Chamber and committees

We recognise the importance of ensuring that everyone understands what a normal period is. We have developed a range of resources that anyone can access to learn more about periods, period symptoms and conditions like endometriosis, PCOS and PMS. More information can be found in the Women’s Health Plan 2021 - 2024 Final Report.

Additionally, in March 2023 we delivered an engagement campaign in partnership with Young Scot to increase young people’s awareness of endometriosis. The campaign is aimed at those aged 11 to 25 in Scotland, including boys and young men. The campaign includes information about endometriosis symptoms, provides information about available support and provides information on how to support a friend in the process of diagnosis or who may have endometriosis.

Menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence.

An online RSHP teaching resource, (www.rshp.scot) was published in 2019 and provides age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and is aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7), with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3).

The Women's Health Plan Implementation Programme Board was established to oversee and drive the delivery of the Plan. The Board brought together a range of organisations, including COSLA and Trade Union representation, to ensure that the actions within the Plan are implemented effectively and in partnership, with continued input and influence from women themselves.

The Boards stood down with the close of the first phase of the Plan. Updated governance will be developed alongside the second phase, to be published in 2025.

In NHS Scotland, a national menopause and menstrual health policy was published in October 2023, to seek to better support employees and their line managers.

NHS Education for Scotland (NES) has launched an e-learning module on menstrual health available on Turas Learnand in particular is aimed at those working in primary care. The school nursing workforce and school counsellors can also access this training as required.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has continued to support the Women’s Health Plan through their dedicated lived experience programme. This has included the development of the conversation café toolkit, available for anyone to use, to encourage information sharing and peer support on areas of women’s health including menstrual health and endometriosis.

More information can be found in the ALLIANCE Final Report on Women’s Health Plan.

Menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence.

An online RSHP teaching resource, (www.rshp.scot) was published in 2019 and provides age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and is aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7), with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3).

The Scottish Government has provided £80,000 through the Covid Recovery Plan Opportunities Fund to create new local chill and processing units for wild venison in Argyll, Moray and Dumfries and Galloway.

Separately, NatureScot is beginning a partnership project with the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society to look at the venison chain supply issues, barriers, and opportunities for investment into processing infrastructure and community larders.

In addition to this, Forestry and Land Scotland are considering providing a limited number of people from a small number of local communities with the opportunity to help them deliver sustainable deer management this would include allowing access to cull on FLS land and having access to their larders.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-32271 on 6 January 2025. As I said during the Parliamentary debate on Changing Places Toilets, I am keen to work in partnership with members from all parties.

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

The judgements and issues in the Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan are informed and influenced by recent developments in UK Government energy policy and by court decisions.

This is a rapidly changing landscape and we are taking time to reflect on those developments before drawing any conclusions and publishing a final strategy.

Work to develop the Changing Places Toilets Fund criteria, plans and processes is underway. Details of the Fund launch date will be confirmed once arrangements have been finalised and will be dependent on Parliamentary approval of the Scottish Government’s Budget Bill.

In some areas access to processing facilities, including larders is a barrier to increased deer control. That is why as set out in S6W-32094 on 6 January 2025, we have provided financial support for some larders already and are working with NatureScot, FLS and other public sector partners to assess what further support is required.

Mobile deer larders may be a good option in some parts of Scotland, and we will consider those alongside other options in future decisions on support for venison and deer management.

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

Social Security Scotland has an established process for requesting information from GPs. The initial request will always be sent through the Scottish Care Information Gateway system, unless we are informed otherwise. If no response is received Social Security Scotland will contact the GP by telephone and send the request via letter if required.

Social Security Scotland recognise the complexity of using that system, and the challenges GPs and the wider health and social care sector face in responding to information requests. They are actively working on engagement to increase awareness of Social Security Scotland and to identify potential improvements in how they can gather supporting information to ensure applications are processed as quickly and effectively as possible.

This engagement activity has started, utilising in-house Health and Social Care Practitioners to offer discussions at the GP practice when they are in contact about one of their patients.

Social Security Scotland will continue to work with senior leaders in Health & Social Care Partnerships and Health Boards in 2025 to offer similar meetings to raise awareness and understand how we can improve communication.