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-43796

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any underspend arising from delays in funding for long COVID services is ring-fenced for long COVID care rather than being returned to the Scottish Government or diverted to other areas in order to prevent disruption to patient care and the delivery of essential services, and what formal accountability measures it will apply to guarantee this.

Question reference: S6W-43794

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what consideration has been given to the needs of children and young people with long-term conditions when developing the Long Term Conditions Framework; for what reason children and young people do not appear to be included despite contributions from children’s and young people’s organisations and what steps the Scottish Government will take to ensure that their needs are fully reflected and represented in the final framework.

Question reference: S6W-43795

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government regarding funding for long COVID services for 2025–26, (a) for what reason it was delayed, (b) when NHS boards were formally informed of the delay, (c) how much time they had to respond, (d) what impact the delay had on service delivery, staffing and patient care and (e) what urgent remedial action was taken to prevent disruption for people living with long COVID.

Question reference: S6W-43793

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 18 February 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 4 March 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the publication of the Long Term Conditions Framework, for what reason it was halted less than 24 hours before its planned release on 18 December 2025; what specific stakeholder feedback informed this decision; whether a final draft existed at that point; whether that draft will be published, and whether the Parliament will be granted access to it.

Question reference: S6W-43642

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 10 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-42567 by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 January 2026, whether it will provide an update on any issues with the delivery of the Winter Heating Payment, in light of reports of many Edinburgh Western constituents having yet to receive it.

Social Security Scotland is committed to ensuring that everyone who is eligible for Winter Heating Payment receives their payment automatically.

As of 24 January 2026, over 454,500 Winter Heating Payments had been made to eligible clients across Scotland.

As noted in the response to S6W-42597, Social Security Scotland contacts clients before payments are issued. While most people received their Winter Heating Payment by the end of December 2025, payments will continue until the end of February 2026.

Further details are available on Social Security Scotland’s website at: Winter Benefits management information release to 24 January 2026

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-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Question reference: S6W-43622

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what the timeline is for its work to support the digitalisation of NHS Scotland, including the full roll-out of the MyCare.scot app, in order to keep pace with broader digital changes across society and to remain aligned with NHS England.

The Scottish Government is progressing the digital transformation of health and care through the Digital Health and Care Strategy, with timelines set out in the Care in the Digital Age delivery plan on gov.scot: https://www.gov.scot/publications/care-digital-age-delivery-plan-2025-2026/.

A key deliverable is MyCare.scot, the new Digital Front Door. It will be introduced in phases to ensure safety, security and clinical robustness. Delivery is on track for full population rollout from April 2026. A national plan published in September 2025 sets the strategic direction, with further detail on national scaling due in Spring 2026.

MyCare.scot is being developed using shared Scottish public-sector digital infrastructure, including ScotAccount and the Digital Mailbox, supporting alignment with wider public services and integration across health and social care.

We continue to engage regularly with NHS England and partners across the UK to share learning as digital services evolve.

Question reference: S6W-43631

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 09 February 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to advance the development and accessibility of non-invasive diagnostic tools for endometriosis, and whether it plans to implement diagnostic methods such as the Ziwig Endotest in NHS Scotland.

The Scottish Government welcomes innovative approaches to improve patient outcomes and service sustainability.

Commercial companies can submit proposals for innovative products and services for the public sector via the Scotland Innovates service.

The Endometriosis Care Pathway for NHS Scotland is based on guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Currently, these guidelines do not currently recommend the use of diagnostic tests such as the Ziwig Endotest.

Question reference: S6F-04678

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 16 February 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-43364

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 10 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when Ministers will engage with key local stakeholders, including the Caithness Health Action Team (CHAT), regarding the review of maternity services in Caithness, and what steps are being taken to ensure that such stakeholders are formally involved in the review process.

I visited Caithness General Hospital on 30 July 2025 to meet with a range of stakeholders, including members of the Caithness Health Action Team.

The Caithness Health Action Team and other local community representatives play an important role in making sure the voices of women and families are heard. We expect NHS Boards to plan and provide safe, effective and high-quality care, in line with their statutory service provision and workforce planning responsibilities, which are dependent on the service needs of each Board taking account of national, regional and local priorities.

I chaired the inaugural meeting of the Scottish Maternity and Neonatal Taskforce on 29 January. The meeting brought together clinicians, service leaders, professional bodies, and third sector partners with a shared commitment to ensuring that every woman and baby receives safe, high-quality, and compassionate care.

At its first meeting, the Taskforce began developing its workplan and engagement strategy, including its approach to overseeing improvements in rural and island maternity services. Reviewing the issues facing rural communities, including Caithness and Stranraer, is one of the Taskforce’s priorities and will be taken forward in a structured and evidence-based manner. This work will be informed by the expertise of its members, grounded in the voices of lived experience and aligned with the principles of safe care as close to home as possible. A broad and diverse range of service users will be engaged as part of this process, including representatives from the Caithness Health Action Team.

Parliament will be kept updated on progress. The next meeting is scheduled for February.

Question reference: S6W-43335

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 27 January 2026
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 5 February 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what national guidance applies to the delivery of annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities, and whether these checks are expected to be offered within GP practices as standard, with home visits provided as a reasonable adjustment where required.

Scottish Government issued National Directions in 2023 for Learning Disability Annual Health Checks which detail the legal duties of Health Boards with regard to annual health checks as well as practical guidance on delivery. Annual health checks for people with learning disabilities (Scotland) directions 2023.

In Scotland, annual health checks are not required to be delivered via primary care. £2 million funding is provided per annum to Health Boards to offer LD health checks with flexibility in their chosen delivery mechanisms. The majority of LD annual health checks are being delivered via a nurse led model and the remainder via a hybrid model, which in some cases includes a Local Enhanced Service agreement with GP practices.