Parliamentary questions

Alex Cole-Hamilton

2,700 questions tabled in the Scottish Parliament, most recent first.

17 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what safeguards there are to ensure that  local authority officers do not exercise their delegated powers to waive contract terms or financial obligations without democratic oversight.

Answer · Ivan McKee: Local authorities are entirely separate entities from the Scottish Government and it is the responsibility of each local authority to manage its day-to-day business, including meeting statutory obligations in relation to procurement processes.The rules public…

16 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-38373 by Gillian Martin on 17 June 2025, whether it will provide an update on its plans to review and revise the guidance regarding the exceptional circumstances in which it is permissible for storm overflows to spill.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The Scottish Government continues to investigate the wide-ranging implications of aligning with the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive on policy and legislation. This includes implications for the operation of storm overflows and the related guidance…

15 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to provide fire evacuation equipment to fire services to accommodate all levels of accessibility need.

Answer · Siobhian Brown: The evacuation of people from their homes in the event of a fire is an operational matter for SFRS. SFRS have appropriate training and equipment in place to evacuate anyone who requires it.

11 Sep 2025 · First Minister's Question

Question to be taken in Chamber.

10 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether, in the First Minister's recent meetings with the President of the United States, the issue of the Open Championship golf tournament being held possibly at the Trump Turnberry course in Ayrshie was discussed.

Answer · Angus Robertson: The First Minister met the President of the United States in the Oval Office of the White House on 9 September 2025. They discussed a variety of issues including the Scotch Whisky industry. The conversation included the President sharing his views on the Open…

10 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which UK departments it has held discussions with regarding the possibility of the Open Championship being held at Trump Turnberry, in Ayrshire, and what future meetings are planned.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has not engaged directly with any UK departments regarding the possibility of the Open Championship being held at Trump Turnberry and it has no future meetings planned.Although the Scottish Government has a funding relationship with th…

10 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government which individuals and companies were the end recipients of the VisitScotland support for the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: VisitScotland provided £180k (£150k + VAT) to the DP World Tour for the Nexo Championship event, for the brand profile opportunity.

10 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government on what date VisitScotland agreed to support the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: An agreement in principle to support the Nexo Championship was discussed between VisitScotland and DP World Tour at this year’s Genesis Scottish Open, which took place 10-13 July. The final decision to support the event was taken following contract revi…

10 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what support VisitScotland provided to the DP World Tour Nexo Championship, which was held at the Trump International Golf Links, Aberdeenshire, in August 2025, including any deliverables agreed.

Answer · Richard Lochhead: VisitScotland provided funding of £180,000 (£150k + VAT) to the DP World Tour for branding and advertising, which in turn provided Scotland with a global platform to showcase its credentials as one of the world’s premier golf tourism and eve…

9 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether Scottish Water will publish an update to its 2024 sewage overflow data to include data from event duration monitors that have been installed as part of the Improving Urban Waters Routemap and that were not included in the original publication in March 2025.

Answer · Gillian Martin: While this is an operational matter for Scottish Water, it has confirmed to the Scottish Government that the 2024 overflow data publication, published in March 2025, will not be updated.Scottish Water has confirmed that it intends to publish annual overflow e…

8 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on discussions that it has had with NHS Highland since 30 July 2025 regarding the request from the Caithness Health Action Team for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to questions S6W-40280 and S6W-40281 on 16 September 2025. I will give careful consideration to NHS Highland’s response. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the searc…

8 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will reach a decision on the request by the Caithness Health Action Team for an independent review of maternity services in Caithness.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40280 on 16 September 2025. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-commit…

4 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34957 by Neil Gray on 20 February 2025, regarding the commitment in the NHS Recovery Plan 2021-2026 to recruit 1,000 additional staff in primary care mental health, whether it remains the case that the programme is paused.

Answer · Neil Gray: The commitment to recruit 1000 additional staff in Primary Care Mental Health remains paused.We are still committed to the development of mental health and wellbeing workforce capacity in general practice through Action 15 of the Mental Health Strategy 2017-2…

1 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent report by the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which raised concerns regarding high rates of maternal mortality and disparities in access to sexual and reproductive health services affecting women and girls in remote areas, and how …

Answer · Jenni Minto: I refer the member to my response to the answer to question S6W-38163 on 17 June 2025. We remain committed to ensuring that women across Scotland have timely access to sexual and reproductive health services. As part of our Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus…

1 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the future of maternity services in Caithness, what engagement it plans to have with local stakeholders, including the Caithness Health Action Team.

Answer · Jenni Minto: I met with staff, service users, local elected representatives and members of CHAT at Caithness General Hospital’s maternity service on 30 July. During the visit, I heard about the ongoing engagement between NHS Highland and CHAT, including areas of joi…

1 Sep 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it uses to determine whether to commission an independent review of local maternity services.

Answer · Jenni Minto: Within the policies we set, NHS Boards have responsibility for the design and delivery of services to meet the needs of their local populations and deliver safe, high-quality care. NHS Boards may commission local reviews of services to support them in the des…

26 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the eligibility criteria for a COVID-19 vaccine have reportedly changed, in light of reported concerns that older people who act as unpaid carers, who were previously eligible for a vaccine, will now have to pay up to £100 for one.

Answer · Jenni Minto: The Scottish Government’s decision-making throughout the COVID-19 vaccination programme has been guided by the expert clinical advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).In its statement of 8 April 2024 the JCVI stated it no lo…

26 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that the updated National Marine Plan will include a clear spatial plan covering all marine sectors, including fisheries, in line with the findings of its literature review on a marine just transition, which suggested marine spatial planning as international best pract…

Answer · Gillian Martin: The intention of National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2), as set out our Planning Position Statement (PPS), is to support the development of spatial management measures through dedicated policies, some specific to fisheries, as well as working to build a stronger evide…

26 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment of the impact of human activity and pressures on the marine area the Marine Directorate has carried out ahead of developing the National Marine Plan 2 to inform its preparation, as set out in the legal duties of Section 5 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Gillian Martin: I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-40140 on 24 September 2025. The assessment of condition is being prepared in line with our duties, and will include the impact of human activity and pressures on the marine area. All answers to written Parliame…

26 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment of the condition of the marine area the Marine Directorate has carried out ahead of developing the National Marine Plan 2 to inform its preparation, as set out in the legal duties of Section 5 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Answer · Gillian Martin: We are aware of our duties under Section 5 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, and the National Marine Plan 2 is being constructed using a robust and transparent evidence base. The assessment of condition is being informed by existing evidence and date, includ…

22 Aug 2025 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the application by Tesla Energy Ventures Limited for an electricity supply licence, what its position is regarding any impact on its energy policy and strategy in the event that the licence is granted by Ofgem.

Answer · Gillian Martin: The supply of gas and electricity are reserved matters. The Scottish Government has no involvement in applications for electricity supply licences and is therefore unable to comment on this matter.