Parliament Workbench
Data: Motions & questions to 19 Nov 2026

Written Question · S4W-28812 · Session 4

How much it has invested in (a) cancer and (b) breast cancer research in each of the last 10 years.

Answered Asked by Jenny Marra Lab Lodged 2 Dec 2015

The question

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has invested in (a) cancer and (b) breast cancer research in each of the last 10 years.

The answer

Answered by Shona Robison on 15 Dec 2015 · 13 days after it was lodged, on time

Scottish Government investment in cancer research is primarily through the Chief Scientist Office (CSO). CSO supports cancer research directly through a number of schemes. These are:
The Experimental Cancer Medicine Centres Network (in collaboration with a number of other funders) to assist in delivery of early phase cancer studies;
The Scottish Cancer Research Network to increase and sustain clinical trial activity in cancer care;
Funding of cancer research studies submitted to the Chief Scientist Office research committees. Applications generated by the research community are assessed based on scientific excellence. The funding level is subject to quality of applications submitted;
Funding of cancer research studies or research fellowships in collaboration with cancer research charities.
These are set out in the following two tables:
Table 1: Data relating to cancer (including breast cancer) related research funding provided by CSO
Year
Scottish Cancer
Research Network**
Experimental Cancer
Medicine Centres**
Response Mode
Grant Funding Awarded**
Response Mode
Grant Funding Awarded
for Breast Cancer Studies Only
2015-16
£438,000
£350,000
£1,850,688 (part year)
£220,883 (part year)
2014-15
£438,000
£350,000
£1,230,752
£23,866
2013-12
£413,000
£350,000
£1,424,021
£144,578
2012-13
£413,000
£350,000
£1,302,555
£221,220
2011-12
£409,000
£350,000
£841,963
£0
2010-11
£408,600
£324,865
£2,075,620
£124,904
2009-10
£400,000
£314,365
£2,508,310
£218,267
2008-09
£400,000
£324,020
£685,728
£0
2007-08
£250,000
£324,020
£1,695,619
£47,832
2006-07
£250,000*
£324,020
£570,962
£0
2005-06
£750,000 (£250k from CSO)
n/a
£387,405
£163,021
*From 1 April 2006 a recurring investment of £500,000 was incorporated into the NHS boards’ unified budgets which would be subject to the annual uplift applied to boards’ baseline budgets.
**Support is for cancers including breast cancer.
Table 2: Data relating to cancer related collaborative funding initiatives
Year
Amount
Partner Organisation
2015-16
£75,000
Pancreatic Cancer UK
2014-15
£225,000
Prostate Cancer UK
2014-15
£150,000
Breast Cancer Now
Further indirect support is provided through an annual contribution (currently around £10 million) to the major National Institute for Health research programmes that cover a broad range of health research including cancer research across the UK.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-28812 by reference.