Parliamentary questions
Alex Cole-Hamilton
2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.
13 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin developing the new entry routes into nursing and midwifery with dedicated funding for them, 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 what steps it is planning to take to build a sustainable nursing and midwifery workforce that supports and maximises existing pre and post registration programmes, and what is meant by the term “sustainable alternative entry routes”, as outlined in the Ministerial Scottish Nu…
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 how it plans to ensure that nurses and midwives can access sustainable and progressive opportunities to influence policy, practice, national and local strategy to achieve change, as it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.&nb…
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 it will begin the review of the predicted absence allowance in the staffing level tools used by NHS Scotland, as it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.
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 it will begin the mapping exercise of the current digital landscape, as committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce.
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 comprehensive review of practice learning that it committed to in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce will take place.
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 it expects that the mechanism or toolkit that it has committed to developing for staff in the recommended actions of the Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce will be available for staff to use.
Answer · Neil Gray: 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 recommended actions. One group, chaired by the Interim Chief Nursing Officer, will …
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, what specific action it is taking to reduce delayed discharge.
Answer · Neil Gray: Further to my answer on 31 January which laid out in detail the First Minister’s plans for NHS Scotland renewal, I can confirm this will be further expanded with the publication of our operational improvement plan in March.This plan will build on the wo…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, regarding its commitment to increase access to GPs, whether this includes the commitment in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 to recruit 1,000 additional staff in primary care mental health, and whether that recr…
Answer · Neil Gray: While financial challenges have caused this programme to remain paused since 2022, we remain committed to delivering increased mental health and wellbeing workforce capacity in general practice, when budgets permit.We have already prioritised significant inve…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34287 by Neil Gray on 27 January 2025, whether the commitments on increasing capacity for appointments relate to, or replace, the targets in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 for additional inpatient and day case activity, and outpatient activity.
Answer · Neil Gray: Further detail will be published in the Operational Improvement Plan in March, as committed to in the answer to the GIQ (S6W-34287)All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which ca…
12 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government (a) what its position is on and (b) whether it plans to prepare a legislative consent memorandum for the UK Government's Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill.
Answer · Jim Fairlie: The Scottish Government had previously intended to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for measures to restrict the importation and non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the United Kingdom, before the previous Bill fell du…
11 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will update its national strategy for public CCTV, in light of the research paper, Public Space CCTV in Scotland, which was published in November 2023.
Answer · Siobhian Brown: Since the publication of the research report, ‘Public Space CCTV in Scotland’, the Scottish Government has been engaging with COSLA and Police Scotland to consider what the next steps in relation to public space CCTV should be. This includes consi…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how children in psychiatric inpatient care can safely raise concerns about their treatment.
Answer · Maree Todd: If they feel able to do so, young people and their families should raise concerns with staff or via the advocacy services available in the inpatient units, so that any issues can be resolved as quickly as possible.Young people and their families can also cont…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde following the recent BBC programme, Disclosure: Kids on the Psychiatric Ward, and, if so, what outcomes have resulted from any such discussions.
Answer · Maree Todd: Since I was made aware of the allegations in the programme, my officials have been in regular contact with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, asking a series of questions around how complaints and incidents during the time period were handled; how Mental Welfare …
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints of mistreatment at Skye House have been made in each of the last five years.
Answer · Maree Todd: As patient care and service delivery are the statutory responsibility of local healthcare providers, it is for relevant NHS Health Boards to facilitate and respond to complaints regarding services. Whilst making clear the high standards of care we expect, it …
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the issues highlighted in the recent BBC programme, Disclosure: Kids on the Psychiatric Ward, were reportedly not identified in any of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland’s published reports on Skye House.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Mental Welfare Commission have visited and reported on Skye House seven times since 2016 as part of its local visit programme, the most recent of which was in March 2024.Some of the issues raised in these reports were also identified in the Disclosure doc…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what role the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland plays in monitoring psychiatric inpatient facilities for children, and whether it will review the effectiveness of any such oversight.
