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Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

Find out more about parliamentary questions

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Question reference: S6W-38283

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to educate students about cardiovascular health by adding more in-depth content to the curriculum in personal and social education lessons.

Question reference: S6W-38282

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to incentivise students to study STEM subjects at (a) National 5, (b) Higher, (c) Advanced Higher and (d) university level.

Question reference: S6W-38297

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Public Health Scotland stopped providing data in its Cancelled planned operations release that illustrated the difference in current levels of operation activity and operation activity pre-COVID-19 pandemic.

Question reference: S6W-38213

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 03 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide stable, permanent jobs to newly qualified nurses in NHS boards, including NHS Lothian, in light of reports that there are currently hundreds of nurses waiting for their first permanent position after graduating from university with a degree in nursing.

Question reference: S6W-37248

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its work to promote Scottish businesses, and in light of its guidance on due diligence and human rights, whether the Minister for Business raised the issue of human rights on his recent trip to China.

As you may know, I visited China in April 2025 marked the 20th anniversary year of the Scottish Government’s China Office. The visit demonstrated how Scotland-China links have developed in key areas that support economic growth with future opportunities over the next 20 years and beyond. Engagement at Ministerial level is considered important to maintaining and building these links that bring benefits to Scotland and as a channel to raise values and human rights issues.

Respect for human rights and the rule of law is one of the guiding principles in all the Scottish Government’s international engagements. Scotland also remains open to foreign investment subject to appropriate due diligence and national security considerations.

I did raise the Scottish Government's concerns regarding the human rights situation in China during my visit. Additionally, the Scottish Government fully supports the UK Government position and calls for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai, the Scottish Government has serious concerns regarding the implementation of the National Security Law and his arrest and detention.

Question reference: S6W-37777

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to ensure that vulnerable adults receive their spring COVID-19 vaccine.

A number of process are in place to support those who may need additional assistance to receive their vaccination. Health Boards maintain lists of those requiring home visits for vaccination, and there are clear instructions on appointment letters on how a person can seek a home visit, if not already on a local list. Boards provide travel advice services to help people get to clinics easily, and also provide interpreting services for those for whom English is not their first language, as well as offering private vaccination spaces for people with specific needs.

The Scottish Government funds the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) mobile vaccination service, a year-round service, covering all vaccination programmes, including the spring COVID-19 campaign. The service is designed to offer accessible vaccination to those in rural and island areas, as well as underserved urban communities, identified by Boards.

Many clinics offer evening and weekend appointments, for those who work during the week, and some Boards are offering drop-in clinics.

More generally, the Scottish Government is working with Public Health Scotland and Health Boards to ensure that those who are eligible are easily able to access a COVID-19 vaccination. Eligible people have been sent an invite via letter, email or text message, depending on their communication preference. People are appointed to their nearest available clinic, with flexibility to reschedule into any clinic in Scotland, via the online booking portal or the national vaccination helpline, should their original appointment be unsuitable. This gives citizens flexibility to get their vaccination outside their own area, should it be easier for them to receive vaccination nearer their place of work or somewhere they visit regularly.

Question reference: S6W-37252

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 3 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether the Minister for Business raised the issue of investment by Chinese companies in offshore wind infrastructure in Scotland during his recent trip to China.

In any meetings relating to offshore wind, I encouraged investors to continue engaging with Scotland’s economic development agencies.

The UK Government is responsible for national security, the regulation of international trade, elements of critical national infrastructure including energy, and the application of the NSIA. We continue to engage closely with the UK Government to understand the security implications of potential foreign investment in energy-related infrastructure.

Question reference: S6F-04143

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 02 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-37800

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 21 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 29 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what steps it is taking to reduce waiting times for a routine colonoscopy, which is reportedly up to 40 weeks in NHS Lothian.

Our Budget provides a record £21.7 billion for health and social care.

As part of planned care funding for 2025-26 we have provided over £10.5 million to territorial health boards across Scotland, including NHS Lothian, to support endoscopy activity and reduce waiting lists.

Patients continue to be seen based on their clinical urgency, for example, those referred with an urgent suspicion of cancer continue to be prioritised for scope-based diagnostic tests.

To specifically support scope based diagnostics we published an Endoscopy and Urology Diagnostic Recovery and Renewal Plan backed by £70 million. The plan focuses on key areas such as: Balancing Demand and Capacity; Workforce Training and Development; Infrastructure; and Innovation and Redesign.

Question reference: S6W-37398

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 May 2025
Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 20 May 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the enhanced council tax on second homes, whether it plans to review any impact of the introduction of this uplift by local authorities on the group of properties that fall into the 25-day category, but which are unable to be let or sold for main dwelling purposes due to planning constraints attached to consent, which prohibit use or sale as a main dwelling.

Since 1 April 2024 local authorities have had discretionary powers to apply a Council Tax premium of up to 100% on second homes.

Council Tax is a local tax, and it is for individual councils to determine the appropriate balance of housing in their areas based on local needs. The Regulations give Councils greater fiscal empowerment, in the spirit of the Verity House Agreement. They enable Councils the discretion to charge Second Homes anywhere between a 50% discount, and up to a 100% premium. It is for Councils to take decisions about the tax treatment of second homes, including where exclusions may apply.

The Scottish Government is committed to monitoring the impact of the premium and will consider their effects as more data becomes available. The first set of data reflecting the implementation of the premium was collected in September 2024. This data indicated a 10% decrease (2,455 properties) in the number of second homes compared to the previous year. This decline may be related to the introduction of the 100% Council Tax premium on second homes. The Scottish Government will continue to monitor the impact of the Council Tax premium.

I would also note that the Council Tax system includes exemptions for certain circumstances. This includes an exemption for properties that are difficult to let, which applies specifically to properties that are inherently hard to let due to their physical relationship with another dwelling. Further, there is an exemption for properties that cannot legally be lived in because it is prohibited by law. It is for the local authority to assess whether the conditions are met for these exemptions to apply.