Questions and answers

Question reference: S6W-42007

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 4 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how many patients who were not referred for care by the NHS 24 111 service subsequently required emergency treatment in each of the last five years.

Question reference: S6W-42148

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 3 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS England, NHS Wales and HSC Northern Ireland in relation to a joint response to evidence regarding the risks for people affected by exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) as a result of their mother using the drug during pregnancy.

The Scottish Government has the utmost sympathy for the women who may have been harmed by stilbestrol. However, Scottish Ministers have had no discussions with NHS England, NHS Wales and HSC Northern Ireland on this issue as the regulation for the licensing, safety and efficacy of medicines is reserved to the UK Government and is the responsibility of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Question reference: S6W-41986

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that health services in Argyll & Bute have been relocated to Glasgow.

There is an existing and established Orthopaedic pathway in place for patients in Argyll & Bute to receive treatment in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde. This has been the position for some time and we understand from Health Boards that patient feedback on this arrangement is largely positive.

More recently, the Haematology service was redesigned and repatriated to NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde due to the sub specialist nature of the many blood cancers and treatments now available, ensuring patients can continue to be treated safely. Patients are also supported through consultant consultations via NearMe within NHS Highland’s McMillan Suite with specialist nursing support.

To deliver case closer to home, many services across Argyll & Bute are also provided via an outreach service level agreement (SLA) which allows local access to consultant clinics.

As part of my plan to reform the NHS, I have announced that Health Boards will plan on a sub-national basis in 2026-27. This will ensure NHS Boards work together in the East and West of Scotland, allowing teams to work across their boundaries and share resources to ensure capacity is maximised and that long waiting patients can access treatment more quickly.

I expect all Health Boards to support across boundaries to deliver for their patient population ensuring timely access treatment.

Question reference: S6F-04495

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 01 December 2025
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 4 December 2025

Question to be taken in Chamber.

Question reference: S6W-41943

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government to what extent literacy in the use of AI is included in the current curriculum in schools.

We are committed to ensuring that children and young people are equipped with the skills, knowledge and understanding to successfully navigate a world where AI permeates all aspects of society.

The current curriculum includes digital literacy which allows teachers to develop learners’ skills in the use of digital tools, including AI.

Work to consider and update all curriculum areas as part of the Curriculum Improvement Cycle, including Technologies, is underway. The Cycle will consider cross-curricular expectations, including digital literacy and political literacy and will involve input from a range of academic and industry experts, ensuring that our thinking reflects best practice in what is a fast moving and complex area.

In recognition of the challenges and opportunities that AI poses for teaching and learning, we have been pleased to provide funding to the University of Edinburgh to develop resources to support the teaching of AI across several subject areas.

Work also continues at pace to develop AI guidelines and guardrails for teachers on the ethical use of AI in schools. We hope to publish this in the coming months.

Question reference: S6W-41945

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to expand the provision of financial literacy as part of the school curriculum.

I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-41944 on 1 December 2025, Education Scotland are currently reviewing the curriculum in line with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle programme. As part of this review, work is taking place to review the place of financial education within the curriculum. 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.

The engagement to date has included a series of collaborative sessions involving a broad range of practitioners, stakeholders, and academics, including representatives from the Money and Pensions Service, the Scottish Qualifications Authority, the Scottish Secondary Teachers’ Association, the National Association of Student Money Advisers, and Money Ready. These sessions have examined the current landscape of financial education, drawing on evidence-based research, and have initiated planning on how financial education might be effectively integrated into the Scottish curriculum to promote a coherent and equitable approach.

Question reference: S6W-41944

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Monday, 17 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government how schools are expected to deliver financial literacy to pupils as part of the curriculum.

The Scottish Government recognises the importance of Financial Education in equipping learners with key life skills. Financial literacy is embedded in the curriculum in Scotland through numeracy and maths, business studies and personal and social education classes. Financial Education is a key feature of Curriculum for Excellence Experiences and Outcomes for Numeracy and Mathematics, assisting learners in making decisions about managing money, ensuring best value and budgeting. Credit, debt, earnings and deductions are also included within the curriculum alongside effectively managing money, making appropriate use of technology and appreciating the importance of budgeting.

Education Scotland provides professional learning resources enabling educators to reflect on their own understanding and knowledge in supporting learning and teaching about money. In addition, a wide range of teaching resources are provided by the private and Third Sector. These include Barclays Life Skills, financial education guidance from the Money & Pension Service and the work of the charity, Money Ready.

Education Scotland are currently reviewing the curriculum in line with the Curriculum Improvement Cycle programme. As part of this review, work is taking place to review the place of financial education within the curriculum. Education Scotland are engaging with a wide range of practitioners and stakeholders, including children and young people, to review current Financial Education teaching and practice and plan how it can most effectively be integrated into the curriculum, ensuring an equitable approach.

Question reference: S6W-42005

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 1 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-42014

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 December 2025

To ask the Scottish Government what specific measures are in place to ensure continuity of care for social care service users whose care package is cancelled during hospital admissions, and how these measures are monitored.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of social care support to all who require additional support in living independently at home or in the community and appreciate the concerns that may arise following changes to this support.

Under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, local authorities and Health and Social Care Partnerships have a duty to assess the social care support needs of people both in hospital and the community, and decide in light of that assessment, to arrange or re-instate suitable services, if required.

While the Scottish Government has overall responsibility for health and social care support policy in Scotland, it is Local Government who have the statutory responsibility to record and share decisions affecting a person’s choices and support, and to ensure that any decisions are made in line with the Self-directed Support (SDS) principles and duties set out in the statutory guidance.

Local Government will operate local eligibility criteria to prioritise responses to changes in care packages and reassessments based on risk and complexity of need. The eligibility criteria will usually prescribe standard waiting times for assessments, reassessment and reviews, including for exceptional and urgent circumstances, such as hospital admissions, individuals at risk and additional support for unpaid carers.

Question reference: S6W-41987

Asked by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, MSP for Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 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.

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