Seòmar agus comataidhean

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges in diagnosing rare cancers, such as cholangiocarcinoma, often due to the presentation of vague, non-specific symptoms. We are committed to improving early detection as we know that the sooner cancer is detected and diagnosed, the better the outcomes are for the individual.

Through our Cancer Strategy for Scotland 2023-2033 and initial three year Cancer Action Plan for Scotland 2023 – 2026 published in June 2023, a new Earlier Cancer Diagnosis Vision was developed. This vision aims to reduce later stage disease by 18 percentage points in 10 years’ time, with a focus on reducing the health inequalities gap.

We are improving earlier diagnosis through our Get Checked Early and NHS Inform websites, which encourage individuals to contact their General Practice for early detection and referrals.

We are taking action to support Primary Care to ensure that patients are on the right pathways at the right time. In August 2025, we published the updated Scottish Referral Guidelines for Urgent Suspicion of Cancer. For the first time, the guidelines include criteria for non-specific symptoms, especially important for rare cancers like cholangiocarcinoma, where early signs and symptoms can be easily missed.

We also launched Scotland’s sixth Rapid Cancer Diagnosis Service this year. These services are ruling cancer in or out faster for those with non-specific symptoms.

Gateway C, a new free online primary care cancer education platform, launched in April 2024, further provides tailored information to support earlier cancer diagnosis and enable effective decision-making. This is accessible to all primary care clinicians and includes information about liver cancers.

We also understand the importance of expanded genomic testing for people with cholangiocarcinoma and its direct impact on their care and access to life-saving precision medicines. There is a wider programme of laboratory transformation and investment planning underway to support a sustainable expansion of genomic testing, as part of our long-term approach to deliver bold and ambitious action to reform and renew our health and care systems in Scotland.

Recognising the importance of genomic testing for cholangiocarcinoma patients and their families, we have asked NHS National Services Division to bring this testing into service ahead of the wider reform programme. Implementation planning is now progressing rapidly within the service.

We have also commissioned the Scottish Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB) Network to develop nationally standardised pathways for HPB cancers. This will include consideration of the distinct clinical management needed for a range of tumour subtypes, including cholangiocarcinoma, to ensure a person-centred approach to treatment and care.

We are engaging with NHS boards and COSLA to understand the cost impact caused by the UK Government’s hike in employer National Insurance.

On 24 January 2023, Scottish Government provided a summary update on progress towards implementing the recommendations in the 2019 Becoming Breastfeeding Friendly (BBF) report to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee. At that time, a commitment was made to provide a more detailed report on progress in 2024.

Subsequently, it was decided to incorporate the BBF recommendations within the Breastfeeding and Infant Feeding Strategic Framework 2025-2030 through the overarching strategic goals, and to provide a further update on progress throughout that document. The Health, Social Care and Sport Committee has been informed of this approach.

The Waiting Times Guidance was published in November 2023, and preparations for implementation began in early 2024. NHS Boards engage on a monthly basis with Public Health Scotland’s Waiting Times Coordinator to provide updates on progress across all aspects of the guidance.

In addition, Health Boards and Public Health Scotland, participate in the Waiting Times Information Group, which meets every two months to discuss changes to the statistics and share best practice. These meetings have included presentations from system suppliers to support implementation. The next meeting of this group is scheduled to take place later this month.

In the absence of powers over employment law, the Scottish Government is committed to using the levers we do have to embed Fair Work across the Scottish labour market.

The Scottish Government remains committed to developing a sustainable health and social care system that ensures people get the right care, at the right time, in the right place.

The 2025-26 budget includes over £15 billion for the Local Government Settlement and almost £2.2 billion for social care and integration, exceeding our commitment to increase funding by 25% by almost £350 million. At £21.7 billion, the overall financial envelope for Health and Social Care also reached record levels.

Despite these substantial funding increases, significant challenges in service provision remain, including rising demand and workforce challenges. UK Government decisions, such as increased National Insurance costs and restrictions on international recruitment, are exacerbating these issues.

We are implementing the Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025, that will strengthen rights for care home residents, support unpaid carers and social workers and improve experiences for the many people that access social care across Scotland.

The National Care Service Advisory Board will drive progress and scrutinise reform to ensure we can meet the care needs of those who require it. The Board is independent of Government and includes a diverse membership of people with lived experience of accessing care services, unpaid carers and those working in the sector.

The Care Reform (Scotland) Act 2025 and the National Care Service Advisory Board alongside other national programmes including GIRFE, Coming Home, the Self-directed Support improvement plan and Support in the Right Direction funding, are all playing a part to improve services across Scotland.

This is a matter for Public Health Scotland who collate and manage this data.

The Scottish Government does not hold this information. The figures recently reported in the media stem from a Freedom of Information request made to Police Scotland and relate to a single day snapshot of the situation as of
3 September 2025. Police Scotland do not publish the figures as a matter of course, given the day to day fluctuation around the number of outstanding warrants.

Police Scotland have been clear that they prioritise all arrest warrants according to threat, risk and harm, deploying national specialist resources and intelligence techniques to locate and apprehend those who pose the greatest risk to communities.

The Scottish Government has not had any recent discussions with the UK Government regarding the concentration of gambling advertising in areas of deprivation in Scotland.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) administer advertisement rules which are designed to ensure gambling advertising is responsible, supported by Ofcom for broadcast gambling adverts, and the Gambling Commission for non-broadcast gambling adverts.

The Scottish Government is working closely with the UK Government (and Welsh Government) over the distribution of the Gambling Levy, to ensure there are funds available to develop a comprehensive approach to gambling prevention, early intervention and support in Scotland.

The Scottish Government continues to expect NHS Health Boards to work towards achieving the Scottish Stroke Care Standards.

All the standards, and the cohort of patients who will be included in the standards, have been carefully reviewed by the Scottish Stroke Care Audit Steering Group, which represents clinical, management and third sector stakeholders from around Scotland.

The Scottish Government will continue to work with Health Boards and stakeholders to ensure that data is being collected robustly and that patients who could realistically be expected to reach the target are included in the audit. The 100% standard reflects best guideline-based care and should be the goal for all appropriate patients in Scotland.

Information on the Scottish National Audit Programme audit governance process can be found at: Escalation of issues - Our audit governance - Overview of the Scottish National Audit Programme (SNAP) - Scottish National Audit Programme (SNAP) - Health strategy and outcomes - Resources and tools - Public Health Scotland