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Scottish Government policy on genetic modification has not changed and our position is clear: we are opposed to the cultivation of GM crops in Scotland. We are aware of the current debate around new genomic techniques, such as gene editing, and how these relate to existing genetic modification legislation. Ministers will continue to monitor developments in the EU as they consider any next steps.

The Scottish Government have regular meetings with animal welfare organisations to discuss a range of welfare issues, including electronic shock collars. Furthermore Scottish Government officials recently met with the Scottish Canine Trainers Alliance to discuss this topic and will continue to engage with all stakeholders in this area going forward.

The Scottish Government is committed to increasing the safety of the people in Scotland under threat of being victims of transplant-related offences, including when those offences take place in other countries. The Human Tissue (Supply of Information about Transplants) (Scotland) Regulations 2025, which came into force on 1 July 2025, place a duty on all clinicians in Scotland to report to the UK Human Tissue Authority (1) suspicions about transplant-related crimes, that arise in the course of the clinician’s profession; and (2) information about overseas transplants. The duty applies to doctors and nurses practising in transplant and non-transplant centres across Scotland to ensure that the duty applies to all clinicians who may come across these patients.

The Regulations, which are in line with the arrangements that are in place in the rest of the UK, give clarity to clinicians in Scotland around when, and to whom, they should report relevant suspected offences in the Human Tissue (Scotland) Act 2006 or the Human Trafficking and Exploitation (Scotland) Act 2015. Guidance has been issued to clinicians about the implementation of the Regulations. The Regulations have been brought to the attention of NHS Boards and others in Scotland. Any reports that the Human Tissue Authority receives will be considered and, where relevant, findings will be passed on to Police Scotland for further investigation.

The Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has received an abbreviated submission from the marketing authorisation holder, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, for vanzacaftor–tezacaftor–deutivacaftor (Alyftrek®), for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in people aged six years and older who have at least one non-class I mutation in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. The appraisal of Alyftrek® via this abbreviated process is ongoing, and NHS National Procurement (NP) is continuing to work with Vertex Pharmaceuticals on the commercial arrangements.

The medicine product page on the SMC’s website will be updated with the advice in due course, once published.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40546 on 24 September 2025. 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.

We are investing £200 million across the health and social care system to increase capacity and reduce backlogs. For chronic pain services, this investment will support Health Boards to create additional appointments and strengthen the flow of patients through the system, helping more people to be seen more quickly.

We want to deliver better and more sustainable care for people with chronic pain and we have outlined the action we will take to achieve this vision in our Framework for Pain Management Service Delivery Implementation Plan.

Through our Implementation Plan we are continuing to work with partners to improve how pain services are planned and delivered. We are also working to deliver a more sustainable and knowledgeable workforce by developing specialist training routes and new resources to enhance pain education and skills amongst NHS staff.

The Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025 received Royal Assent on 19 March 2025 and introduced provisions to help ensure more informed and responsible dog ownership. Scottish Government officials have been working with key stakeholders over a period of months to develop a code of practice that should be followed by any person who is considering acquiring a dog to keep as a pet. There is already a wealth of information available to the public from welfare organisations including the Dogs Trust and the Scottish SPCA covering the safe purchase and ownership of a dog and we urge people considering getting a dog to follow the advice provided.

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.

I recognise that the significant increase in adults seeking ADHD and autism assessments across Scotland is creating challenges for services, while also acknowledging that a diagnosis can be important to people.

The Scottish Government is aware of a range of issues affecting the availability of adult neurodevelopmental assessments in the NHS Forth Valley area and that as a result NHS Forth valley is reviewing their approach. I expect this to be resolved at the earliest opportunity.

Officials continue to work with NHS Boards, including Forth Valley, and local Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) to improve services and support for neurodivergent people.

Earlier this year, officials wrote to all health boards, including Forth Valley, to seek clarification on what neurodevelopmental assessment and support they currently have in place for adults. We are currently reviewing responses received. Understanding current provision across Scotland will provide a starting point for improvement and underpin work going forward to develop a national approach.

Some of the information you have requested – i) the number of licences applications made, and ii) how many licences were granted from 2012 to April 2025 to control mountain hares, is already in the public domain and can be found on NatureScot’s website at:

https://www.nature.scot/doc/freedom-information-request-licences-mountain-hare

The figures from April 2025 to-date are as follows:

Licences granted – 8

Licences Refused – 1

Licences in Progress – 1