Alex Cole-Hamilton

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason it has reportedly not introduced targeted lung cancer screening, in light of the UK National Screening Committee's recommendation in June 2022, and whether it holds any information regarding an estimate of how long it would take to roll out such a national programme.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Following the UK National Screening Committee’s recommendation for a targeted lung cancer screening program, the Scottish Government established a Scottish Expert Advisory Group for lung screening to provide advice on the scoping, implementation, establ…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is regarding the reported comments of Professor David Weller that a nationwide lung cancer screening programme has the potential to be a game changer when it comes to reducing the burden of lung cancer in Scotland.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government is grateful to Professor David Weller for his work on the LungScot study, which has provided valuable evidence and insights into identifying individuals at high risk of lung cancer. The findings of the study informed the work of the Sc…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Welsh Government's announcement on 28 June 2025 that it will introduce a national lung cancer screening programme at a cost of £13 million per annum once fully implemented, what it would cost to roll out an equivalent programme across Scotland, and what the re…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government commissioned a Scottish Expert Advisory Group (SEAG) to inform implementation considerations for a targeted Lung Cancer screening programme. The purpose of the SEAG was to support the work of the UK NSC Lung Task Group, and to consider…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what dates the Scottish Screening Committee met since January 2023, and on what dates it will publish the minutes for any such meetings.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The dates of Scottish Screening Committee (SSC) meetings since January 2023 are listed below and hyperlinked to the published minutes where available.18 April 2023 Scottish Screening Committee minutesThe SSC last met on 6 March 2024. The minutes for this meet…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement in Scotland’s Population Health Framework 2025-2035, which was published on 17 June 2025, that it will pilot a lung screening programme in Scotland’s most deprived areas, what areas the programme will cover; how many people it will incl…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government has committed to a lung screening pilot in response to the outcomes from the Scottish Expert Advisory Group; this is expected to support the phased roll out of a national lung screening programme. A targeted lung screening programme wi…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all NHS boards have received the new theatre scheduling tool that was due to be rolled out by end of June 2025.

Answer · Neil Gray: The tool is currently live in six territorial boards, and work is continuing to implement the tool for the remaining territorial health boards and National Hospital Golden Jubilee. In line with the NHS Scotland Operational Improvement Plan (https://www.gov.sc…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer toquestion S6W-37919 by Neil Gray on 5 June 2025, whether it willprovide an update on the roll-out of the digital dermatologypathway to (a) GPs and (b) NHS boards, including how many GPpractices are currently participating in the syste…

Answer · Neil Gray: All Territorial Boards can now provide their GPs with access to the new Digital Dermatology Pathway. Supplier data suggests that as of 18 July, 627 GP practices (71%) across 13 Territorial Boards have access to the pathway, of which 423 have used this to capt…

3 Jul 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27865 by Maree Todd on 13 June 2024, whether it will provide an update on whether it has commenced the recruitment for the additional roles to ensure that every GP practice has access to a mental health and wellbeing service, and, if so, how ma…

Answer · Tom Arthur: As outlined in the Mental Health in Primary and Community Care Progress Report (Dec 2024), we remain committed to delivering increased mental health and wellbeing workforce capacity in general practice when it is feasible to do so. As the member will be aware…

27 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase policing and police presence in communities with a high level of bike theft.

Answer · Angela Constance: The operation of Police Scotland, including the deployment of staffing, is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is supported by the Scottish Government to shape the workforce in response to operational needs. The latest official statistics show there were 16…

25 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many people are currently being prescribed weight loss medications, including GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro).

Answer · Jenni Minto: For the purpose of this request, the Scottish Government has classified four medications as being widely recommended for use for weight loss in Scotland. Three of these medications (Mounjaro®, Saxenda®, Wegovy®) are Glucagon-like peptide-1 recepto…

19 Jun 2025 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

16 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) (Scotland) Act 2019, including whether it is aware of any data setting out (a) the views of children and families on the impact of the Act, (b) the views of professionals with responsibility for chi…

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government has not yet carried out an assessment of the impact of the Children (Equal Protection from Assault) Scotland Act 2019.The Implementation Group for the Act continues to meet on a yearly basis. Minutes of these meetings are at: Children …

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide financial support to families who wish to move a family member's ashes, in light of reports that this can cost between £5,000 and £10,000, or more if there is an objection to planning permission.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government currently has no plans to provide financial support in connection with applications for exhumation.However, we are committed to simplifying the process as much as possible. Officials are developing regulations under the Burial and Crem…

4 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it currently oversees the work of non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos; how they are held accountable for their decision-making, and whether it plans to review any such arrangements.

