Chamber and committees

I refer the Member to the answer to question S6W-41594 on 10 November 2025. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers

As in previous years, St Andrew’s House and Victoria Quay will be lit purple for epilepsy awareness on 26 March 2026.

Scotland is the only country in the UK with a Tobacco and Vapes Retail Register. All businesses, regardless of size, need to be registered to be able to sell these products in Scotland. This includes retailers which operate from moveable premises, such as market stalls or sales vans. The register exists to support the enforcement of regulation on age restricted products given the public health harms of tobacco and vaping.

We remain committed to considering how the register could be improved including possible further conditions on registration to support our public health aims of reducing the use of tobacco and vapes.

Individual business owners are responsible for registering any business selling tobacco and/or vapes, or they face a fine of up to £20k and possible imprisonment not exceeding 6 months. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce compliance with the register in their local areas.

Local Authorities have responsibility to ensure local budget decisions deliver local and national priorities. The 2026-27 Scottish Budget provides a further real-terms increase in the Local Government Settlement, delivering record funding of almost £15.7 billion, including a quarter of a billion pounds of unrestricted General Revenue Grant.

It is clear that urgent action is needed to address endometriosis diagnosis times. That is why we have allocated almost £13 million in additional funding to Health Boards this year to target long waits for gynaecology.

We are beginning to see the impact of that investment, with waits over 52 weeks reducing by 44.6% for new outpatients and by 21.8% for inpatient/day-case between 31 July 2025 and 31 January 2026.

Endometriosis continues to be a priority for this Government, and we are determined to see diagnosis times reduced for all women and girls across Scotland.

Through Phase Two of the Women’s Health we are taking action to transform gynaecology services and reduce diagnosis times for all menstrual health conditions, including endometriosis. The Endometriosis Care Pathway has already been updated to align with the most recent NICE guidance, so that NHS Boards can ensure that women and girls with endometriosis and endometriosis like symptoms have access to holistic and timely care.

The updated Endometriosis Pathway can be accessed here: www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/gynaecology-pathways/endometriosis/

The Scottish Government does not collect or hold data on length of waits for accessing neurodevelopmental assessments as managing waitlists is the responsibility of health boards. However, we are working closely with boards to improve the experience of children, young people and their families in accessing support for their neurodivergence. This involves continuing to implement our Neurodevelopmental Specification, which sets clear expectations for boards and children’s services to work together to deliver timely needs-based support, in line with GIRFEC.

Boards that have closed or suspended waiting lists to new referrals continue to have a responsibility to ensure that children and young people are appropriately signposted to alternative and community-based services. I expect all boards to make sure that families are directed towards the right support at the earliest opportunity, including local authority services, school-based support, and wider community supports. As the Specification makes clear, these should be available to children, young people and their families when needs arise and should not require a formal diagnosis.

Scotland is the only country in the UK with a Tobacco and Vapes Retail Register. All businesses, regardless of size, need to be registered to be able to sell these products in Scotland. The register exists to support the enforcement of regulation on age restricted products given the public health harms of tobacco and vaping.

Individual business owners are responsible for registering any business selling tobacco and/or vapes. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to £20k and possible imprisonment not exceeding 6 months. It is the responsibility of local authorities to enforce compliance with the register in their local areas.

We remain committed to considering how the register could be improved including possible further conditions on registration to support our public health aims of reducing the use of tobacco and vapes.

We also remain open minded to potential further regulation and legislation to ensure the safety of people and buildings, especially when it comes to the storage and disposal of combustible products.

We want all women and girls to be able to access the best possible care and support and to benefit from healthcare services that are safe, effective and put women at the centre of their care.

Endometriosis continues to be a priority for this Government, and we are determined to see diagnosis times reduced for all women and girls across Scotland.

Through Phase Two of the Women’s Health we are taking action to transform gynaecology services and reduce diagnosis times for all menstrual health conditions, including endometriosis. The Endometriosis Care Pathway has already been updated to align with the most recent NICE guidance so that NHS Boards can ensure that women and girls with endometriosis and endometriosis like symptoms have access to holistic and timely care.

The updated Endometriosis Pathway can be accessed here: www.rightdecisions.scot.nhs.uk/gynaecology-pathways/endometriosis/.

We want people in Scotland, regardless of their background, age, or circumstances, to have access to the right help, at the right time, when they struggle with their mental or physical health. Our Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy published jointly with COSLA sets out a clear vision of a Scotland, free from stigma and inequality, where everyone fulfils their right to achieve the best mental health and wellbeing possible.

Of the £12.9 million allocation into gynaecology services in 2025-26, over £9.4 million has been directed to inpatient/day-case activity.

The impact of this investment is tracked centrally through routine self-reported returns submitted by NHS Boards and via Public Health Scotland’s (PHS) monthly Stage of Treatment publication.

As of 31 January 2026 (latest), PHS data shows that waits of over 52 weeks for gynaecology inpatient or day-case had reduced by 21.8% since 31 July 2025.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and Chief Pharmaceutical Officer (CPO) have met with the clinical leadership team from NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC), and are currently considering what, if any, actions may be required to provide assurance of the medicine governance arrangements and the prescribing practices for immunosuppressed patients in paediatric services at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH).