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: Answer expected 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.

Question reference: S7W-02311

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that Peter Hammond of Windrush Against Sewage Pollution has described Scottish Water as the "least transparent" water company in the UK.

Question reference: S7W-01657

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01036 by Kirsten Oswald on 9 July 2026, whether it will provide an update on which of the actions recommended by the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour (a) have been implemented and (b) remain incomplete.

In a letter to the Criminal Justice Committee dated 16 December 2025, the then Minister for Victims and Community Safety set out the Scottish Government’s response to the report published by the Independent Working Group on Antisocial Behaviour. The response set out details about work that has been taken forward. A copy of the response can be found at: https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/criminal-justice-committee/correspondence/2025/asb-iwg-response-letter-from-minister-vcs-16-december-2025.pdf. Since this letter was issued, work has continued in implementing the actions to which the Scottish Government committed.

Question reference: S7W-01656

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Kirsten Oswald on 19 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01019 by Kirsten Oswald on 9 July 2026, on what dates a) ministers and b) civil servants held discussions with Police Scotland and whether it will place a copy of any notes or minutes from these discussions in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe).

Ministers regularly meet with Police Scotland to discuss a range of matters. Meetings between Ministers and Police Scotland since 1 January 2026 exclusively focused on the antisocial use of vehicles and the powers available to officers to address these issues took place on 24 February 2026, 4 March 2026, and 21 July 2026. I will write to the Member with summary notes of these meetings. A copy of that correspondence will be placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. Number 66816). Separately, Scottish Government officials meet regularly with Police Scotland colleagues, including the Head of Roads Policing, to discuss a range of issues, including the antisocial and criminal use of vehicles.

Question reference: S7W-01658

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Friday, 24 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 18 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01047 by Mairi McAllan on 9 July 2026, when the next wave of Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research (BISSR) will be undertaken.

Question reference: S7W-01759

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01050 by Ben Macpherson on 13 July 2026, when the CLD Workforce Plan will be completed and published.

The CLD Standards Council are leading a range of activity to progress recommendation 5.2 of the Independent Review of CLD to develop a CLD Workforce Plan. This includes establishing a Working Group with representation from across the CLD sector and undertaking a workforce needs survey.

The CLD Standards Council will present recommendations on the requirements of a workforce plan to the CLD Strategic Leadership Group (SLG) when the group reconvenes later in the year. Subject to approval, a workforce plan will be developed and circulated to the SLG for final approval in Autumn 2027, followed by implementation.

Question reference: S7W-01760

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 16 July 2026
Current Status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 13 August 2026

To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-01053 by Ben Macpherson on 13 July 2026, when the National CLD Workforce Survey will be completed and its findings made available to view.

Question reference: S7W-02312

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to identify the scale of dry weather sewage spills in Scotland.

Question reference: S7W-02310

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government whether, for the purposes of assessing the legality of sewage overflows, it will publish a definition of "heavy rainfall".

Question reference: S7W-02309

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Thursday, 06 August 2026
Current Status: Answer expected on 3 September 2026

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that nearly 90% of sewage spills in Scotland may be illegal.