Answer · Ivan McKee: The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) sets out the lines of accountability for public bodies. Executive NDPBs are directly accountable to Ministers, and through Ministers to Parliament. The Chief Executive is designated as the Accountable Officer (AO) res…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many new event duration monitors have been fitted to sewage overflows in 2025, and how many monitors in total have been installed as a part of the Improving Urban Waters Route Map.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:Scottish Water has already installed 1,000 event duration monitors to meet the commitment set out within its Improving Urban Waters Routemap. Scottish…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the Helensburgh Wastewater Treatment Works recording 1,722 spills in 2024 meets the requirement for sewage spills to only happen in exceptional circumstances, in light of the European Court of Justice and Environmental Standards Scotland reportedly emphasi…

Answer · Gillian Martin: As this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, I have asked them to respond. Their reply is as follows:All overflow events at Helensburgh wastewater treatment works arose through a Settled Storm Sewage Overflow after being screened and receiving primary…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether SEPA will begin to proactively publish overflow monitoring data from sewerage assets that are managed under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts.

Answer · Gillian Martin: As Scotland’s independent environmental regulator, any decisions on publishing data is for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).SEPA intends to make annual data on spills from wastewater treatment works operated by Private Finance Investmen…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to replace the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994, in light of the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which came into force in the EU in January 2025, and, if so, within what timescale it plans to do so.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government does intend to update its policies to reflect the 2025 recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive. This Government is pressing ahead with the policy development to ensure that proposals can be brought forward to Parliament at the earl…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish up-to-date, clear and specific guidance about the exceptional circumstances in which it is permissible for storm overflows to spill, in light of Environmental Standards Scotland reportedly stating that the current guidance limits effective implementation and appli…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government will seek to review and revise the current guidance in the coming months. However, this review will need to be cognisant of the likely requirements of the alignment position with the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which p…

3 Jun 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland continues to provide data regarding planned procedure activity prior to March 2020 in the monthly Cancelled Planned Operations release which can be accessed at Cancelled planned operations - Month Ending 30 April 2025 - Cancelled planne…

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Health and Wellbeing is one of the eight curricular areas in Curriculum for Excellence. Learning in Health and Wellbeing is designed to ensure children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they ne…

2 Jun 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to develop core STEM skills and knowledge. Through the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, we have established a systematic approach to curriculum improvement which will hel…

29 May 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Neil Gray: Whilst the Scottish Government sets the strategic direction for the NHS in Scotland, operational matters including staffing and the recruitment of graduates is the responsibility of health boards as autonomous institutions.Whilst graduates can apply to join t…

29 May 2025 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

19 May 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Neil Gray: 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 activit…

16 May 2025 · Written Question

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

Answer · Jenni Minto: 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 pe…

13 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting times are for treatment for gynaecological cancers and how these compare with the waiting times for treatment for other types of cancer.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Latest statistics published by Public Health Scotland (PHS) in March 2025, includes data on cervical and ovarian cancer waiting times, between 1st October and 31st December 2024.This data shows that 96.6% of women with cervical cancer and 98.4% of women with …

13 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve the care experiences of people with gynaecological cancers, in light of reported findings that they are less likely to rate their overall cancer care positively compared with the national average.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the question and response to S6W-37656 on 10 June 2025.As acknowledged, individuals have an opportunity to rate their cancer experiences through the Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey (SCPES). The 2024 survey results highlight tha…

13 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing any gap in information provision for people with gynaecological cancers, in light of reported findings that they are less likely to receive the information required to care for themselves at home.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Scottish Government continues to work with ‘NHS inform’ to review and update their cancer information provision to best meet patient needs. Their website contains specific gynaecological cancer information, including cervical, ovarian, vaginal, vu…

8 May 2025 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.