Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @Liam4Orkney
Facebook: Liam's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1PA
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Convener
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Convener
Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023
Substitute Member
18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021
Member
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Appointed Member
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021
Member
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Appointed Member
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Member
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
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.
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: 14 November 2024
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "The First Minister rightly addresses the need to improve the communications network, but there is already a disparity in the roll-out of smart meters, which has seen 65 per cent installation nationally against 20 per cent installation in places such as Orkney. Would the First Minister back a regional approach to the roll-out, with delivery through…
Chamber meeting date: 14 November 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14698, in the name of Ruth Maguire, on the day of the imprisoned writer 2024. The debate will be concluded without any question being put. I call Jackie Dunbar to open the debate…
Chamber meeting date: 14 November 2024
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I acknowledge that the cabinet secretary has offered an apology, which suggests that he recognises that this does not look good. As he says, it is crucial that ministers are able to engage with a wide variety of stakeholders in a wide variety of ways…
Chamber meeting date: 14 November 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I will give you the time back for the intervention, Mr Kerr."
Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. Colleagues will be aware of some issues with the corporate wi-fi in the Parliament, and efforts are on-going to stabilise it. We will do what we can to connect members who are joining us remotely, so that they are able to participate…
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Result 48 for, 70 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Neil Bibby, Katy Clark, Rhoda Grant, Mark Griffin, Daniel Johnson, Michael Marra, Pauline McNeill, Paul O'Kane, Colin Smyth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, November 11, 2024
Supported by: Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Result 66 for, 52 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Result 61 for, 0 against, 57 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024
Result 60 for, 57 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the increase in ferry fares for 2025-26 is being implemented several months earlier on Northern Isles routes than on Clyde and Hebrides services."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 15 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian that it is advised by procured agencies on the most "cost-effective media mix", whether it oversees the assessments made by procured agencies, and, if so, how."
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian, what assessment it made in order to identify "essential need" prior to the freeze on public sector marketing expenditure."
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian, whether any assessment was undertaken regarding the anticipated quality-adjusted life year (QALY) impact on individual campaigns as a result of the freeze on public sector marketing…
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether any assessment was undertaken regarding the anticipated quality-adjusted life year (QALY) impact of the freeze on public sector marketing expenditure as a whole, and, if so, what the outcomes of any such assessment were."
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian that it is advised by procured agencies on the most "cost-effective media mix", what its position is on whether (a) "return on investment" is an appropriate aim for…
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian, how it defines "essential need" relative to paid-for media activity."
Holding Answer by Shona Robison on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 November 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its budget underspend has been for financial years (a) 2022-23 and (b) 2023-24, broken down by (i) portfolio and (ii) line item."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 13 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 30 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the capacity reduction on Caithness–Orkney routes (a) in absolute terms and (b) per capita resulting from the chartering of the MV Alfred."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 30 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has made an assessment of the capacity increase on Arran ferry routes (a) in absolute terms and (b) per capita resulting from the chartering of the MV Alfred."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 November 2024
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament