- 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.
Answer
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.
- 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 its position is on whether home-based annual health checks for adults with learning disabilities are an adjustment of choice, or the default model of delivery, and how equity of access to GP practices is ensured in this regard.
Answer
A pre-questionnaire filled in by the person with a learning disability and/or their family or supportive carer provides the opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments required, including any preference for the location of their health check.
If the preference is for a home visit, delivery teams should contact individuals to make arrangements or suggest an alternative location that better suits the person’s needs.
- 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 whether routine annual thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) testing is recommended for adults with Down syndrome as part of annual health checks, regardless of whether the individual is currently prescribed thyroid medication.
Answer
Practitioners carrying out the annual health check are asked to action any blood tests that are needed and specifically advised to check on Thyroid Function Tests (TFTs) if the person has Down’s Syndrome. The health check also recommends that TFT screening is annual for people with Down’s Syndrome.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government by what date in 2026 it will the publish its renewed AI Strategy, and whether this will include a health-specific plan for AI in public health and the NHS.
Answer
The Scottish Government will publish a new AI Strategy in March 2026. Building on the 2021 AI Strategy, it will outline the Scottish Government’s approach to harnessing the economic opportunities of AI.
Through the Service Renewal Framework, the Scottish Government and COSLA have committed to developing a framework for the safe, efficient and ethical application of AI across health and social care. This is expected to be published in March 2026 and will set out key requirements across the policy and regulatory landscape, define organisational AI readiness and establish a shared AI lifecycle model to support consistent, accountable decision-making across the system.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 20 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 28 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what updates have been made since 2021 to its (a) AI and (b) Digital Health and Care Strategy.
Answer
a) The Scottish Government will publish its new AI Strategy in March 2026. Building on the 2021 AI Strategy, it will outline the Scottish Government’s approach to harnessing the economic opportunities of AI.
As set out in its Programme for Government, the Scottish Government will also launch AI Scotland, a national transformation programme driven by collaboration between business, academia, government, and public agencies to help ensure that Scotland maximises the potential economic and social benefits of AI.
b) The Scottish Government has produced annual delivery plans for the Digital Health and Care Strategy following its publication in 2021. The delivery plans provide an update on progress and developments of projects and programmes to meet our vision and ambition for digital in health and social care. You can find the latest delivery plan on Gov.scot: https://www.gov.scot/publications/care-digital-age-delivery-plan-2025-2026/.
The Scottish Government also produces annual updates for the Data Strategy for Health and Social Care Since the original publication in 2023. These updates provide the latest developments of the Data Strategy. You can find the latest update on Gov.scot: Health and social care - data strategy: 2025 update - progress and priorities - gov.scot
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 26 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2026
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce awareness about musculoskeletal conditions and how to prevent them through physical activity in the Scottish curriculum.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all children and young people receive a broad, inclusive, and supportive education that meets their individual needs. Within Curriculum for Excellence, health and wellbeing is a key area of learning and a shared responsibility across the school community.
While the Experiences and Outcomes within Health and Wellbeing and Science currently do not refer explicitly to musculoskeletal conditions, in Health and Wellbeing, they do provide a framework for exploring the positive impact of physical activity on learning, resilience, and quality of life. Schools are encouraged to tailor this learning to reflect the needs and experiences of their learners, including increasing awareness and understanding of long-term health conditions where appropriate.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Monday, 12 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what provisions currently exist in the Scottish curriculum to teach children about musculoskeletal conditions and how to prevent them through physical activity.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-42968 on 26 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
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 January 2026
-
Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 16 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40574 by Gillian Martin on 30 September 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, and when it will issue that update and revised guidance.
Answer
As per my recent updates to Parliament in the answer to question S6W-40574 on 30 September 2025 and S6W-38373 on 7 June 2025, I will provide an update to Parliament once this work has reached an appropriate stage. This work is complex and officials will work with Environmental Standards Scotland to take forward a scope of work that is practical in advance of a full understanding of the emerging recast EU Urban Wastewater Directive.
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.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
-
Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 December 2025
-
Current Status:
Answered by Shona Robison on 15 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what funding The City of Edinburgh Council is receiving to address pothole repairs, and how this compares with investment levels in each of the last 10 years.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s policy towards local authorities’ spending is to allow local authorities the financial freedom to operate independently and therefore does not provide funding specifically for pothole repairs. The vast majority of funding is provided by means of a block grant and it is then the responsibility of individual local authorities to manage their own budgets and to allocate the total financial resources available to them, including on road repairs, on the basis of local needs and priorities, having first fulfilled their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities.
The Scottish Government has increased The City of Edinburgh Council’s revenue funding for day-to-day services by 50.7% between 2016-17 and 2025-26, it is then for locally elected representatives to make local decisions on how best to allocate resources and deliver services to their local communities
