Alex Cole-Hamilton

2 May 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to provide additional training to newly qualified teachers on how to deal with violence in schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In August, we published our action plan on relationships and behaviour in schools, jointly with COSLA. This includes a specific action on empowering staff through provision of relevant professional learning to support relationships and behaviour approaches an…

30 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) University of Edinburgh and (b) Scottish Funding Council about additional support.

Answer · Graeme Dey: Universities are autonomous institutions with responsibility for their own strategic and operational decision making. The Scottish Government regularly engages with the Scottish Funding Council on a range of matters, including on the funding of institutions, …

30 Apr 2025 · Written Question

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 pla…

Answer · Shona Robison: 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 …

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure the long-term viability of the social care sector, beyond increasing the minimum wage for adult social care workers to £12.60 per hour, in (a) Scotland and (b) rural and remote areas.

Answer · Neil Gray: The statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships taking account of local population needs. However the Scottish Gover…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking to ensure that rural and remote areas, such as the Highlands, do not become "social care deserts" due to care home closures.

Answer · Neil Gray: The statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships taking account of local population needs. However the Scottish Gover…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what actions it has taken to ensure that people living in rural and remote areas are not disadvantaged when attempting to access care home placements, in light of the reported high rate of care home closures in these areas.

Answer · Neil Gray: The statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships taking account of local population needs. However the Scottish Gover…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential benefits of introducing a price cap for the use of agency staff in healthcare positions, such as that introduced by NHS England in April 2023.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government is clear that all nurse agency workers should be accessed via the relevant national procurement framework operated by NHS National Services Scotland unless in exceptional circumstances. This approach supports efforts by NHS Scotland Bo…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that communities in remote, rural and island areas can receive accessible and high-quality care, in light of reports that, in the last decade, the number of care homes for older people in the Highlands has decreased by 18%.

Answer · Neil Gray: The statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships taking account of local population needs. However the Scottish Gover…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any benefits of expanding the capacity of care homes to reduce delayed discharges from hospitals.

Answer · Neil Gray: The statutory responsibility for delivering, commissioning and providing appropriate social care services at a local level lies with local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships taking account of local population needs. This includes the responsi…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money Scottish Enterprise has distributed to companies that have export licences permitting them to sell arms and/or other military technology in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In line with the Scottish Government’s policy, Scottish Enterprise does not provide support for the manufacture of munitions.The responsibility for issuing export licenses sits with the UK Government.

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how much public money Scottish Enterprise has distributed to companies that have export licences permitting them to sell arms and/or other military technology to countries that are reported to be committing serious human rights abuses, in each of the last five years.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In line with the Scottish Government’s policy, Scottish Enterprise does not provide support for the manufacture of munitions.The responsibility for issuing export licenses sits with the UK Government.

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of A framework for military greenhouse gas emissions reporting by the Conflict and Environment Observatory, whether Scottish Enterprise will undertake enhanced assessments of the carbon footprint of any company it funds that sells military technology.

Answer · Kate Forbes: In line with the Scottish Government’s policy, Scottish Enterprise does not provide support for the manufacture of munitions and responsibility for issuing export licenses remains with the UK Government.Scottish Enterprise’s expectation is that bu…

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing and enhancing the human rights checks conducted by Scottish Enterprise, in light of reports that companies in receipt of public funding from Scottish Enterprise have export licences permitting them to sell military technology to countries committing ser…

Answer · Kate Forbes: Following a debate in Parliament on 26 February, a Parliamentary motion was passed calling on Scottish Enterprise to “review its human rights due diligence checks to ensure that they take account of where products’ end use is, and that they fully …

28 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Enterprise requires companies it funds to sign up to net zero targets compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement, such as the Science-Based Targets scheme.

Answer · Kate Forbes: Scottish Enterprise’s approach to net zero conditionality is compatible with the aims of the Paris Climate Agreement and has been developed in recognition that Scotland’s business base is at different stages of net zero maturity.Companies are aske…

25 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether all retired police officers affected by the 2018 McCloud judgement received a remediable service statement by the 31 March 2025 deadline.

