Alex Cole-Hamilton
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Alex Cole-Hamilton
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5821
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
151 St John's Road
Corstorphine
Edinburgh
EH12 7SD
Phone: 0131 334 1814
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Alex is a member of 1 committee
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Alex is a member of 11 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Alex does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Alex has 5 party roles
Party Leader
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on Social Care
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on the Constitution
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Alex has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Deputy Convener
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
06 February 2019 - 04 May 2021
Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints
Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Member
16 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Equal Opportunities Committee
Deputy Convener
08 June 2016 - 16 June 2016
Equal Opportunities Committee
Member
Register of interests
Alex's register of interests
MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.
Here is the register for Alex Cole-Hamilton. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On 26 August 2022, my wife and I were guests of the RAF at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Limited, 1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QB). The estimated value of the hospitality received was £773. [Registered 20 September 2022]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
Until 29 August 2022, I sublet part of my own property in Edinburgh through online holiday property website Airbnb. This yielded a gross annual income of between £5,001 and £10,000. Between 29 August 2022 and 4 May 2023, I used this part of my property to accommodate a person under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for which I received £350 a month as a “thank you” payment. Since the departure of my Ukrainian guest on 4 May 2023, I have relisted this part of my property on Airbnb and it will yield a gross annual income of between £5,0001 and £10,000 per annum. [Amended interest 22 September 2022, Amended interest 11 May 2023]
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).
On 5 February 2022, I was a guest of Scottish Rugby to the Calcutta cup at Murrayfield, they provided hospitality and 2 match tickets to myself and my guest, followed by dinner afterwards. SRU have stated that the estimated value was £1,000 per person. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test. [Registered 22 February 2022]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Alex Cole-Hamilton has said in Parliament
These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.
Chamber meeting date: 30 May 2023
Diet and Healthy Weight Consultations
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "We have just heard that there will be a pause to the introduction of mandatory calorie counting on menus, which is very welcome…
Chamber meeting date: 30 May 2023
Deposit Return Scheme
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "This is proof, if any were needed, that the Scottish and UK Governments would pick a fight in an empty room. They are at it, and businesses are caught in the middle and being messed about…
Chamber meeting date: 30 May 2023
Hospital at Home Programme
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am pleased to speak for the Liberal Democrats and I thank Michael Matheson for securing time for the debate…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Fornethy House Survivors
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Does Colin Smyth agree that, as well as being denied natural justice through the courts of law, the Fornethy survivors have fallen between the two stools of our approach to historical abuse, in that the historical abuse inquiry did not cover respite care but was, rather, focused on residential schooling? As such, they have been denied justice from…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Medium-term Financial Strategy
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "It is clear that cuts are coming…
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's contributions in the chamber
Votes
How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament
Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Alex Cole-Hamilton in Parliament
Find out what motions Alex Cole-Hamilton has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Alex Cole-Hamilton has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 25 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many GP surgeries there are; what percentage of those have dedicated mental health professionals, and how many (a) additional mental health professionals in GP surgeries have been recruited under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027 and (b) mental health professionals in total are based in GP…
Answer expected on 12 June 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 25 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many A&E departments there are; what percentage of those have dedicated mental health professionals, and how many (a) additional mental health professionals in A&E departments have been recruited under Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2027 and (b) mental health professionals in total are based…
Answer expected on 12 June 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 12 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many full-time equivalent civil servant staff roles in the Scottish Government are dedicated to delivering universal breakfast provision in all (a) primary and (b) special schools, and how many individual civil servants this is divided between."
Answered by Natalie Don on 25 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many endoscopies were performed in each of the last five years."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average wait time is for a patient to see a gastroenterologist."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 24 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will introduce a national diagnostic pathway for people with lower gastrointestinal symptoms."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 9 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the former Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Veterans discussed any investigations into the Scottish National Party during his meeting with Police Scotland on 9 February 2023."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action is being taken to tackle the reported increasing prevalence of (a) inflammatory bowel disease, (b) Crohn's disease and (c) colitis."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many diagnoses there have been of (a) Crohn's disease and (b) ulcerative colitis in each of the last five years."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 May 2023
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will sign up to Crohn's and Colitis UK's campaign pledges, which are set out on its campaigns website."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 22 May 2023
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament