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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton

Facebook: Alex's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5821
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

151 St John's Road
Corstorphine
Edinburgh
EH12 7SD

Phone: 0131 334 1814
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Alex is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Alex is a member of 11 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Alex does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Alex has 6 party roles

Party Leader

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Constitution

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Drugs Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Alex has had 8 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

06 February 2019 - 04 May 2021

Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints

Member

29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

Member

16 June 2016 - 29 September 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 16 June 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Alex's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Here is the register for Alex Cole-Hamilton. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

On 26 August 2022, my wife and I were guests of the RAF at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Limited, 1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QB). The estimated value of the hospitality received was £773. [Registered 20 September 2022]

On 12 September 2023 I attended Hampden Park Stadium for the Scotland vs England friendly match as a guest of Channel 4 Television Corporation (a broadcasting company of 124 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2TX). The ticket and associated hospitality amounted to a total of £478. [Registered 4 October 2023]

On 9 August 2023, I was a guest of the RAF (25 Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1NZ) at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality received was £475. [Registered 28 September 2023]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

Until 29 August 2022, I sublet part of my own property in Edinburgh through online holiday property website Airbnb. This yielded a gross annual income of between £5,001 and £10,000. Between 29 August 2022 and 4 May 2023, I used this part of my property to accommodate a person under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for which I received £350 a month as a “thank you” payment. Since the departure of my Ukrainian guest on 4 May 2023, I have relisted this part of my property on Airbnb and it will yield a gross annual income of between £5,0001 and £10,000 per annum. [Amended interest 22 September 2022, Amended interest 11 May 2023]

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).

On 5 February 2022, I was a guest of Scottish Rugby to the Calcutta cup at Murrayfield, they provided hospitality and 2 match tickets to myself and my guest, followed by dinner afterwards. SRU have stated that the estimated value was £1,000 per person. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test. [Registered 22 February 2022]

On 22 August 2024 a family member and I were guests of the Royal Navy for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then transported by coach to the Royal Military Tattoo. The combined value of the hospitality was £1520. [Registered 23 September 2024]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Alex Cole-Hamilton has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025

Renewable Energy (Community Benefit)

Alex Cole-Hamilton: "The First Minister cannot dodge this entirely. Some of it lies with his Government, too…

Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Does Douglas Ross recognise that treatment for drug addiction and chaotic lifestyle factors is often about more than only rehabilitation? It is about harm reduction and stabilisation…

Chamber meeting date: 30 September 2025

MyCare (Accessibility)

3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government for what reason patients across Scotland will reportedly not be able to fully access the new MyCare NHS app until 2030. (S6T-02701)"

Chamber meeting date: 30 September 2025

“Supporting Transgender Pupils In Schools” (Consultation)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Whatever one’s point of view on these matters, everyone can recognise that it is harder to be trans in Scotland than it used to be…

Chamber meeting date: 30 September 2025

MyCare (Accessibility)

3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government for what reason patients across Scotland will reportedly not be able to fully access the new MyCare NHS app until 2030. (S6T-02701)"

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19275

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 81 for, 10 against, 23 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19276

Planning and Infrastructure Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 87 for, 23 against, 1 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19128

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 52 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19269

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 51 for, 25 against, 33 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19268

Suspension of Standing Orders

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 85 for, 0 against, 26 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Alex Cole-Hamilton has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6W-41080

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:7 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are to increase funding for hospices in line with inflation, in light of reports that hospices in Edinburgh are reducing services due to a lack of funding increases."

Question reference: S6W-40782

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:26 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported shortage of pupil support assistants in schools, in light of reported concerns from parents and unions that this is leaving a large number of children unable to attend school full-time."

Question reference: S6W-41029

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:6 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 3 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-39505 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 August 2025, what plans it has to encourage local authorities to adopt the EV cable channel initiative developed by Transport Scotland."

Question reference: S6F-04368

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:6 October 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 October 2025

"Question to be taken in Chamber."

Question reference: S6W-40936

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:2 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the First Minister's speech on 27January 2025 regarding improving public services and NHS renewal, what impact the introduction of specialist frailty teams is having on (a) A&E waiting times and (b) outcomes for older people; what progress it made toward delivering such teams in every A&E…

Question reference: S6W-40929

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:2 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 30 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported concerns by some social care organisations that a shortage of care home places might lead to an increase in the risk of suicide."

Question reference: S6W-40736

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:24 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the risks to people of delayed cancer diagnoses, particularly among (a) younger people and (b) people from minority ethnic backgrounds."

Question reference: S6W-40734

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:24 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance exists for GPs to support early identification of cancer and other serious illnesses in people who present multiple times with unexplained or deteriorating symptoms."

Question reference: S6W-40733

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:24 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the reported plans to do so in England, whether it plans to adopt a version of the so-called Jess’s Rule to ensure that people repeatedly presenting with unresolved medical symptoms are referred for further investigation."

Question reference: S6W-40737

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:24 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors repeat GP attendances for unresolved symptoms, what data it collects on such cases, and how this data informs policy to prevent missed diagnoses."

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