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: S7W-02677

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is provided to NHS boards to ensure that triaging accurately identifies and prioritises young people most in need of mental health support.

The CAMHS National Service Specification, published by the Scottish Government in 2020, sets the framework for CAMHS across Scotland, requiring NHS Boards to use clear, needs-based referral criteria to ensure consistent and equitable service delivery. Annex 1 of the Specification outlines the nationally agreed criteria for determining eligibility for specialist mental health support through CAMHS.

In addition, the CAMHS Waiting Times Standard Definitions and Scenarios document provides Boards with guidance on the application of the waiting times standard, including when the waiting time clock should start and stop, and which referrals fall within the scope of the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services Local Delivery Plan (LDP) Standard.

The NHS Scotland Waiting Times Guidance (2023) further supports Boards in the management of waiting lists and patient pathways, setting out expectations in relation to access, scheduling and the Treatment Time Guarantee.

Whilst these documents provide a robust national framework for consistent decision-making and service delivery, it is important to stress that decisions on referral acceptance, prioritisation and triage should be informed by clinical judgement, reflecting the individual needs, circumstances and risks of each child or young person.

Question reference: S7W-03277

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 23 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government who regulates taxi fares, and what capacity ministers have to review or monitor price increases in this area.

Taxis and Private Hire Cars (PHCs) are licensed under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (“the 1982 Act”).

While the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament has responsibility for the overarching legislation, the day to day administration of the licensing regime is devolved to independent licensing authorities through the 1982 Act – in effect the 32 Scottish local authorities.

All licensing authorities have a duty under section 17 of the 1982 Act to fix the scales for fares and all other charges in connection with the hire of taxis in their area, and have a duty to review the resultant fare scales within 18 months of the scales coming into effect. These are matters for each licensing authority to determine.

While the Scottish Ministers do not have any specific functions in relation to the day to day operation of the Taxi/ PHC licensing regime in any given local authority area, we provide best practice guidance to inform and assist local licensing authorities in their independent decision making.

In 2023 the Scottish Government published updated best practice guidance for local licensing authorities and Taxi and PHC operators on the licensing of Taxis and PHCs and their drivers. Chapter six of the best practice guidance includes information in relation to taxi fares.

Question reference: S7F-00050

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-03256

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 22 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) to address the reported backlog in registering Powers of Attorney.

Responsibility for registering and administering Power of Attorneys (PoA), lies with the Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland) (OPG), which forms part of the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS). The SCTS operates entirely independently of the Scottish Government, and all operational decisions are the responsibility of the SCTS Board under the leadership of the Lord President.

While the Scottish Government does not have a role in operational decision making, it continues to support SCTS through funding. The 2026–2027 Budget includes increased resource funding to help ease system pressures and support ongoing service improvement and modernisation. Decisions on any further funding, including for the continued development of systems and services such as those provided by the OPG, will fall to Parliament as part of any future spending considerations.

Question reference: S7W-03215

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 14 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 21 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards are responsible for investigating patient experience complaints against GP practices that are not directly managed by the NHS.

The NHS complaints handling procedure, which applies to independent contractors and NHS Board managed GP practices, allows people to raise complaints about primary care services with the relevant NHS Board. However, GP practices should take every opportunity to resolve complaints quickly and locally, and at the point of contact wherever possible.

If an NHS Board recognises that it would not be appropriate, or possible, for a person to complain directly to a Primary Care service provider, they will contact the provider to agree the way in which the complaint will be managed. Where agreement cannot be reached, it is for the NHS Board to determine how the complaint is managed. The person making the complaint must be kept informed of the decision.

Question reference: S7W-03440

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 18 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 2 October 2026

To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a costed delivery plan and timetable for extending funded early learning and childcare (ELC) to children under three.

Question reference: S7W-03308

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 29 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it is aware of reports that NHS Lothian is unable to offer mammogram appointments in Edinburgh, and how it is working with NHS Lothian to ensure that local appointments for breast screening services can be offered to women in Edinburgh who require one.

Question reference: S7F-00045

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 17 September 2026

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S7W-02815

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with charitable funders regarding the reported pressures that charities are facing as public finances tighten, and whether it will consider the role that philanthropic funding could play alongside public funding to help sustain vital community organisations.

Question reference: S7W-02817

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 01 September 2026
Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 15 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will convene a roundtable with philanthropists, charitable foundations and representatives of the wider third sector to consider how Scotland can encourage greater philanthropic giving and develop opportunities for government and philanthropy to work together on shared priorities.

The Scottish Government understands how important it is to embed collaboration is to the delivery of our shared priorities. In the Programme for Government, we announced the development of a Scottish Prevention Investment Framework, which aims to provide a consistent approach to identifying, assessing and prioritising investment in prevention and early intervention, helping direct resources towards actions that improve outcomes for people and reduce future demand on public services. Collaboration with external parties, including with philanthropists and the third sector, will be part of the development of this Framework.