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The Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland (PHS) are finalising the scope of the review of the evidence to support decisions on potential proposals in relation to alcohol marketing and promotion that may be taken forward in future, under devolved powers to ensure it delivers. The commissioning document, including timelines and scope of that review, will be published imminently.

PHS’s review will be delivered independently and will deliver its conclusions solely on the basis of its assessment of evidence.

The Patient Safety Commissioner is a Parliamentary office-holder and is being recruited by the Scottish Parliament. They will be appointed by His Majesty on nomination of the Scottish Parliament.

As the Commissioner will be an independent public advocate for patients on issues of safety the Scottish Government does not have a role in the recruitment process. The Commissioner will champion the value of listening to patients and will hold organisations to account for their responsibility to take patients’ concerns seriously.

The LVA research reported in General Psychiatry volume 37, issue 3 is a single case study rather than a Clinical Trial or series of Clinical Trials

The Scottish Government works in partnership with the NHS Boards through NHS Research Scotland (NRS) to deliver high quality research studies in the NHS across the spectrum of disease and clinical need. This includes the NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network which supports a wide range of research conducted within the NHS and Care Home settings Neuroprogressive and Dementia | NHS Research Scotland | NHS Research Scotland

The NRS Neuroprogressive and Dementia Network is available to support the delivery of any eligibly funded Alzheimer's Disease study (including in cervical lymphatic-venous anastomosis) that is open to patient recruitment in the NHS in Scotland

The Scottish Government promotes healthy living and encourages the reduction in alcohol consumption by highlighting the risks of drinking too much alcohol on the NHS Inform website.

Guidance from the Chief Medical Officer is clear that drinking more than 14 units per week for both men and women on a regular basis may increase a person’s risk of serious health conditions, including cancer. Cancers associated with excess drinking include cancers of the mouth, upper throat, larynx, oesophagus, breast, liver and bowel.

The Scottish Government’s published budgets for the last five years, including details of planned spending, are available online.

Scottish Budget: 2024 to 2025 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget: 2023 to 2024 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2022 to 2023 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2021 to 2022 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

Scottish Budget 2020-2021 - gov.scot (www.gov.scot)

To support delivery of the HIV Transmission Elimination Delivery Plan the Scottish Government has allocated funding of £93,588 over three years to NHS Education for Scotland to develop education and training materials which will raise awareness, knowledge and understanding of HIV and reduce stigma amongst non-HIV specialist healthcare staff.

To expand and enhance this work, we are currently assessing bids for a workforce education project for health and social care staff to raise awareness of HIV, improve support and reduce stigma across these key settings. We expect to be able to announce the outcome of this process soon.

Scottish Government officials will work with project leads to ensure that the resources developed are appropriately tailored and targeted to key professional groups, including mental health practitioners.

The Scottish Government does not hold the information requested.

We are committed to ensuring that everyone living with fibromyalgia in Scotland is able to access clinically appropriate, safe, effective and person-centred healthcare, treatment and support.

In November 2023, we published an update to our Pain Management Service Delivery Framework Implementation Plan. As part of the framework, the National Pain Education Group developed a Chronic Pain Learning Toolkit for all health and social care staff across Scotland.

It is Scotland’s first national chronic pain training resource and will look to enhance understanding and care for people living with chronic pain, including fibromyalgia, across all levels health and social care staff. The toolkit went live November 2024.

Following the Bayoh family’s request to extend the Inquiry’s Terms of Reference, the Government started the process of gathering views, including consulting with the Chair of the Inquiry.

All relevant matters will be given full and careful consideration in order for a decision to be made. This work is ongoing and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

The Scottish Government has not provided any advice to GPs regarding women who have been potentially exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES).

The regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. They are responsible for investigating any safety concerns regarding the licensing of diethylstilbestrol (DES). Scottish Government officials meet regularly with the MHRA to discuss known medicine safety issues and to agree required actions.

The most recent guidance published by the Department of Health, which also applies in Scotland, advises that daughters of individuals exposed to DES in utero are at an increased risk of clear cell cancer of the cervix and vagina but no other forms of cervical cancer and that local arrangements should be made for the follow up of individuals who are DES daughters and have the stigmata of DES exposure. This would usually be via annual colposcopy.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-31648 on 4 December 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