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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

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

29 June 2023 - 10 May 2024

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

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

Health and Sport Committee

Member

29 September 2016 - 28 June 2018

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Substitute Member

19 April 2018 - 28 June 2018

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Member

08 June 2016 - 19 April 2018

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

07 November 2017 - 19 April 2018

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

07 September 2016 - 29 September 2016

European and External Relations Committee

Substitute Member

08 June 2016 - 06 September 2016

Finance Committee

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: 20 February 2025

Trade Barriers (Impact on Economy)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "Trade barriers can pose significant challenges to our economy by restricting international trade—that depends on the countries and the products or services that are affected…

Chamber meeting date: 20 February 2025

Gaelic-medium Education (Support for Local Authorities)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "We are committed to supporting the growth of Gaelic-medium education throughout Scotland…

Chamber meeting date: 19 February 2025

Powers of the Scottish Parliament

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "On 4 July last year, a new Labour United Kingdom Government was elected on a manifesto commitment to “reset” relations with the devolved Governments…

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Ferguson Marine (Running Cost)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "The running costs are a commercial matter for Ferguson Marine to answer. Monthly charges to the Scottish Government fluctuate, based on the work that is undertaken under current contracts."

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Ferguson Marine (Discussions)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "The Scottish Government met with the Ferguson Marine board on 30 January. Updates were given by the chief executive and the chief financial officer, and there were discussions about the yard’s future strategy and business operations."

Votes

How Kate Forbes has voted in Parliament

Find out how Kate Forbes has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16526

Great British Energy Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Alasdair Allan, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 84 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.2

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 16 for, 97 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16532

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 70 for, 42 against, 1 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.1

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 28 for, 69 against, 14 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16531

Scottish Rate Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 86 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

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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