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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton

Facebook: Alex's facebook

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 not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Alex is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Alex does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Alex has 6 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

Party Spokesperson on the Drugs Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Alex has had 9 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 October 2021 - 10 February 2026

Education Children and Young People Committee

Substitute Member

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

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

29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Deputy Convener

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.

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.

Skye House

Chamber meeting date: 11 March 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "We have an inspection regime for a reason—to pick up on deficiencies in practice and care—yet there were no inspections at Skye house between 2017 and 2024. That is an absolute scandal…

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 11 March 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Does Sue Webber recognise that, with a few honourable exceptions, very few of us in the Parliament are clinicians and that, as other members have said, it would be wholly inappropriate for us to hypothesise regarding all the circumstances relating to the administration and preparation that would be required to end one’s life and to legislate for a…

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton: "Will the member give way?"

Education

Chamber meeting date: 4 March 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "The cabinet secretary talks about increased teacher numbers, but does she realise that three quarters of newly qualified teachers are struggling to find permanent employment and are stuck on supply lists?"

European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill

Chamber meeting date: 3 March 2026

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Addressing our conference on the 25th anniversary of devolution, the dear departed Jim Wallace said:“The Constitutional Convention, whose final report is peppered with references to the European Charter of Local Self Government, concluded that in any future review of local government, ‘the aim of the Parliament should be, firstly, to safeguard and…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 147

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Result 41 for, 70 against, 8 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 141

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Result 51 for, 65 against, 5 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 142

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Result 37 for, 79 against, 5 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 145

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Result 21 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 86

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Result 82 for, 29 against, 5 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

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.

Question reference: S6W-44220

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 11 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 25 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to alter the rules on council tax for properties that have become empty or second homes due to the bereavement of a family member."

Question reference: S6W-43987

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the number of taxpayers projected to enter the higher rate income tax band between 2026 and 2030 due to threshold freezes, and what assessment it has undertaken of the potential impact of any such projected fiscal drag."

Question reference: S6W-44137

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting bus operators to transition to zero emission fleets."

Question reference: S6W-44141

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to continue reducing drug-related harms after the National Mission concludes in March 2026."

Question reference: S6W-44145

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of current cost-reducing measures on (a) lecturer workloads and (b) job security across Scotland’s universities."

Question reference: S6W-44139

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what contribution it expects the Scottish Zero Emission Bus Challenge Fund (ScotZEB) to make to wider Net Zero transport targets."

Question reference: S6W-44144

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland's (a) universities and (b) research institutes to maximise participation in Horizon Europe."

Question reference: S6W-44140

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made towards delivering its Rail Services Decarbonisation Action Plan."

Question reference: S6W-44142

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it will continue to develop a public health approach to drug harms after March 2026."

Question reference: S6W-44143

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged: 10 March 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 24 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with EU institutions since 2025."