- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 March 2025
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 that £5,000.
Answer
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 Scottish Government is developing regulations on exhumation which will remove applications from the sheriff court, making the process more straightforward and less expensive for applicants.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 19 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to regulate canine fertility clinics.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 14 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 19 March 2025
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 to ensure a sustainable, well-funded and adequately staffed GP workforce.
Answer
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 General Practice this financial year to provide a pay uplift for GPs and to support GP practices to retain and recruit key staff. The uplift includes £7.6 million to cover population growth.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 17 March 2025
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025
To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 04 March 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 12 March 2025
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 delivery of over 150,000 extra appointments and procedures, and whether the final outcome of these targets will be announced before 7 May 2026.
Answer
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.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 13 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 March 2025
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
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 due to the dissolution of the UK Parliament.
It is our intention to progress legislative consent in the Scottish Parliament for this Bill, subject to the final provisions of the Bill and agreement of the Scottish Government Cabinet Sub-Committee on Legislation.
By working to address this issue in the Bill, important safeguards for animal welfare can be extended to Scotland to ensure we continue to strive for the best possible welfare outcomes for all animals.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 11 March 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many of its departments have an artificial intelligence (AI) lead within them.
Answer
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 regarded as AI leads, we do have many staff who will be making use of it and benefiting from its impacts.
Recently published FOI release () shares that in 2024 we had 6 data scientists, and a wide range of functions involved in the preparation of data, design of digital services, and support functions which could be related to the use or deployment of AI.
More specifically we have an AI Policy team in the digital directorate whose primary function is to support the introduction and development of AI across the public sector, ensuring all staff have the knowledge and skill to make use of AI most productively.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 27 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 11 March 2025
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
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 reduction in April 2024 as an opportunity to learn and assess how best to move forward with any further reduction in the working week.
The Scottish Government is therefore committed to fully implementing the remaining 60 minute reduction in the working week for all Agenda for Change staff on 1 April 2026. This will facilitate patient and staff safety, support the continued recovery of services and avoid any extra burden for our workforce.
As there is no delay in the implementation of the final hour reduction of the working week for Agenda for Change staff, there is no requirement for any financial compensation.
This implementation date of 1 April 2026 remains fully in line with the commitment made as part of the 2023-24 Agenda for Change pay settlement and the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government.
All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at /chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 10 March 2025
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
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 documentary. These included staffing difficulties, support for young people with eating disorders in terms of standard of food, impact of isolation, and concerns regarding certain medical treatment under the Mental Health Act being properly authorised and monitored. The MWC does not comment on specifics such as self-harm, aggression or restraint in its visit reports, as there could be a risk to individuals being identified.
The MWC base their findings and recommendations on observations from the day of the visit and these local visit reports represent a snapshot of each facility at that moment in time, with recommendations made accordingly. MWC reports are an important part of ensuring standards of care and upholding rights, but they should not be seen as a comprehensive investigation or audit.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 12 February 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 10 March 2025
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
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 published by the Commission to ensure standards of care are maintained and enhanced and that human rights are respected.
The MWC has a duty to visit people who are receiving care under mental health and incapacity legislation. The purpose of these visits is to hear directly from the person receiving care and treatment whether they feel their rights are being respected.
There are limits to the MWC’s scope and powers. While they visit individuals and provide recommendations to boards, they do not carry out inspections or audits of services and they do not have powers to enforce their recommendations.
Scottish Ministers have commissioned Healthcare Improvement Scotland and MWC to undertake a programme of joint visits to all three mental health adolescent inpatient units and the National Child Inpatient Unit, with a focus on care quality, patient safety, and patient experience. We will work with scrutiny bodies to determine the best way to implement wider recommendations following the Independent Mental Health Scrutiny and Assurance Evidence Review.