Answer · Ivan McKee: I have asked Stephen Pathirana, Chief Executive of the Scottish Public Pensions Agency, to respond. His response is as follows:2,725 officers, over 50% of the retired police officers eligible for the McCloud remedy, were sent their remediable service statemen…

24 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an immediate strategic audit of any potential implications for (a) public bodies, (b) infrastructure and (c) energy systems in Scotland of (i) Chinese investment in offshore wind and (b) the use of Hikvision cameras by public sector bodies.

Answer · Angus Robertson: 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 National Security and Investment Act.It is a priority for us to secure inw…

24 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to any implications for community safety in Scotland, whether the Minister for Business raised the issue of alleged "secret Chinese police stations" on his recent trip to China.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: During my visit, I raised concerns about China’s human rights record.Any foreign country that operates within Scotland, must abide by Scottish law. The Scottish Government fully supports individuals’ rights to freedom of expression, which is an ex…

24 Apr 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: 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 nati…

24 Apr 2025 · Written Question

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.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: 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…

21 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether any consideration has been given to an emergency dental scheme that prioritises dental treatment for vulnerable groups who lack access.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Patients who are not registered with a dentist can access emergency and urgent dental care via the Public Dental Service.The Scottish Government also has a range of programmes to support those in vulnerable groups to maintain and improve their oral health:'Ch…

17 Apr 2025 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support is being given to Police Scotland in its efforts to deal with sectarianism acts associated with football games, including the Rangers versus Celtic (Old Firm) derby.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The Scottish Government fully condemn all forms of prejudice including sectarianism, racism and religious bigotry.That is why we have consolidated legislative protections aggravated by protected characteristics, including race and religion, through the Hate C…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prohibit water companies from discharging raw sewage into rivers, lakes and coastal areas in Scotland.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) licences and regulates 345 sewer networks operated by Scottish Water, carrying out compliance inspections on a rolling basis and monitors Scotland’s water environment.Through its Improving Urban Waters R…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported increasing number of pupils with additional support needs in mainstream schools, what steps it is taking to ensure that schools are equipped with the necessary resources, training and staffing.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: Local authorities oversee the delivery of education, and they have a statutory duty to identify, provide for, and to review the support that they provide for pupils with additional support needs in their local community. In the context of the rising number of…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it is addressing the reported national shortage of specialist additional support needs staff in mainstream schools.

Answer · Jenny Gilruth: In 2023-24 spending on additional support for learning reached a record high of over £1 billion. This includes a continued investment in pupil support assistants, by providing authorities with £15m each year, specifically to support schools and au…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what policies have been implemented to support young carers who face barriers in pursuing (a) further or higher education and (b) secure employment.

Answer · Maree Todd: Under the Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 every young carer has a right to a personalised support plan, called a young carer statement. The process of producing the statement must include identifying the young person’s needs, such as support to pursue furthe…

8 Apr 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what initiatives there are to support young people who leave school with no or few SQA qualifications.

Answer · Graeme Dey: The Scottish Government remains committed to an all-age careers information and guidance offer that supports all people, including young people who are at risk of leaving school with no or few SQA qualifications to progress rewarding careers.Skills Developmen…

17 Mar 2025 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.

13 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what visits Healthcare Improvement Scotland made to the Skye House mental health unit between 2017 and 2024.

Answer · Maree Todd: Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) does not currently regularly inspect children and young people’s mental health services and did not visit Skye House between 2017 and 2024. The Mental Welfare Commission have visited Skye House seven times since 2016, u…

12 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reform the process for exhumation applications for ashes, in light of reports that the new system has moved away from independent crematory management, which was inexpensive, and now requires families to go through solicitors, which can reportedly cost more th…

Answer · Jenni Minto: The current procedure for applications for exhumation has been in place for many years. It involves the engagement of a solicitor who will apply to the sheriff court for a warrant to disinter. The process can be lengthy, complex and incur significant cost.The…