Answer · Maree Todd: The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an independent organisation established to safeguard the rights and welfare of patients under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Reports of visits along with any recommendations are publis…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether an official ministerial visit to Skye House has ever taken place, and, if so, when the last one took place.
Answer · Maree Todd: Scottish Ministers have visited Skye House on several occasions.My last visit to Skye House was on 4 September 2024.
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether any concerns about Skye House have ever been raised with (a) the current Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and (b) any previous health secretaries.
Answer · Maree Todd: If concerns are raised with Ministers regarding a medical setting, such as Skye House, the Scottish Government would direct correspondents to their NHS Health Board complaints process, as patient care and service delivery are the statutory responsibility of l…
10 Feb 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government when it first became aware of the reported allegations of mistreatment at Skye House, and what action it has taken since.
Answer · Maree Todd: I was first informed about the BBC Disclosure Programme on 24 January 2025.Since I was made aware of the specific allegations in the programme, my officials have been in regular contact with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to seek assurances about current pract…
27 Jan 2025 · First Minister's Question
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current bed occupancy rate is at safe level for staff and patients.
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government acknowledge the capacity challenges currently within the system, however, we have a clear plan to reduce waiting times and delayed discharges supported by £200 million targeted investment through the 2025-26 Budget.Through this i…
23 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on what the current bedoccupancy rate is in hospitals across NHS boards, and whether any outbreaks of(a) norovirus and (b) flu are affecting levels of bed occupancy.
Answer · Neil Gray: Public Health Scotland publish quarterly statistics on bed occupancy figures split by Health Boards. The publication does not contain information on occupancy by reason or deadline.Bed occupancy release: Data summary - Acute hospital activity and NHS beds inf…
21 Jan 2025 · Portfolio Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Galleries, in light of reports that some of its flagship attractions may have to close.
16 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the efficiency of EV charging points in rural areas, and ensure that maintenance of these charging points is kept to a high standard to reduce any risk of chargers not working for users.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Regulating service provision and the consumer experience of public EV charging is an area that is reserved to the UK government. The UK Public Charge Point Regulations 2023 established minimum standards in terms of reliability and functionality for all public…
8 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise the income threshold for receipt of (a) the Scottish child payment, (b) education maintenance allowance and (c) other devolved benefits that aim to help people with meeting the costs of raising a child.
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Eligibility for our low-income benefits for families with children, including Scottish Child Payment, is not based on income thresholds. To qualify for these payments individuals must generally be in receipt of certain reserved benefits.Carer Support Payment …
7 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an annual price cap for care homes of £87,000 per person, in line with that set by the UK Government.
Answer · Maree Todd: The cap of £86,000 proposed by the previous UK Government had been due to come into force in October 2025, however, on the 29 July 2024 the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that these reforms (and thus the cap on care costs) would not be taken forw…
7 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what plans ScotRail has to review Inter7city trains to ensure that carriages (a) meet their expected capacity and (b) are fit for purpose.
Answer · Fiona Hyslop: Trains that currently serve Intercity routes are going to be replaced as the Scottish Government has instructed ScotRail to commence the procurement process, which will secure a replacement for these trains. Until then, the Scottish Government has funded…
7 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions is had with the Scottish Ambulance Service in response to the recently implemented level four resource escalation action plan following reports of some patients waiting up to 12 hours for a vehicle, and what plans the Scottish Ambulance Service has to reduce waiting time…
Answer · Neil Gray: The Scottish Government meets with the Scottish Ambulance Service regularly to discuss demand, capacity, and pressures. Since escalating to REAP level four the Service has been submitting twice daily situational reports on pressures and we have been meeting w…
7 Jan 2025 · Written Question
To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who move marginally into a higher income bracket that takes them over the threshold for receipt of (a) the Scottish child payment, (b) education maintenance allowance and (c) other devolved benefits that aim to help people with meeting the costs of rais…
Answer · Shirley-Anne Somerville: Eradicating child poverty in Scotland is a national mission and the top priority for this Government.The Scottish Government recognises the pressure on household budgets which is why the 2025-26 draft budget continues to allocate over £3 billion a year …