Alex Cole-Hamilton
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Edinburgh Western (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Alex Cole-Hamilton
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: edinburghlibdems.org
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
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Substitute Member
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 5 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
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 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Member
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
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 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]
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
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]
I was formerly a Convener and Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights).
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: 27 June 2024
Cabinet (Meetings)
3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet. (S6F-03266)"
Chamber meeting date: 20 June 2024
Housing Emergency
Alex Cole-Hamilton: "It is disappointing to see just how little is in the minister’s statement on the action that the Government plans to take to tackle the housing crisis that the Parliament rightly declared…
Chamber meeting date: 20 June 2024
Provisional Outturn 2023-24
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "We have seen the Scottish National Party Government cut the housing budget in the middle of a housing emergency, and cut the mental health budget when people, particularly young people, are waiting an age to be seen or treated…
Chamber meeting date: 6 June 2024
Cabinet (Meetings)
3. Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "As we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-day, I have found myself reflecting on a particular evening during the 2016 election campaign, when I knocked on a door not too far from here…
Chamber meeting date: 4 June 2024
Health and Social Care
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD): "I am pleased to speak in the debate on behalf of Scottish Liberal Democrats. I am grateful that the cabinet secretary offered to meet me…
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's contributions in the chamber
Votes
How Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted in Parliament
Find out how Alex Cole-Hamilton has voted recently.
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 50 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 24, 2024
Supported by: Màiri McAllan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Supported by: Mark Ruskell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 8 for, 108 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 58 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 68 for, 0 against, 46 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Alex Cole-Hamilton in Parliament
Find out what motions Alex Cole-Hamilton has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 24 June 2024
"To ask the First Minister when the Cabinet will next meet."
Taken in the Chamber on 27 June 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what reasonable adjustments Social Security Scotland is making in relation to communicating its visits to those with incapacity, such as those with Down’s syndrome, including any easy-read letters and other means of communication."
Answer expected on 19 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a feedback exercise in place to ensure that any required improvements to the home visits carried out by Social Security Scotland are implemented."
Answer expected on 19 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what training is provided to Social Security Scotland staff in relation to making reasonable adjustments in order to communicate meaningfully with the adults with incapacity that they visit at home."
Answer expected on 19 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government which external stakeholder groups were consulted in planning the exercise and the home visits carried out by Social Security Scotland in assessing need for Adult Disability Payments."
Answer expected on 19 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 19 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review the counter fraud strategy, Protecting Public Resources in Scotland, and, if so, within what timescale."
Answer expected on 17 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 19 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it has taken to meet the strategic objectives outlined in the 2015 publication, Protecting Public Resources in Scotland."
Answer expected on 17 July 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had or is planning to have discussions with manufacturers of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medication in order to address any shortages."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of the reported long-term disruptions to the supply of the pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, Creon, on the health of people with cystic fibrosis."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2024
Asked by: Cole-Hamilton, Alex, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to address and minimise any disruptions to the supply of (a) Creon and (b) other medicines for people with cystic fibrosis."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2024
See all of Alex Cole-Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament