Chamber and committees

Questions and answers

Parliamentary questions can be asked by any MSP to the Scottish Government or the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body. The questions provide a means for MSPs to get factual and statistical information.

Written questions must be answered within 10 working days (20 working days during recess)
Other questions such as Topical, Portfolio, General and First Minister's Question Times are taken in the Chamber

Urgent Questions aren't included in the Question and Answers search. There is a SPICe fact sheet listing Urgent and emergency questions.

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Question reference: S6W-39081

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 30 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 28 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase policing and police presence in communities with a high level of bike theft.

Question reference: S6W-37253

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to any implications for community safety in Scotland, whether the Minister for Business raised the issue of alleged "secret Chinese police stations" on his recent trip to China.

Question reference: S6W-37254

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 25 June 2025
Current Status: Answer expected on 23 July 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will conduct an immediate strategic audit of any potential implications for (a) public bodies, (b) infrastructure and (c) energy systems in Scotland of (i) Chinese investment in offshore wind and (b) the use of Hikvision cameras by public sector bodies.

Question reference: S6F-04215

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 23 June 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 June 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-38386

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how it currently oversees the work of non-departmental public bodies, also known as quangos; how they are held accountable for their decision-making, and whether it plans to review any such arrangements.

The Scottish Public Finance Manual (SPFM) sets out the lines of accountability for public bodies. Executive NDPBs are directly accountable to Ministers, and through Ministers to Parliament. The Chief Executive is designated as the Accountable Officer (AO) responsible for the use of resources. However, Ministers remain accountable to the Parliament for the allocation of public funds. A Board holds the Chief Executive to account and the relationship between Ministers, SG and the NDPB is set out in the relevant legislation and the Framework Document for the public body. Sponsorship also plays a crucial role in ensuring that public bodies are contributing as fully as possible to delivering the Government’s targets and National Performance Framework national outcomes.

Further information can be found in the written submission to the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee which can be viewed on the Parliament’s website.

Question reference: S6W-38282

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans there are to incentivise students to study STEM subjects at (a) National 5, (b) Higher, (c) Advanced Higher and (d) university level.

The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all young people have the opportunity to develop core STEM skills and knowledge. Through the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, we have established a systematic approach to curriculum improvement which will help to ensure that STEM subjects are attractive and accessible to all children and young people.

Inspiring young people to study STEM is at the heart of our STEM Education and Training Strategy. In the last Financial Year alone, the Scottish Government provided over £1.74 million to a range of organisations which support high-quality delivery of STEM education. This includes funding SSERC’s Young STEM Leader Programme, which gives young people the chance to become STEM role models and inspire their peers to develop an interest in STEM through the creation and delivery of STEM activities and events.

Further opportunities are available for pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds including the SSERC Research Placements Programme which helps develop pupils’ professional skills through undertaking STEM research placements and Strathclyde University’s Engineering Scholars Programme which provides tutoring opportunities. The Scottish Funding Council also provide support to senior phase pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds and underrepresented groups through the National Schools Programme (NSP) which provides impartial advice and application support to pursue higher education in university, which includes STEM subjects.

The Scottish Government also funds a range of highly regarded professional learning for STEM teachers and technicians and we continue to fund Scottish Teachers Advancing Computing Science (STACS) which work to drive improvement in the take up and delivery of computing science in schools. This funding underlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to the delivery of high-quality STEM education in Scotland’s schools. All these programmes help young people realise positive post-school destinations including further and higher STEM education and employment.

Question reference: S6W-38283

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 04 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to educate students about cardiovascular health by adding more in-depth content to the curriculum in personal and social education lessons.

Health and Wellbeing is one of the eight curricular areas in Curriculum for Excellence. Learning in Health and Wellbeing is designed to ensure children and young people develop the knowledge and understanding, skills, capabilities and attributes which they need for mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing.

While the Curriculum for Excellence framework is set at a national level, it is up to local authorities and schools to determine how they will deliver the curriculum to best suit the children and young people in their area. Local authorities and schools will use a range of approaches and resources to support children and young people with their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing in line with local needs and circumstances. This can include learning and teaching about cardiovascular health for which there are existing learning experiences and outcomes in Health and Wellbeing and Sciences where this learning can be delivered.

Health and Wellbeing is also about the whole approach of the nursery, school, college or other setting. The concept of health and wellbeing as a responsibility of all emphasizes that everyone, including educators, parents, and community members, plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Question reference: S6W-38374

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to replace the Urban Waste Water Treatment (Scotland) Regulations 1994, in light of the recast Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, which came into force in the EU in January 2025, and, if so, within what timescale it plans to do so.

Question reference: S6W-38373

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish up-to-date, clear and specific guidance about the exceptional circumstances in which it is permissible for storm overflows to spill, in light of Environmental Standards Scotland reportedly stating that the current guidance limits effective implementation and application of the law.

Question reference: S6W-38375

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 05 June 2025
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 17 June 2025

To ask the Scottish Government whether SEPA will begin to proactively publish overflow monitoring data from sewerage assets that are managed under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts.