Chamber and committees

There are a total of 940 Foundation year 2 doctors working across all Health Boards as of 17 December 2024. This number will fluctuate daily due to trainees going out of programme or completing training. Please see the following table for further information.

The public consultation on the detail of proposed regulations to restrict promotions of food and drink high in fat, sugar or salt closed on 21 May 2024. The consultation sought views on qualifying businesses in scope of regulations and proposed exemptions.

We will publish the independent analysis report of the consultation responses in early 2025, as well as next steps for the regulation of HFSS food and drink promotions.

Provisions in the Community Wealth Building (CWB) Bill will be informed by operation of the internationally recognised CWB economic development model.

Community Wealth Building provides a strategic framework that can be applied to local areas and regions to bind together action in areas such as Fair Work, Sustainable Procurement and supporting the creation and sustainability of democratic and inclusive business models.

The Scottish Government has now confirmed arrangements for an implementation process with regard to the independent report, “Developing Scotland's Economy: Increasing the Role of Inclusive and Democratic Business Models.”

A new group will be formed to examine how the recommendations in this report can be delivered. Consideration of supported businesses can be included in the work of the group.

The Best Start (2017) recommended that all neonatal facilities should provide emergency overnight accommodation on the unit for parents, with accommodation available nearby for parents of less critically ill babies. We have no plans to introduce guidance on the number of parent beds that should be available in each unit.

We are currently working with Regional Chief Executives and Regional Planners who are leading on development of plans for implementation of the new model of neonatal care, with the expectation that a phased transition to the new model will begin later this year. Accommodation is part of Board’s planning under the new model of neonatal care implementation.

Data on the amount local authorities spend on reading books is not collected centrally. The delivery of education is devolved to local authorities and funding is provided to local authorities via the “block grant”. Each local authority will have their own approaches to funding school reading materials, which will vary according to local needs and resources.

The figures below relate to Endometriosis research funding directly awarded following a competitive independent review process either through Chief Scientist Office’s (CSO) project funding committees, or fellowship funding panels.

This includes the 2022 Scottish Government collaboration with Wellbeing of Women on a £250,000 research call. The research is primarily being run by researchers at The University of Edinburgh and will look at a non-hormonal drug in the management of endometriosis-associated pain.

Most awards are multi-year. The figures below relate to the year in which the funding was committed rather than a breakdown by year of the spend profile for individual projects or fellowships

2007 0

2008 0

2009 0

2010 0

2011 0

2012 £110,198

2013 0

2014 0

2015 £27,639

2016 0

2017 0

2018 £162,651

2019 £30,000

2020 0

2021 0

2022 £394,510

2023 £349,999

2024 £623,028

Full details of CSO’s direct research funding awards are available from the CSO website Funded Research – Chief Scientist Office

The Scottish Government provides baseline funding to NHS Boards, which Boards use to best meet the healthcare needs of their resident population. Funding is not ring-fenced for the treatment of endometriosis. It is not therefore possible to identify funding allocated specifically for endometriosis.

Through the Women’s Health Plan, a range of funding has been provided for resources and research related to improving endometriosis care.

The Scottish Government collaborated with Wellbeing of Women on a £250,000 research call in 2022. The research is primarily being run by researchers at The University of Edinburgh and will look at a non-hormonal drug in the management of endometriosis-associated pain.

The Chief Scientist Office announced funding of £299,509 for the 30 month ENDOCAN project in January 2023, led by researchers at The University of Edinburgh. Through a large scale UK-wide trial, the research will investigate whether a cannabinoid can reduce endometriosis-associated pain.

The Scottish Government also provided £24,000 of funding in August 2023 to Endometriosis UK to deliver a project creating new resources to support people with endometriosis.

The Scottish Government collaborated with Wellbeing of Women on a £250,000 research call in April 2022. The research is primarily being run by researchers at The University of Edinburgh and will look at a non-hormonal drug in the management of endometriosis-associated pain.

The research will be funded over 3 years with the research findings expected to be disseminated in December 2025.

In January 2023 the Chief Scientist Office announced funding of £299,509 for the 30 month ENDOCAN project, led by researchers at The University of Edinburgh. Through a large scale UK-wide trial, the research will investigate whether a cannabinoid can reduce endometriosis-associated pain.

Recruitment for the study is due to start in August 2025 in NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian. More information can be found on the research being undertaken by The University of Edinburgh can be found on their website.

The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE) has continued to support the Women’s Health Plan through their dedicated lived experience programme, including a Women’s Health Lived Experience Stakeholder Group, to help us continue our conversation with women, and ensure women are meaningfully involved in decision making and priority setting going forward.

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

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-30034 on 3 October 2024. 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