Alex Cole-Hamilton

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the joint visits by Healthcare Improvement Scotland and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to all adolescent in-patient units and the national child in-patient unit will begin, and how often these joint visits will be carried out.

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government has asked Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) and the Mental Welfare Commission (MWC) to undertake joint inspections of all child and adolescent inpatient units in Scotland as a matter of priority.Neil Gray, Cabinet Secretary for Hea…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the dates on which its ministers visited Skye House between 2017 and 2024, broken down by which ministers attended.

Answer · Maree Todd: Details of all ministerial visits can be found on the Parliament website, available at the following link - Ministerial engagements, travel and gifts - gov.scotScottish Ministers have visited Skye House on several occasions since 2017 as part of routine engag…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will introduce 15 hours of funded childcare per week for children aged nine months to three years, similar to that in England, and, if so, what the timescale will be.

Answer · Natalie Don-Innes: High quality, accessible and affordable early learning and school age childcare is critical to keeping children in Scotland out of poverty. That is why we continue prioritise investment of around £1 billion per year in delivering funded ELC to all eligi…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is implementing to provide timely support for carers and families in emergency situations, particularly where people are entitled to funding but face extended waiting times or financial hardship due to a lack of support or delayed assessments.

Answer · Maree Todd: In circumstances where the authority considers that a person’s need for services is a matter of urgency, they have the power to provide community care support to individuals, carers and their families without an assessment under the Social Work (Scotlan…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address any pressures on GP surgeries caused by the reported (a) decline in the number of fully qualified GPs, (b) rising patient demand, (c) challenges with practice infrastructure and (d) financial pressures faced by GP partners, and what plans are in place t…

Answer · Neil Gray: In November last year we published a plan setting out a suite of 20 actions being taken to improve GP recruitment and retention.We have also reactivated the GP Sustainability loans scheme for GP premises and invested an additional £73.2 million in Gener…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken since the publication of its paper, Licensing of activities involving animals: consultation response analysis, on 16 February 2024.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: Since the publication of the consultation analysis, the Scottish Government has announced its intention to regulate canine fertility businesses, with the work to draft the required legislation underway. We continue to explore with the local authorities the fe…

11 Mar 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to regulate canine fertility clinics.

Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government does intend to bring forward new legislation to regulate canine fertility businesses. Draft regulations will be laid before the Scottish Parliament for its consideration in due course.

28 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, on what date it will publish data showing whether the targets were met by March 2026 for (a) 95% of radiology referrals to be seen within six weeks, (b) no one waiting longer than a year for treatment and (c) the delive…

Answer · Neil Gray: Statistics covering the period up to 31 Mar 2026 are expected to be published by Public Health Scotland on 26 May 2026 as per the usual release schedule.

27 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider awarding financial compensation to any staff covered by the Agenda for Change who have been affected by the reported delay to the implementation of the reduced 36-hour working week.

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in the answer to question S6W-35253 on 11 March 2025, to confirm, there is no delay in the implementation of the reduction of the working week to 36 hours for Agenda for Change staff. It was always the intention to use the initial 30 minute reducti…

26 Feb 2025 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of the cross-government co-ordination of infrastructure, what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding what consideration is given to national security in its infrastructure policy.

24 Feb 2025 · First Minister's Question

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

21 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what work it is carrying out to explore which areas of public life could effectively utilise (a) the ethical and trustworthy use of AI and (b) digitisation. 

Answer · Ivan McKee: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a key area, where technical opportunities need to be balanced with public interests. To this end the Scottish AI Alliance, a partnership between the Scottish Government and the Data Lab, have launched a series of People’s…

21 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider reviewing the Artificial intelligence strategy: trustworthy, ethical and inclusive in order to ensure that work in the area keeps pace with any changes and growth in technology. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: We continue to review Scotland’s AI Strategy to keep pace with changes and growth in technology. This is why, in 2023, I commissioned an independent review into Scotland’s approach to AI which was published last year. AI+Independent+Review+-+Call+…

21 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many of its departments have an artificial intelligence (AI) lead within them. 

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in a wide number of policy areas and for a diverse range of purposes. It is generally regarded as a tool which all staff will be using to a greater or lesser extent, so although we do not have many staff…

21 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many civil servants are working on delivering the actions set out in the Artificial intelligence strategy: trustworthy, ethical and inclusive, published in August 2022.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: Four Scottish Government civil servants are working on delivering the actions set out in the Artificial intelligence strategy: trustworthy, ethical and inclusive.

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what response (a) it, (b) SEPA and (c) Scottish Water has made to the Environmental Standards Scotland report, Storm overflows - An assessment of spills, their impact on the water environment and the effectiveness of legislation and policy, which was published in September 2024.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government will be responding to Environmental Standard Scotland’s (ESS) report by 4 March 2025, as requested by ESS. Scottish Water and SEPA have also been asked to respond to the report by the same deadline.

