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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Paul O'Kane

Scottish Labour

MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Paul O'Kane

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5942
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Phone: 0141 887 5111
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Paul is a member of 2 committees

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Paul is a member of 14 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Deafness

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Dyslexia

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Learning Disability

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on LGBTI+

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Paul does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Paul has 3 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul has had 5 previous roles

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

22 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Labour

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Member

Register of interests

Paul'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 Paul O'Kane 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.

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 20 March 2025

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Amendment 1078 seeks to place a duty on the Scottish ministers to prioritise, in the social housing stock, housing that would meet the needs of families with many children…

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee meeting date: 18 March 2025

Public Sector Equality Duty

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning. As we have discussed throughout our inquiry, the Scottish Government has revised its approach to inclusive communication…

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Young Carers Action Day 2025

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am very pleased to bring this motion to allow the Parliament to recognise young carers action day 2025 and to pay tribute to the many thousands of young unpaid carers across Scotland…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 13 March 2025

Pensioner Poverty (Digital Exclusion)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I think that colleagues around the table recognise the challenge of bank branches on the high street disappearing…

Chamber meeting date: 12 March 2025

Single-sex Spaces (Public Sector)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "On behalf of the Scottish Labour Party, I rise to sum up the debate. I will begin, as my colleague Claire Baker did, by stating that it has been important to focus on facts—on what we know to be the case—and the legal position…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16923

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16923.1

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 107 for, 8 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16844.2

Children’s Rights and Temporary Accommodation

Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 53 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16845

Reforming Scotland’s West Coast Ferries

Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 17, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 58 for, 52 against, 6 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16845.1

Reforming Scotland’s West Coast Ferries

Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 52 for, 56 against, 7 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Paul O'Kane has asked

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

Question ref. S6W-34506

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, “Tick Tock…” A human rights assessment of progress from institutionalisation to independent living in Scotland, which was published on 30 January 2025."

Answered by Maree Todd on 3 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-33311

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it plans to introduce a bill following its consultation, Adults with Incapacity Amendment Act."

Answered by Maree Todd on 29 January 2025

Question ref. S6O-04268

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its stated commitment to end charges for non-residential care by the end of the current parliamentary session."

Taken in the Chamber on 30 January 2025

Question ref. S6O-04183

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue the Investing in Communities Fund into the 2025-26 financial year, in light of reported concerns that funding may not continue for supported community projects."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32456

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to provide economic support to long COVID patients, in light of reports of the financial strain that it places on them and their families."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6O-04201

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of the Changing Places Toilet Fund."

Taken in the Chamber on 16 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32457

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to raise awareness of the symptoms and risks of long COVID, and the support services that are available."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32455

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address any gaps in services and medical treatment for patients with long COVID, in light of reports undertaken by Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and The ALLIANCE on the condition."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32273

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, by what date in the 2025-26 financial year it hopes to have opened the Changing Places…

Answered by Maree Todd on 6 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32272

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it will provide the draft criteria for the planned Changing Places Toilet Fund to…

Answered by Maree Todd on 6 January 2025

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