Archive News - SHERT's two-year path to independence
SHERT (Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust) became an independent charity with effect from 1st November, 2005 and, with effect from 1st April 2006, operates under the name of Medical Research Scotland. The following paragraphs summarise the stages that were involved.
During the autumn of 2003, Scottish Ministers consulted SHERT grant-holders, awarding institutions and other interested parties, seeking their views on the future status of SHERT. [A copy of the consultation letter is available to view or download (in Word format 253Kb). View or download the consultation letter.]
Following consideration of the outcome of the consultation, the Scottish Executive Minister for Health agreed that SHERT's public body status should be repealed. This meant that SHERT could become an independent charity. Having originally been established under Act of Parliament, however, this meant that an appropriate opportunity would have to be found to allow the necessary legislative changes to be enacted.
On 7th September 2004, the Scottish Executive published the legislative programme for the 2004-05 session of the Scottish Parliament. Among the proposals in the Health Service (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Scotland) Bill, was listed: "Ending the NDPB status of (the) Scottish Hospital Endowments Research Trust". The Trust Secretaries worked closely with representatives of the Chief Scientist Office to support the drafting of the technical details needed to ensure SHERT's future independence.
The Bill which included provision for changing the status of SHERT was published and introduced in the Scottish Parliament in December 2004 as the "Smoking, Health & Social Care (Scotland) Bill".
The Smoking, Health & Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, which included provisions which provided for SHERT to become an independent charity received Royal Assent in the summer of 2005. After 50 years as a non-departmental public body, responsible (latterly) to the Scottish Executive Health Department, SHERT gained independent status on 1 November, 2005.
The Members of the newly-independent SHERT subsequently agreed that some changes would be needed, including a change of operating name to better reflect the status and work of the charity. They also agreed that there would be no change to the rigour which has always been applied to consideration of the funding applications it receives. SHERT has an impressive track record in supporting Scotland's bright young researchers and groundbreaking research - these will continue to be the objectives of the newly-independent charity.