spads, civil servants discussing when to release the legal advice, w...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 22 working days over deadline correspondence ministers special advisers whatsapp s.38 s.26 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400445520
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

James Hamilton QC's secretariat communications: FOI Review

Original request 202400443489 1 - Why did James Hynd leave or "stepped away" (As Mr Hamilton put it) from his position as Mr Hamilton's secretariat? 2 - All communications (emails, text messages, whatsapps, everything) and minutes between and within the Scottish Government (Ministers, civil servants, SPADS, including...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 15 working days correspondence ministers special advisers meetings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25(1) s.38(1) s.36(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448736 Review of 202400443489
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner legal advice: FOI release

1) Any and all communications, meetings, minutes, records discussing/referencing the decision not to give the Scottish Information Commissioner the legal advice requested from FOI 202300390057 during his investigation that resulted in decision notice 193/2024. 2) Who within the Scottish Government made the decision no...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers meetings s.30 s.36(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500448762
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Information regarding the Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision: FOI Review

Original request 202400445432 1) All briefing notes provided to ministers (e.g. John Swinney, Jamie Hepburn) in preparation of the statement to the Scottish Parliament on the 29th of October: Ministerial Statement: Legal Advice Relating to Scottish Information Commissioner Decision by civil servants, SPADs and anyone ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 2 working days correspondence ministers special advisers briefings whatsapp s.21(4) s.25 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.30 6 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452157 Review of 202400445432
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Law and order, Public sector

Scottish Information Commissioner and Freedom of Information Appeal: FOI release

I would like to put in a FOI request for a copy of all the information that was disclosed to the original applicant and the additional information that the Scottish Information Commissioner decided had been wrongly withheld from them. It relates to the following: Decision Notice 083/2024: Communications relating to an...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers s.30 s.1(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/2024004427156
Directorate
People Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Correspondence between former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and James Hamilton: FOI release

In response to FOI/202100159382 The Scottish Government claimed it did not hold correspondence between Nicola Sturgeon/her office and James Hamilton. Given the recent ruling by the Inner House and the Information Commissioner, it is clear that for the purposes of Freedom of Information, this information is held. In l...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 38 working days over deadline correspondence ministers s.30 s.38(1) 4 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438682
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector, Work and skills

Email and chain referred to in material released under previous request: FOI release

1) In the below documents the following passage exists: "(as per your email of December 8th 2023)" I specifically request this email and its email chain too” in relation to Mr James Hamilton.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence s.25(1) s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202500452195
Directorate
Propriety and Ethics Directorate
Topic
Public sector

Former Minister for Public Health, Women's Health and Sport WhatsApp messages during the COVID-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request (202400395588) I wish to make a Freedom of Information Request for MSP Maree Todds WhatsApp messages from her ministeral role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 61 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.37(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.36 s.38(1) s.36(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400405863 Review of 202400395588
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health's WhatsApp messages during the Covid 19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request 202400426487 MSP Claire Haughey What's App messages from her ministerial position during the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 24 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.25(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400430870 Review of 202400426487
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Director General Scottish Exchequer WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

“Alyson Stafford Director-General Scottish Exchequer What's App messages during the Covid 19 pandemic.”

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.28(1) s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400427872
Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Judicial Appointments Board member WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of "Paul Cacketter" during the Covid-19 pandemic, which for practical purposes we have interpreted as the period from 21 January 2020, the date on which the WHO published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report’, to 30 April 2022, the date on which remaining Covid-19 restrictions were ...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence whatsapp s.20 s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436415
Directorate
Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Former Director General Health and Social Care WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of Elinor Mitchell during the Covid-19 pandemic, which for practical purposes we have interpreted as the period from 21 January 2020, the date on which the WHO published its ‘Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Situation Report’, to 30 April 2022, the date on which remaining Covid-19 restrictions were l...

FOI partially withheld 90 score 19 working days correspondence whatsapp s.20 s.25(1) s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436344
Directorate
Health and Social Care Finance Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Deputy Director of Deposit Return Scheme WhatsApp messages during Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

David McPhee's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence whatsapp s.25(1) s.29 s.30 s.38(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436401
Directorate
Business and Better Regulation Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Health and social care, Public sector

Former Minister for Mental Health WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021: FOI release

1. Requesting Clare Haughey's WhatsApp messages from February 2020 to February 2021.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400438990
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Director of Economic Development WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI release

The WhatsApp messages of Director, Colin Cook, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 21 working days over deadline correspondence whatsapp s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400439455
Directorate
Economic Development Directorate
Topic
Coronavirus (COVID-19) and other respiratory infections in Scotland, Public sector

Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages during the Covid-19 pandemic: FOI Review

Original request: 202400435281 You asked for Mairi McAllan's WhatsApp messages from the Covid 19 pandemic.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 78 working days over deadline correspondence ministers whatsapp s.29(1) s.30 s.38(1) s.34(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-25
Reference
FOI/202400436608 Review of 202400435281
Directorate
Communications and Ministerial Support Directorate
Topic
Health and social care, Public sector

First Minister phone call with Taoiseach documentation: FOI release

All documentation held surrounding John Swinney's phone call with Micheal Martin, the Taoiseach, on February 4, including email correspondence sent and received (including internal), minutes/notes from the call and briefings relating to it.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 17 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.25(1) s.38(1) s.30 s.29(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-21
Reference
FOI/202500452337
Directorate
Topic
International, Public sector

Correspondence regarding Cabinet Secretary for Health & Social Care's use of ministerial cars: FOI release

All documentation held by the Scottish Government about Neil Gray's use of ministerial cars, including correspondence sent to and by the government, including internal correspondence, minutes/notes from meetings, briefings and analysis, between January 6 2024 and the date of this FOI, that being 5th February.

FOI partially withheld 90 score 20 working days correspondence ministers briefings meetings s.38(1) s.29 s.30 s.39(1) 2 attachments
Published
2025-03-19
Reference
FOI/202500451287
Directorate
Population Health Directorate
Topic
Public sector