Ministerial correspondence

Request correspondence between a public body and Scottish Government ministers on a specific topic.

Correspondence between ministers and public bodies can reveal how decisions are made, what advice is given, and what pressure is applied. The Scottish Information Commissioner has ordered disclosure of ministerial correspondence in multiple cases.

Dear [AUTHORITY NAME], Please provide the following information: 1. All correspondence between [AUTHORITY NAME or NAMED OFFICIAL] and [MINISTER or SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT DIRECTORATE] relating to [TOPIC e.g. the closure of a service, a policy decision, a funding allocation] during [PERIOD e.g. January 2024 to December 2024]. This includes letters, emails, and any attachments. I would prefer to receive this by email. Yours faithfully, [YOUR NAME]
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Who to send it to#

You can send this to either the public body or the Scottish Government, as both hold copies of the correspondence. If one refuses, try the other. Find the right authority on the Commissioner’s directory of Scottish public authorities. You can also send your request through WhatDoTheyKnow, which publishes responses online.

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Tips#

  • Be as specific as possible about the topic and time period. A broad request for “all correspondence with the Scottish Government” will almost certainly exceed the cost limit.
  • If the authority applies an exemption under section 30 (prejudice to effective conduct of public affairs), consider whether the public interest in disclosure outweighs the harm, particularly if the decision has already been made.
  • The Commissioner has found in several cases that the passage of time weakens arguments for withholding correspondence. Older correspondence is often easier to obtain.
  • If you are not sure which minister or directorate to name, start with a broad description of the topic and the authority should be able to identify the relevant correspondence.