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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 12 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 MS

Member

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 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]

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 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]

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: 30 January 2025

Cabinet (Meetings)

3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. (S6F-03751)"

Chamber meeting date: 30 January 2025

Creative Scotland (Multiyear Funding)

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "With Scottish Liberal Democrat backing, the budget will deliver tens of millions more for dance, music, theatre, literature, screen and more…

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2025

National Galleries of Scotland

5. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am conscious that the cabinet secretary has covered a lot of this ground already. To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Galleries, in light of reports that some of its flagship attractions may have to close…

Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2025

Health and Social Care Workforce

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "Will Jackie Baillie give way?"

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2025

Storm Éowyn

Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I, too, thank the emergency services and express my condolences to the families of the bereaved. As we heard, many members in the chamber received the loud telephone alarm, which was received across the central belt to good effect…

Votes

How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16252.2

Supporting Scotland’s Health and Social Care Workforce

Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Result 51 for, 68 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16252.1

Supporting Scotland’s Health and Social Care Workforce

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Result 61 for, 53 against, 7 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16252

Supporting Scotland’s Health and Social Care Workforce

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 27, 2025

Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 29, 2025

Result 61 for, 53 against, 7 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16237.1

Investing in Public Services Through the Scottish Budget

Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, January 27, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Result 59 for, 45 against, 8 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16237

Investing in Public Services Through the Scottish Budget

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 27, 2025

Supported by: Ivan McKee, Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Result 67 for, 46 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

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 ref. S6W-34281

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on what the current bed occupancy rate is in hospitals across NHS boards, and whether any outbreaks of (a) norovirus and (b) flu are affecting levels of bed occupancy."

Answer expected on 26 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-34283

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the current bed occupancy rate is at safe level for staff and patients."

Answer expected on 26 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-33604

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to improve the efficiency of EV charging points in rural areas, and ensure that maintenance of these charging points is kept to a high standard to reduce any risk of chargers not working for users."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 January 2025

Question ref. S6F-03751

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 January 2025

"To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet."

Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

Question ref. S6O-04254

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 22 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the National Galleries, in light of reports that some of its flagship attractions may have to close."

Taken in the Chamber on 29 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32893

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to raise the income threshold for receipt of (a) the Scottish child payment, (b) education maintenance allowance and (c) other devolved benefits that aim to help people with meeting the costs of raising a child."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32869

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to people who move marginally into a higher income bracket that takes them over the threshold for receipt of (a) the Scottish child payment, (b) education maintenance allowance and (c) other devolved benefits that aim to help people with meeting the costs of raising a child."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32872

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an annual price cap for care homes of £87,000 per person, in line with that set by the UK Government."

Answered by Maree Todd on 20 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32870

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions is had with the Scottish Ambulance Service in response to the recently implemented level four resource escalation action plan following reports of some patients waiting up to 12 hours for a vehicle, and what plans the Scottish Ambulance Service has to reduce waiting times overall."

Answer expected on 22 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32871

Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans ScotRail has to review Inter7city trains to ensure that carriages (a) meet their expected capacity and (b) are fit for purpose."

Answer expected on 22 January 2025

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