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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Kate Forbes

Scottish National Party

MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Kate Forbes

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @_kateforbes

Facebook: Kate's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Contact at local office

12 High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9RU

Phone: 01349 863 888
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Kate is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Kate is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Kate has 1 parliamentary and government role

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic

Scottish Government

Party Roles

Kate does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Kate has had 13 previous roles

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

29 June 2023 - 10 May 2024

Member

29 June 2023 - 10 May 2024

Member

19 May 2021 - 28 March 2023

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy

Scottish Government

18 February 2020 - 19 May 2021

Cabinet Secretary for Finance

Scottish Government

28 June 2018 - 18 February 2020

Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy

Scottish Government

14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution

Scottish Government

19 April 2018 - 28 June 2018

Member

29 September 2016 - 28 June 2018

Substitute Member

19 April 2018 - 28 June 2018

Member

08 June 2016 - 19 April 2018

Member

07 November 2017 - 19 April 2018

Member

07 September 2016 - 29 September 2016

Substitute Member

08 June 2016 - 06 September 2016

Member

Register of interests

Kate'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.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Kate Forbes 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: 16 January 2025

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Highlands and Islands)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "I am sure that Rhoda Grant will join me in acknowledging just how many people in the Highlands and Islands are in fuel poverty—I believe that the figure in the Western Isles is about 40 per cent and that 100,000 pensioners will receive a universal payment next year but will not receive one over this winter. The fuel rebate scheme for cars and…

Chamber meeting date: 16 January 2025

UK Covid-19 Inquiry Module 1 Report (Scottish Government Response)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "The Covid-19 pandemic affected every aspect of life in Scotland, and its impact continues to be felt. Today, as always, our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones…

Chamber meeting date: 16 January 2025

Health and Social Care (Rural Scotland)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "In the spirit of commending workers in rural areas, I note that one advantage of smaller teams is that they are able to adapt, innovate and trial things more effectively…

Chamber meeting date: 15 January 2025

Enterprise Agencies (Assessment of Performance)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "In the past financial year, Scottish Enterprise secured or safeguarded more than 16,700 jobs. It helped businesses to unlock £1.9 billion of planned capital investment spend and £449 million of planned innovation spend…

Chamber meeting date: 15 January 2025

Contact Scotland BSL

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "The Scottish Government wrote to the supplier of Contact Scotland BSL on 4 December to notify it that its contract will come to an end on 31 March 2025, in accordance with the contract’s terms…

Votes

How Kate Forbes has voted in Parliament

Find out how Kate Forbes has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16160.1

Compensation for WASPI Women

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 20, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 21, 2025

Result 52 for, 72 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 29 Amendment 14

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Result 46 for, 70 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16114

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Result 88 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16093

Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 13, 2025

Supported by: Siobhian Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 15, 2025

Result 116 for, 0 against, 1 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16092.2

Valuing Culture: Scotland's Support to the Culture Sector

Submitted by: Neil Bibby, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 13, 2025

Supported by: Michael Marra, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Result 24 for, 64 against, 28 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Kate Forbes has asked

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

Question ref. S6O-03449

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 May 2024

Question ref. S6O-03393

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024

Question ref. S6O-03372

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024

Question ref. S6O-03269

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the funding raised through ScotWind option fees in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget."

Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03253

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its plans to increase access to childcare in the creche beyond three hours per day."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03246

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 13 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the voices of Highland communities are appropriately considered by the Energy Consents Unit when assessing applications from developers."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03190

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 6 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Highland about progressing planning and design work for the new Belford Hospital in Fort William."

Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03120

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2024

Question ref. S6W-24999

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30 January 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to pilot a new aquaculture consenting process to help deliver a more streamlined regime across Scotland."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 January 2024

Question ref. S6W-24472

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 12 January 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22531 by Paul McLennan on 13 November 2023, by what date in early 2024 it will provide an implementation update on short-term let licensing."

Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

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