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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Alex Cole-Hamilton

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Alex Cole-Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @agcolehamilton

Facebook: Alex's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5821
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

151 St John's Road
Corstorphine
Edinburgh
EH12 7SD

Phone: 0131 334 1814
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Alex is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Alex is a member of 11 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tibet

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Alex does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Alex has 6 party roles

Party Leader

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Constitution

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Drugs Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Alex has had 8 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

06 February 2019 - 04 May 2021

Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints

Member

29 September 2016 - 04 May 2021

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

Member

16 June 2016 - 29 September 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Deputy Convener

08 June 2016 - 16 June 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Alex's register of interests

MSPs must provide details of their financial interests in the Register of Interests. They make an initial statement on becoming or being returned as an MSP. This is then updated with any changes they provide.

Here is the register for Alex Cole-Hamilton. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

On 26 August 2022, my wife and I were guests of the RAF at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Limited, 1-3 Cockburn Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1QB). The estimated value of the hospitality received was £773. [Registered 20 September 2022]

On 12 September 2023 I attended Hampden Park Stadium for the Scotland vs England friendly match as a guest of Channel 4 Television Corporation (a broadcasting company of 124 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2TX). The ticket and associated hospitality amounted to a total of £478. [Registered 4 October 2023]

On 9 August 2023, I was a guest of the RAF (25 Learmonth Terrace, Edinburgh EH4 1NZ) at a performance of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality received was £475. [Registered 28 September 2023]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

Until 29 August 2022, I sublet part of my own property in Edinburgh through online holiday property website Airbnb. This yielded a gross annual income of between £5,001 and £10,000. Between 29 August 2022 and 4 May 2023, I used this part of my property to accommodate a person under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, for which I received £350 a month as a “thank you” payment. Since the departure of my Ukrainian guest on 4 May 2023, I have relisted this part of my property on Airbnb and it will yield a gross annual income of between £5,0001 and £10,000 per annum. [Amended interest 22 September 2022, Amended interest 11 May 2023]

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).

On 5 February 2022, I was a guest of Scottish Rugby to the Calcutta cup at Murrayfield, they provided hospitality and 2 match tickets to myself and my guest, followed by dinner afterwards. SRU have stated that the estimated value was £1,000 per person. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test. [Registered 22 February 2022]

On 22 August 2024 a family member and I were guests of the Royal Navy for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then transported by coach to the Royal Military Tattoo. The combined value of the hospitality was £1520. [Registered 23 September 2024]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Alex Cole-Hamilton has said in Parliament

These are the official transcripts of what was said by this MSP in the chamber and at committee meetings. You'll find the topic discussed and how many times this MSP has contributed to the discussion.

Chamber meeting date: 18 November 2025

University of Edinburgh (Redundancies)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "The minister will recall that I invited Sir Peter Mathieson here to meet a group of Edinburgh MSPs in the early summer…

Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2025

Primary Schools (Class Contact Time)

3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I declare an interest in that my wife is a primary school teacher and a member of the Educational Institute of Scotland…

Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2025

Winter Preparedness (Health and Social Care)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "This morning, the cabinet secretary and I attended a conference that was organised by the RCN for nurse activists…

Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2025

Scottish Parliament (Recall and Removal of Members) Bill: Stage 1

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Will the member take an intervention?"

Chamber meeting date: 11 November 2025

Drug Deaths

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "This is an area that the Liberal Democrats want the Government to succeed in. People are dying. I remember the widespread acclaim that accompanied the appointment of Dr Matheson to lead the task force…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19754.2

Education

Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Supported by: Natalie Don-Innes, Ben Macpherson
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Result 64 for, 53 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19756

Scotland's Skills System

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, November 17, 2025

Supported by: Pam Duncan-Glancy
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Result 61 for, 57 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19754.1

Education

Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Result 53 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19754

Education

Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, November 17, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Result 63 for, 54 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19756.2

Scotland's Skills System

Submitted by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 18, 2025

Supported by: Natalie Don-Innes, Kate Forbes, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Result 58 for, 60 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Alex Cole-Hamilton has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6W-42003

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out on the impact of delayed NHS 24 callbacks on patient outcomes."

Question reference: S6W-42005

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients were assessed through the NHS 24 111 service and subsequently not referred for further clinical care in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-41987

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many patients in Argyll & Bute have had to travel outside their own NHS board for treatment in each of the last three years, and what the longest distance has been for a patient to travel."

Question reference: S6W-41991

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the NHS 24 111 triage processes to reduce the number of patients that have been denied onward referral."

Question reference: S6W-42001

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of NHS 24 111 callbacks were completed within target times in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-42012

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many adult social care packages have been cancelled following a hospital admission of (a) fewer than three days, (b) three to seven days and (c) more than seven days in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-42000

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) average and (b) longest recorded time for an NHS 24 111 callback was in each of the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-42015

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of frequent cancellation and reassignment of care packages on social care workforce stability, retention and continuity of carers for service users."

Question reference: S6W-41984

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to address the reported shortage of care workers in rural communities in the South of Scotland, and what impact it considers that this is having on hospital discharge times."

Question reference: S6W-41993

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats

Date lodged:19 November 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance (a) NHS 24 and (b) other NHS boards follow to ensure that repeat callers seeking medical care receive timely support."

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