Responding to new figures published today in Scotland’s Annual Carbon Footprint 1998-2018, which notes that Scotland's carbon footprint actually increased in 2017-2018, Scottish Liberal Democrat spokesperson Liam McArthur said:

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today called on the Scottish Government to move further and faster to tackle drugs deaths after new figures revealed that Scotland still has the highest rate of drugs deaths in Europe.

Responding to new mental health waiting times statistics for the end of 2021 showing 1,880 children and 4,509 adults waiting more than year for treatment, with performance against the 18-week waiting time dropping for both children and adults, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP commented: 

Responding to the Government launching the “Homes for Ukraine” website for people to sponsor Ukrainian refugees yesterday, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson and MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael, has challenged government ministers to explain how the rights of Ukrainians will be protected and how quickly refugees will be able to arrive in the UK as they flee Russia’s invasion. The scheme will open on Friday 18 March for visa applications from Ukrainians and immediate family members who already have named people willing to sponsor them.

Responding to the news that Scottish households are starting to receive a letter to inform them that they are eligible for the Government’s £150 Cost of Living Award, Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesperson Willie Rennie has criticised the SNP for failing to provide enough help to those who need it the most. 

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP has today urged the Health Secretary to focus on finally ending the crisis in A&E after newly released figures show that only 70.5% of A&E attendees were seen within the 4-hour target.

Responding to the latest update from the Auditor General for Scotland on the progress of the Scottish Government's R100 (Reaching 100%) superfast broadband programme which warns that "after a slow start, by 31 December 2021, around 107,000 premises remain to be connected through the contracts" out of the around 112,000 premises which are expected to be connected, Liberal Democrat Culture, Media and Sport spokesperson and Far North MP Jamie Stone said:

Speaking ahead of the First Minister’s Covid statement expected on Tuesday, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: 

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie has today warned that the Scottish Government is setting the country up for decades of failure, as new trainee teacher intake figures for 2021 published this week revealed that in key STEM subjects the number of recruits has fallen far short of targets. 

Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s delayed National Workforce Strategy for Health and Social Care, Scottish Liberal Democrat leader and health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton commented: