The data below shows that 1083 Foundation Year 2 doctors have returned to training in Scotland since 2020.

Taking a partnership approach, Scottish Government, at both a ministerial and official level, engaged with a broad range of stakeholders during the development of the Addressing Depopulation Action Plan (ADAP). This engagement was led by the-then Minister for Equalities, Migration and Refugees, who was the lead Minister for the development of the ADAP.

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands has portfolio responsibility for the Scottish Rural & Islands Youth Parliament (SRIYP), of which the Young Islanders Network are a key member. Ms. Gougeon attended the inaugural SRIYP in November 2023, where delegates worked together to agree a series of priority statements or asks of Scottish Government. These 10 priorities (including housing, transport and skills, education and employment) strongly align with the delivery priorities outlined within the (ADAP).

Ms. Gougeon has met with the SRIYP network twice since November 2023 and remains in close contact with the Network. This includes a parliamentary event in January 2024, where SRIYP delegates were supported to attend with £20k of Scottish Government funding. The group met with relevant Ministers to present their 10 priorities, which were later discussed at a parliamentary debate hosted by Ms. Gougeon and the Deputy First Minister. Following this, an online meeting in November 2024 was hosted, where Ms. Gougeon provided an update to attendees on what action Scottish Government has taken across their 10 priorities.

A copy of a table which shows how many NHS specialty training places have been available in each of the last 10 years, broken down by speciality, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 65598).

Recruitment to specialty training is undertaken on a UK-wide basis and managed by NES in Scotland. The number of posts advertised by NES each year is determined by two factors: (i) individuals who have vacated their post and whose posts are therefore available for new applicants for apply for, and (ii) whether any additional posts have been created.

The Scottish Shape of Training Transition Group – membership of which includes the Scottish Government, NHS Education for Scotland, British Medical Association, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges and various Health Board representatives including regional workforce planners – undertakes an annual review of medical training establishments and makes recommendations to Scottish Ministers on the need to create additional training places in order to meet increased demand and future anticipated consultant need.

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.

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

A programme of audit and other service based assurance reviews (including Digital Major Programme, Procurement, Cyber, Information management and archive assurance) are undertaken on a rolling basis across NRS services and functions with recommendations implemented to ensure efficient and effective delivery operations. The organisation also receives independent challenge through an Audit and Risk Committee comprised of Non-Executive Directors.

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.

Registers of Scotland is a non-Ministerial Public Body answerable to the Scottish Parliament.

RoS is committed to transparency and accountability to the Scottish Parliament. The principal mechanism is via the Annual Report and Accounts which is independently audited and laid before the Parliament annually, most recently on 7 October 2024.

The Keeper and Accountable Officer give evidence to the relevant subject matter committee on the ARA each year. Beyond that there is continued engagement through monthly written updates to the Committee as well as regular publication of performance data on the RoS website.

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.

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.