- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 16 June 2026
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2026
Question to be taken in Chamber.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 18 June 2026
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 09 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding support available to people who experience two consecutive miscarriages, (a) what support is currently available, (b) how NHS boards are expected to implement it, (c) what monitoring is undertaken to assess compliance with national guidance, and (d) what assessment has been carried out regarding the consistent availability of support.
Answer
The Scottish Government Delivery Framework for Miscarriage Care in Scotland, published in February 2025, sets out a graded model of miscarriage care after one, two and three or more miscarriages and tasks NHS Boards with introducing this model of care in Early Pregnancy Services, backed by £1.5m funding to NHS Boards in 2025-26.
NHS Boards have been asked to assess what their service is delivering and report on their progress towards implementing the 34 actions/deliverables in the Framework. To assist with this, a monitoring framework including BRAG ratings of progress towards delivery to date was issued to NHS Boards on 24 March 2026. Responses are currently being analysed.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking, following the withdrawal of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 100mg/1ml solution, to ensure that people with adrenal insufficiency have access to safe, rapid-use emergency hydrocortisone options, including alternative liquid products, the ACT-O-VIAL system and future prefilled or autoinjector delivery methods.
Answer
The supply of medicines, and the associated legislation, is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Scotland is a member of the UK Medicines Shortage Response Group (MSRG). Following the discontinuation of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 100mg/1ml solution, MSRG issued advice to prescribers to switch people to hydrocortisone sodium succinate 100mg powder for injection, where appropriate. People concerned about the additional steps required to prepare an emergency injection when using the above-noted powder formulation may wish to discuss with their clinician whether an alternative unlicensed hydrocortisone product would be appropriate for them. Work with the pharmaceutical industry to identify a longer-term solution continues.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, following its withdrawal from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) Programme, how will it coordinate and gather intelligence with the rest of UK to tackle the increasing availability of synthetic opioids, which can be significantly more powerful than heroin.
Answer
As confirmed in the answer to S7W-00736 on 16 June 2026, the Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme.
Reports from the WAND study have highlighted the difficulties in being able to detect the presence of synthetic opioids in wastewater due to their instability and because testing methods are not as developed as they are for other drugs.
Investments made in surveillance, like Scotland’s RADAR early warning system, are supporting the ability to identify and respond to new and emerging threats such as dangerous synthetic opioids. The RADAR system has played a pivotal role in the public health response to nitazene-linked drug harm clusters by identifying trends and sharing information. Work is also progressing to deliver drug checking services which will also help to provide a fuller surveillance picture and better identification of emerging trends and new drugs.
Scottish Government Ministers and officials engage routinely with counterparts in the UK Government and the other Devolved Administrations in response to the shared threat posed by the increasing prevalence of synthetic substances.
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 North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the number of deaths involving synthetic opioids in Scotland reaching the highest level on record last year, whether any specific ministerial meetings have been held to discuss the threat posed by these substances and their increasing availability in Scotland.
Answer
The increased prevalence of new synthetic substances is of real concern, not only in Scotland but across the whole of the UK. We are working closely with partners to communicate vital information and advice. We have been able to identify and respond to new and emerging threats such as dangerous synthetic opioids thanks to the investments made in surveillance like our RADAR early warning system.
Ministers routinely meet with a range of stakeholders to discuss the ongoing threat of synthetic substances. Later this month, Public Health Scotland will host a summit with system leaders (including Scottish Ministers, COSLA and representatives from NHS Boards, Alcohol and Drug Partnerships, justice leaders and those with lived and living experience) to address the changing drugs landscape in Scotland and concerning trends in drug related harms.
In addition, a virtual meeting of all UK drugs ministers is scheduled for 24 June 2026. Scottish Ministers have requested that the topic of synthetic opioids be included on the agenda for discussion.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the National Crime Agency's determination that there are currently no up-to-date national estimates of drug consumption in Scotland, and for what reason it has withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme, which is intended to provide such information.
Answer
As confirmed in the answer to S7W-00736 on 16 June 2026, the Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme.
The latest WAND programme report published by the Home Office – covering a period when Scottish sites were included – did not provide a national estimate of drug consumption for Scotland. The report is available here - Wastewater analysis - estimating drug consumption.
Public Health Scotland do publish statistics relating to drug prevalence in Scotland, the last publication was in March 2026 - Estimated prevalence of opioid dependence in Scotland.
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 North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has withdrawn from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme and, if so, for what reason.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme. This was a fully Home Office-funded programme, to which the Scottish Government has not contributed funding. The Home Office decided in late 2025 to withdraw funding for the Scottish sites due to budget constraints.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 03 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide any information, including expert advice or relevant data, that informed its decision to withdraw from the Home Office and National Crime Agency Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme.
Answer
As confirmed in the answer to S7W-00736 on 16 June 226, the Scottish Government has not withdrawn from the Wastewater Analysis for Narcotics Detection (WAND) programme. This was a fully Home Office-funded programme, to which the Scottish Government has not contributed funding. The Home Office decided in late 2025 to withdraw funding for the Scottish sites due to budget constraints.
The Scottish Government was approached about contributing funding to reinstate the Scottish sites at this time. WAND was primarily useful for being able to provide estimates of drug consumption in the tested area. The conclusion reached by both the Scottish Government and Public Health Scotland was that the specific added value of wastewater analysis remained uncertain when compared with the existing, extensive surveillance system, coordinated via RADAR. On this basis, the Scottish Government determined that it would not be an effective use of limited budget to contribute to the programme.
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 North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the number of deaths from synthetic opioids recorded in Scotland reaching the highest level on record in 2025, what specific action it will take to combat the increasing availability of synthetic opioids in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government fully recognises the need to tackle drug supply and organised crime groups. Police Scotland works with agencies in Scotland, the UK and internationally to take illegal substances, including synthetic opioids, off Scotland’s streets, and to dismantle the groups responsible and hold them to account. They continue to have notable success with the number of senior organised crime group members in prison indicative of operational success.
Our Alcohol & Drugs Strategic Plan, Preventing Harm, Promoting Recovery aims to prevent harm from alcohol and drugs, promote recovery and save lives. Grounded in human rights, the Plan sets out a clear long term direction for addressing alcohol and drug harms through a public health, evidence informed approach. The Plan builds on the progress made throughout the National Mission, and sets out a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, whilst continuing to support vital harm reduction measures and improving treatment and care pathways to support long term recovery.
In light of the changing drug trends and emerging threats, the Plan commits to strengthening surveillance and early response measures, and expanding the approach of what has been achieved through the Medication Assisted Treatment standards (currently primarily for opioid use) to cover all substances including alcohol.
- Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh North Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 02 June 2026
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Current Status:
Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 June 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported findings by Windrush Against Sewage Pollution (WASP) that SEPA requires sewage treatment works to record less sewage treatment data than its English and Welsh counterparts.
Answer
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) sets recording requirements for sewage treatment works in accordance with its published technical guidance wat-g-065_permit_guide_municipal_sewage_treatment-_works.docx.
The recording and reporting requirements are included in authorisations on the basis of environmental risk, such as size of wastewater treatment works and proximity to sensitive receptors e.g. designated Bathing Waters.
The Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations (Scotland) 1994 sets out the nature of the sampling and the frequency for qualifying works. The results of this sampling is published - https://www.gov.scot/publications/situation-compliance-report-disposal-urban-wastewater-sludge-scotland-2022/.
