Chamber and committees

In Scotland, there is no funding out with the advertising spend that is allocated for community radio stations. The selection of the stations for campaigns is determined by the target audience and reach. Information on individual advertising spend per radio station is not available to us as this is deemed commercially sensitive.

We are currently considering all the issues raised in response to our recent consultation on proposals for a Heat in Buildings Bill. We will confirm our decisions and the nature and timing of next steps as soon as practicable.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally.

The Scottish Government recognises the valuable role of community radio in delivering local news and important information to our communities right across Scotland. We believe that it is vital that there is a network of radio operations to expand and enhance the service provision for Scottish listeners and we will continue to champion a stronger broadcasting sector in Scotland to ensure a diversity of voices in communities across Scotland.

Radio, including community radio, has proven its value to our communities at times when the distribution of important information has been particularly vital, such as during the pandemic. We recognise the importance of a strong broadcasting sector with a mixed range of media sources to provide a diversity of voices, local and independent thinking and to empower communities.

We continue to make the case to the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) for support to radio stations, as we did during the pandemic when we pressed for support for radio and subsequently welcomed the emergency funding for community radio through grants for community radio stations across Scotland and the rest of the UK. Scottish Government officials continue to engage with DCMS to ensure that representation from Scotland is made and DCMS understand the challenges that continue to impact the radio sector in Scotland.

The Scottish Government promotes community engagement with local radio stations through a number of ways.

We recognise the importance of ensuring people across Scotland have access to important information and radio of course provides a vital service. That is why we continue to use local radio operators as part of our public health marketing campaigns across Scotland.

The Scottish Government speaks regularly with Ofcom, the regulator for communications services who allocate the Community Radio Fund throughout Scotland to promote Scottish interests in community radio.

I have asked Alison Byrne OBE, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland (NRS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

NRS is a member of the Institute of Customer Service and participates in an annual Business Benchmarking Survey. The survey focusses on evaluating customer satisfaction levels. In 2024, 85.7% of customers were satisfied with the services delivered by NRS, set against a public services national average of 73.6%.

When exploring any changes or improvements in service provision, NRS engages with customers through appropriate survey channels. NRS monitors customer use of services through quarterly reporting. NRS operates various social media platforms that are used to engage with the public and gather feedback.

NRS also continues to review its KPIs on a yearly basis to reflect use of services.

I have asked Alison Byrne OBE, Chief Executive of National Records of Scotland (NRS), to respond. Her response is as follows:

Access to NRS Services is set out in our Public Access Policy - National Records of Scotland (NRS) .

For the range of services delivered by NRS, assessments including the EQIA, Island Communities Impact Assessment and Digital Scotland Service Standard Assessment are undertaken at the point of service change and improvement to help improve accessibility for citizens across all communities.

The Scottish Government has not had any conversations to date with the UK Government in relation to specific barriers to spectrum access for local and regional broadcasters, however we continue to engage with Ofcom, who has responsibility for allocating spectrum and assessing appropriate levels of local content, to press for a network of radio stations that ensure that Scotland’s needs across rural and urban areas are met.

We maintain a close interest in audience and stakeholder views on reception and spectrum allocation because of the implications for the level of service provided for audiences here and we meet regularly with representatives of Ofcom to urge them to consider how they might ensure that audiences in all parts of Scotland receive the best possible level of service.

Ofcom is reviewing public service media and the Scottish Government will be closely engaging with this and making representations on the importance of reducing any barriers for access to vital broadcasting services in Scotland, including community radio.

Fundamentally, we believe that broadcasting should be devolved so that the decisions that impact audiences and the creative industries in Scotland can be determined by the Scottish public through the Scottish Parliament.

Allocating spectrum and assessing appropriate levels of local content is the responsibility of Ofcom. While spectrum regulation is not a devolved matter, the Scottish Government maintains a close interest in stakeholder and audience views in relation to reception and spectrum allocation because of the wider implications for the economic, creative and cultural sectors in Scotland.

We continue to set out to Ofcom and the UK Government that maintaining and developing a radio network in Scotland that meets the specific needs for both urban and rural areas across the country, is key to ensuring audiences in Scotland are kept informed and entertained, and we will continue to do so. Our view remains that it is essential that local voices and coverage of local issues are protected and enhanced, and that the regulatory framework should allow for clear and effective regulation of the requirements.

Fundamentally, we believe that broadcasting should be devolved so that the decisions that impact audiences and the creative industries in Scotland can be determined by the Scottish public through the Scottish Parliament.

a) The Scottish Deans Medical Education Group, now known as the Leads for Undergraduate Medicine Scotland (LUMES), reviewed the module and found the contents valuable.

b) We understand that rather than implementing stand-alone modules, medical schools in Scotland seek to integrate ME/CFS education throughout the existing medical curriculum.

Embedding relevant knowledge across the curriculum seeks to ensure that students encounter the condition in various contexts, including neurology and general practice.

We are advised that LUMES considers that incorporating the module’s key learning outcomes into institutions’ current teaching methods better aligns with existing educational strategies. This approach is in line with other conditions, to ensure graduates have a comprehensive and cohesive learning experience and develop a holistic perspective.