Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

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 not a member of any cross-party groups

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.

Chamber meeting date: 19 February 2025

The Promise (Third Oversight Board Report)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "The report stresses clearly the importance of the workforce in delivering the Promise, and in particular the pivotal role of social workers…

Chamber meeting date: 18 February 2025

Employer National Insurance Contributions

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "When I had the opportunity to close the stage 1 debate on the Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill on behalf of Scottish Labour, I expressed that a number of things had become clear in the budget process—principally that the UK Labour Government had delivered record investment in the Scottish budget with the largest block grant in the history of…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 6 February 2025

Pensioner Poverty

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I have a question about automaticity—I can never quite say that word correctly, so I apologise if I get it wrong. Debbie Horne mentioned the issue, and the committee talks about it a lot in the context of UK and Scottish social security…

Chamber meeting date: 4 February 2025

Access to Banking Services (Branch Closures)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "In addition to the communities that Pam Gosal mentioned, in places including Barrhead and Bishopbriggs in my region, the Bank of Scotland has the last remaining branch on the high street and so is the last bank in the town…

Chamber meeting date: 4 February 2025

Budget (Scotland) (No 4) Bill: Stage 1

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I will close for the Scottish Labour Party in this stage 1 debate on the budget. Throughout the budget process, a number of things have become clear, and those have been further clarified this afternoon…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane 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 not voted

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 not voted

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 not voted

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 not voted

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 not voted

Vote Passed

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."

Answer expected on 5 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-32270

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, how much funding has been allocated from within its draft mental health budget for…

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

Share this page