- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Friday, 12 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to work with other UK nations to develop a consistent approach to the confirmation process in Scotland, equivalent to probate in England, for executors to get authority to manage and distribute a deceased person's estate, in light of reported concerns from residents in the Edinburgh Western constituency that there are differences in the process in Scotland and England.
Answer
The Scots law of succession and executry differs from the law elsewhere in the UK and this is reflected in the judicial process of obtaining a grant of confirmation. The Scottish Government has no current plans to work with other UK nations to reform the confirmation process. However, the Scottish Law Commission has started a review of Scots executry law and the Scottish Government will consider any recommendations for reform made as a result.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Thursday, 11 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 17 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to review the confirmation process for executors to get authority to manage and distribute a deceased person's estate.
Answer
The Scottish Law Commission recently started a review of Scots executry law, which includes the need to seek confirmation. The project may review, amongst others, whether confirmation should continue to be a judicial process and whether some or all of the executry process could be simplified through the use of online or simpler processes. The Commission is always keen to engage with stakeholders who might be affected by the subject matter of any project, and who wish to contribute. Further information can be sought at [email protected]. The Scottish Government will consider any recommendations for reform the Commission may make.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answer expected on 13 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
Answer expected on 13 January 2026
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 11 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to introducing publicly accessible bleed control kits in high-footfall locations, as is done with defibrillators, to help save the lives of victims of knife crime or other traumatic injuries.
Answer
We do not currently have a plan to make bleed kits available nationally across Scotland but we encourage the public to focus on calling the emergency services for assistance in the case of an emergency and encourage members of the public, including young people themselves, to learn the basic first aid skills which could be vital in saving a life.
Whilst our approach to tackling knife crime is to prevent young people from picking up a knife in the first instance, it is important that bystanders are given the best advice on how to provide direct pressure to a bleeding wound using readily available items such as dry towels or clothing. Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) call handlers are well trained to provide first aid advice to bystanders before an ambulance arrives.
SAS is following the position of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, which is supported by a number of UK organisations such as the London Ambulance Service and the NHS England London Violence Reduction Programme, in promoting bystander first aid but not the general role out of commercially available bleed kits. The SAS major trauma team regularly reviews how best to treat patients experiencing significant bleeding, which includes reviewing and taking part in guidance and research.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce a legal requirement for kitchen knives to be security-tagged or kept behind the counter in retail premises, as is done with other products that could be used as weapons.
Answer
Existing laws already regulate the sale of dangerous bladed items. We continue to work closely with Police Scotland, local authorities and retailers to reduce knife related harm and to support the enforcement of these safeguards, including age restriction requirements. Retailers also have an important role to play in keeping their communities safe by ensuring the items they sell, including kitchen knives, are stored and displayed responsibly.
In this context, the Scottish Government has no current plans to introduce a legal requirement for kitchen knives to be security-tagged or kept behind the counter in retail premises.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise awareness of endometriosis in schools.
Answer
Endometriosis is a priority in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so. The ongoing action we will take to support those living with endometriosis will be set out in the next phase of the Plan, which is expected to be published in January 2026.
In schools, menstrual health and wellbeing education is a key part of relationships, sexual health and parenthood (RSHP) education. RSHP education is an integral part of the health and wellbeing area of the Scottish curriculum, Curriculum for Excellence. Learning about RSHP education begins early on in primary school and continues right up to S4-S6.
Education Scotland have a summary of RSHP teaching resources on their website, providing age and stage appropriate learning activities on RSHP education for use in all education settings and aligned to Curriculum for Excellence. This resource includes learning activities on menstruation from second level (P5 to P7), with endometriosis introduced at third/fourth level (S1 to S3).
This online RSHP teaching resource was subject to review and refresh in 2023. Teachers continue to access the resource regularly.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take with the NHS to support people who may have been affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) as a result of their mother using the drug during pregnancy, and how it plans to test any people exposed to DES in this way for any potential health issues resulting from this exposure.
Answer
The Scottish Government has the utmost sympathy for women who were prescribed diethylstilbestrol (DES) and the impact it may have had on them and their families.
The UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC) does not currently recommend increased screening for individuals whose mother may have been administered diethylstilbestrol while pregnant with them. The most recent guidance advises that routine screening is appropriate for those who believe that they were exposed to stilbestrol in utero, and we would encourage all women to attend their routine breast and cervical screening appointments.
In line with the UK NSC’s current recommendations, all women aged between 50 to 70 are invited for breast screening every three years. In addition, those aged 25 and 64 are invited for routine cervical screening every 5 years. Individuals may be invited for more regular cervical screening or until they are aged 70 if previous results have found changes that need to be monitored.
Anyone concerned that they may have side effects from possible or known exposure to DES should discuss this with their GP in the first instance, who can provide support and advice, and request a referral for any further testing or treatment if this is determined to be appropriate.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Jenni Minto on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase awareness of endometriosis among clinicians in all departments.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring those living with endometriosis can access the best possible care and support.
Endometriosis is a priority in the Women’s Health Plan and will continue to be so. Wide ranging progress, including action to support clinicians to better understand endometriosis is set out in the Women's health plan 2021 to 2024: final report - gov.scot published in November 2024.
The ongoing action we will take to support those living with endometriosis will be set out in the next phase of the Plan, which is expected to be published in January 2026.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the automatic cancellation of care packages after short hospital admissions is consistent with best practice; whether this is the current practice, and, if so, whether it plans to end this practice.
Answer
It is the responsibility of local authorities to have in place clear arrangements for the management and monitoring of care packages. Decisions about individual cases are for local authorities to make, within the requirements of the law.
S12A of the Social Work Scotland Act states that following assessment, the local authority should decide if services are required and consider the views of the individual and carers. Assessment or reassessment of those admitted to hospital should take account of previous needs prior to admission including care and support provision, and any new needs and additional support that has emerged following admission.
Reviewing or ending an individual’s care package should be because their needs have changed – not for financial planning or other operational reasons.
Planning and budget decisions on care are made through Integration Joint Boards. The Scottish Government has provided a record settlement to local government this year, as well as £21.7 billion for the health and social care budget.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 December 2025
To ask the Scottish Government how many bed days have been lost in each year since 2020 due to patients being unable to be discharged while waiting for a new care package after their existing package was cancelled.
Answer
The information requested is not held centrally.