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a detailed timeline showing the work that NHS Scotland Assure has done in (a) surveying sites to check whether reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) is present, (b) identifying any RAAC and the level of remedial action that is required and (c) ensuring tha…

Answer · Neil Gray: Following the collapse of a school roof in 2018, the Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), alerted NHS Scotland Assure to the issue and the following steps were then taken:May 2019 - The Standing Committee on Structural Safety (SCOSS), alerted Heal…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review its reported position that remedial works to address the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in NHS buildings should come out of the capital budgets of NHS boards.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government have confirmed that they will provide an additional capital allocation to NHS Borders to allow them to remediate the RAAC situation at Knoll hospital. For other potential RAAC related issues across the NHS Scotland estate, requests for…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding the situation at the Knoll Hospital, Duns, and the reported need to close the hospital in order to undertake remedial works due to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC).

Answer · Neil Gray: The Chair and Chief Executive of NHS Borders met with myself on 30 January to discuss the situation with Knoll Hospital. NHS Borders have also been providing regular situation reports to the Scottish Government updating them on developments.

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will (a) review its position that reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) and the presence of it in any buildings should be addressed in the same way that other building maintenance issues are and (b) update any guidance that it provides for public bodies on what action …

Answer · Paul McLennan: The Scottish Government continues to consider that a) responsibility for building maintenance, including in respect of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), is a matter for property owners, supported by appropriate professionals and b) building owner…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will clarify the process and outcomes of the three detailed pilot surveys commissioned in May 2024, as outlined in the progress report, Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) across the public sector in Scotland, provided for the Building and Fire Safety Ministerial Wor…

Answer · Neil Gray: The pilot surveys' purpose was to prove the methodology proposed to be adopted in the more detailed Phase 2 survey programme.The pilots utilise point cloud technology which creates a digital representation of the area being assessed. This method provides an a…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider undertaking a review of any NHS buildings where the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been confirmed but where no immediate risks were identified, in order to ensure that this is still the case.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35102 on 5 March 2025:The Scottish Government’s approach to dealing with RAAC is to follow the guidance set out by Institute of Structural Engineers.The Scottish Government funded a survey of all NHS faci…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of any other NHS sites that are seeking to undertake further surveys of buildings with a confirmed presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), to ensure that immediate remedial action is not required.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35102 on 5 March 2025:The Scottish Government’s approach to dealing with RAAC is to follow the guidance set out by Institute of Structural Engineers.The Scottish Government funded a survey of all NHS faci…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason further surveys of the Knoll Hospital, Duns, were required following the surveys in 2023, which reportedly found that, despite the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC), there were no critical actions required.

Answer · Neil Gray: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-35102 on 5 March 2025:The Scottish Government’s approach to dealing with RAAC is to follow the guidance set out by Institute of Structural Engineers.The Scottish Government funded a survey of all NHS faci…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it was made aware that the reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) found in the Knoll Hospital, Duns, was no longer safe, in light of surveys in 2023 reportedly stating that there were no critical actions required.

Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government’s approach to dealing with RAAC is to follow the guidance set out by Institute of Structural Engineers.The Scottish Government funded a survey of all NHS facilities suspected of RAAC and it is known where RAAC is present. These p…

19 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what measures are being taken to address any delays in funding assessments for care home placements in (a) general and (b) cases where there are urgent care needs that may financially impact the person's family, in light of reports of this being experienced by some residents in Edinburgh…

Answer · Maree Todd: The Scottish Government recognises the importance of people being able to access the care that they need. We have overall responsibility for health and social care support policy in Scotland and have published clear social care standards setting out what peop…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when it will conduct its review of the package of student financial support available for nursing and midwifery studies, and whether, as part of that review, it will explore any changes to reflect those who choose rural and remote work. 

Answer · Neil Gray: The Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery (PNM) student financial support review is currently ongoing. The review aims to ensure that all PNM students are adequately supported to complete their studies, this includes students from remote and rural locations. A key…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline the work it will do to ensure that there is consistent, sustainable provision of taster sessions across health and social care so that people across many different backgrounds can experience nursing and midwifery, and whether it will clarify what work it will do t…

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recom…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that widening participation of the nursing and midwifery workforce will be responsive to remote and rural needs, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations. 

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recom…

13 Feb 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the new entry routes into nursing and midwifery, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce recommendations, will be open to applicants. 

Answer · Neil Gray: As set out in answer to Parliamentary Question S6W-34995 on 27 February 2025, the implementation phase of the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce has now begun, and two Implementation Delivery Groups are being established to oversee swift delivery of all 44 recom…