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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Liam McArthur

Scottish Liberal Democrats

MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day

Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011

About Liam McArthur

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @Liam4Orkney

Facebook: Liam's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

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.

Committees

Liam is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Liam is a member of 11 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rugby Development in Scotland

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles

Conveners Group

Convener

Deputy Presiding Officer

Pàrlamaid na h-Alba

Party Roles

Liam has 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Party Spokesperson on the Climate Emergency

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Previous roles

Liam has had 25 previous roles

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

06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Substitute Member

18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive

Member

06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021

Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Liberal Democrats

22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Deputy Convener

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Appointed Member

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice SubCommittee on Policing

Member

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice Committee

Member

08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021

Education and Skills Committee

Substitute Member

29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021

Presiding Officer's Advisory Group

Member

25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Appointed Member

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People

Scottish Liberal Democrats

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Education and Culture Committee

Member

23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Public Audit Committee

Substitute Member

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Finance Committee

Substitute Member

03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Rural Affairs and Environment Committee

Member

21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008

Economy Energy and Tourism Committee

Substitute Member

13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008

Finance Committee

Member

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Enterprise

Scottish Liberal Democrats

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Liberal Democrats

Register of interests

Liam'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 Liam McArthur 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 Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15705, in the name of Rhoda Grant, on the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s spotlight report, “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Highlands and Islands”…

Chamber meeting date: 16 January 2025

A9 Dualling Programme

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16085, in the name of Jackson Carlaw, on behalf of the Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee, on an inquiry into the A9 dualling programme…

Chamber meeting date: 16 January 2025

Health and Social Care (Rural Scotland)

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-14408, in the name of Tim Eagle, on improving access to health and social care in rural Scotland. The debate will be concluded without any question being put…

Chamber meeting date: 15 January 2025

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. The first item of business this afternoon is portfolio questions. The first portfolio is Deputy First Minister responsibilities, economy and Gaelic…

Chamber meeting date: 15 January 2025

British Chambers of Commerce Quarterly Economic Survey

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "We have a couple of brief supplementaries."

Votes

How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament

Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.

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 for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16092

Valuing Culture: Scotland's Support to the Culture Sector

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 13, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Result 69 for, 23 against, 26 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Liam McArthur has asked

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

Question ref. S6W-33380

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 16 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of which actions in the Scottish Biodiversity Delivery Plan 2024-2030 are specifically targeted to restore and manage species-rich grasslands."

Answer expected on 30 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32474

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what sanctions exist for misleading the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, and how such matters are investigated."

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32475

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to allow the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission to investigate evidence provided to it during a previously reviewed case."

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32661

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the merits of introducing digital activation codes for lasting powers of attorney, rather than requiring the use of paper documents as proof of registration."

Answered by Siobhian Brown on 7 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32660

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will work with the Office of the Public Guardian to introduce digital activation codes for lasting powers of attorney, which could reportedly benefit both attorneys and granters."

Answered by Siobhian Brown on 7 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32659

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what work it is undertaking to support the Office of the Public Guardian in its digital transformation project."

Answered by Siobhian Brown on 7 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32102

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of its Marine Litter Strategy."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-32101

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle marine litter caused by the improper disposal of end-of-life fishing and aquaculture gear."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 December 2024

Question ref. S6O-04170

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate childcare provision in island communities, including in the Orkney constituency."

Taken in the Chamber on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-31814

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to make an announcement on the delivery of the second tranche of 2024's annual budget funding for Community Led Local Development."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 December 2024

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