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The Scottish Government does not hold information specifically on the number of recorded thefts of global positioning system (GPS) units from farm machinery or any subsequent prosecutions or convictions for this type of theft.

Accredited Official Statistics are published by Scottish Government on recorded crime and criminal proceedings (see links below). However, it is not possible to break these statistics down by type of motor vehicle, which items were stolen or the value of these items. It should also be noted that the type of crime recorded for thefts of global positioning system (GPS) units from farm machinery will vary depending on the circumstances in which the crime occurred.

Latest statistics on the recorded number of thefts are published in Table 1 in the Recorded Crime in Scotland, year ending June 2025 publication.

Latest statistics on the number of people proceeded against and convicted for the crimes of theft are published in Tables 4a and 4b the Criminal Proceedings in Scotland 2022-23 publication.

It should also be noted that these two sets of statistics are based on separate and distinct data sets. They count different things (crimes versus people) at different times (date a crime was recorded versus date a case concludes in court) in fundamentally different ways and cannot be linked.

The Scottish Government does not hold information around insurance claims made by individuals or businesses following incidents of theft.

The Scottish Government is a member of the Scottish Partnership on Rural Crime (SPARC) and regularly attends partnership meetings which cover a wide range of rural crime incidents. We are aware that the theft of GPS units is an issue affecting some businesses and the Scottish Government continues to support SPARC’s five priorities, one of which is the prevention of machinery, tools, fuel and metal and metal from rural premises. The revised SPARC strategy highlights activity Police Scotland and its partners are undertaking to prevent this sort of crime, prepare and protect rural businesses and pursue those responsible.

The Scottish Government is aware of the suggestion that some stolen farm machinery stolen in the UK has made its way to eastern Europe. However, Police Scotland do not hold have enough evidence to confirm that this is a developing trend for machinery stolen Scotland. Officers will continue to investigate all crimes of this nature and trace those responsible.

Excessively long waiting lists are not acceptable and the Scottish Government apologises to all patients waiting too long.

We know that endometriosis can have a significant impact on people’s lives, that the symptoms can be debilitating and impact relationships, work, education, and mental health.

Women’s Health is a key priority for this government, which is why we published an ambitious Women’s Health Plan in August 2021 aiming to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for girls and women. Enhancing care and support for those with endometriosis is one of the early priorities set out in the plan. It includes actions to improve access to appropriate support, speedy diagnosis and best treatment for endometriosis.

We are considering how best to ensure that all women receive a timely diagnosis and access the care and support they need as we develop the next phase of the Women’s Health Plan.

We are determined to do more and our Budget will provide a record £21.7 billion for health and social care, with more than £110 million allocated to health boards to help tackle long waits. Funding has been assigned to specialty areas where it can have the greatest impact– this includes over £8 million for gynaecology.

The Scottish Government is actively considering the recommendations from the independent review of the anaesthesia associate (AA) and physician associate (PA) roles in England. I met with the Medical Associate Professions (MAPs) Programme Board on 9 September 2025 to discuss the review and its implications for Scotland.

I intend to write to the Programme Board imminently to set out the Scottish Government's position.

We know that cancer, and its treatments, can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical health. Scottish Government recognises the impact that a cancer diagnosis can also have on individuals financially and emotionally and is committed to supporting them.

People with cancer can apply for financial support through Social Security Scotland, including for Disability Living Allowance.

Further to this, we are currently working in partnership with Macmillan Cancer Support to improve the service we offer patients with cancer through the Transforming Cancer Care Programme (TCC). This partnership programme is worth £27 million and ensures that people affected by cancer in Scotland have access to a specialist key support worker, who can provide financial advice and emotional and practical support.

In March 2025 the Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office and the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) announced a partnership to advance brain tumour treatment, care and research through Scotland's first dedicated neuro-oncology fellowships.

Two TJBCM fellowships have to date been funded via this collaboration: a neuro-oncology fellowship hosted jointly in Glasgow and Edinburgh, and a brain tumour neurology fellowship hosted in Glasgow.

The Scottish Government, through NHS Research Scotland (NRS) provides core funding to promote and support excellence in clinical and translational research.

Within NRS, the Scottish Cancer Research Network works to increase, support and sustain cancer clinical trial activity across the NHS in Scotland. This work is underpinned by core funding from the Scottish Government.

The Scottish Cancer Research Network employs Clinical Research Nurses and Data Managers based on operational needs. The Network currently employs 2 dedicated Neuro-oncology Research Nurses and 2 specialist Data Managers.

Within the Scottish Government, the Chief Scientist Office (CSO) is responsible for supporting Health and Care Research.

CSO runs a number of research project and capacity building fellowship schemes and this role is well known across the Health and Care Research community in Scotland

Grant Funding – Chief Scientist Office

Fellowship Funding – Chief Scientist Office

Applications on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of Brain Tumours are welcomed. In common with all other applications, these would go through CSO's standard independent expert review process to enable funding decisions to be made.

Current CSO funded brain tumour research projects are listed below:

TCS/21/05 - Developing representative models of the blood-tumour barrier to enhance drug development for Glioblastoma

Prof. Anthony Chalmers Univ. Glasgow £296,864

TCS/23/18 - Assessment of brain tumours with dynamic T2 and Lactate MR under oxygen challenge to evaluate aerobic and anaerobic metabolic status of Gliomas

Prof. Natasha Fullerton NHS GGC £299,918

TCS/24/35 - Applying new MRI technology to improve outcomes from chemoradiotherapy treatment for adult patients with Glioblastoma

Prof. Anne Kiltie Univ. Aberdeen £349,033

In addition, through UK-wide funding arrangements, the majority of funding programmes administered by the National Institute for Health & Care Research (NIHR) are open to applications led by researchers based in Scotland

Scottish Researchers to be able to access further NIHR research funding – Chief Scientist Office.