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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Shirley-Anne Somerville

Scottish National Party

MSP for Dunfermline (Constituency) 2016 - present day

Former MSP for Lothians (Region) 2007 - 2011

About Shirley-Anne Somerville

Contact details

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Contact at local office

Unit 2
15 Pitreavie Court
Dunfermline
Fife
KY11 8UU

Phone: 01383 871 986
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Shirley-Anne is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Shirley-Anne is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Shirley-Anne has 1 parliamentary and government role

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

Scottish Government

Party Roles

Shirley-Anne does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Shirley-Anne has had 10 previous roles

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

19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills

Scottish Government

28 June 2018 - 19 May 2021

Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People

Scottish Government

19 May 2016 - 28 June 2018

Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science

Scottish Government

27 March 2008 - 22 March 2011

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth

Scottish Government

06 September 2007 - 22 March 2011

Transport Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee

Member

13 April 2010 - 27 July 2010

William Simpsons Home Transfer of Property etc Scotland Bill Committee

Convener

26 February 2009 - 03 June 2010

Equal Opportunities Committee

Substitute Member

18 March 2010 - 13 April 2010

William Simpsons Home Transfer of Property etc Scotland Bill Committee

Member

26 November 2009 - 09 April 2010

Ure Elder Fund Transfer and Dissolution Bill Committee

Member

06 September 2007 - 26 June 2008

Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee

Substitute Member

Register of interests

Shirley-Anne'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 Shirley-Anne Somerville 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: 13 November 2024

Housing Emergency

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "This is a good opportunity to give another further update on the Housing (Scotland) Bill in the chamber, because although addressing the housing emergency is not confined to measures in primary legislation, they are an important part of that work…

Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2024

Parliamentary Bureau Motions

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the draft regulations, which will introduce our 16th Scottish benefit—the pension-age winter heating payment…

Chamber meeting date: 7 November 2024

Carer Support Payment

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "I am delighted to confirm that the carer support payment was launched nationally on Monday and I urge unpaid carers across Scotland to check their eligibility and to apply…

Chamber meeting date: 7 November 2024

Third Sector (Sharing of Learning)

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "The Scottish Government provides £11…

Chamber meeting date: 7 November 2024

UK Budget (Impact on Social Justice)

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "The Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget was a missed opportunity to shift the dial on tackling poverty…

Votes

How Shirley-Anne Somerville has voted in Parliament

Find out how Shirley-Anne Somerville has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-15545

Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill: Timetable and Procedures for Consideration

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Result 92 for, 31 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15529.2

Impact of National Insurance Increase on Public Services

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Result 29 for, 90 against, 3 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-15529

Impact of National Insurance Increase on Public Services

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, November 18, 2024

Supported by: Ivan McKee, Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Result 73 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15530

Prisoners (Early Release) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, November 18, 2024

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Angela Constance, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Result 67 for, 50 against, 4 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15529.3

Impact of National Insurance Increase on Public Services

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 20, 2024

Result 21 for, 102 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Shirley-Anne Somerville has asked

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

Question ref. S3O-13323

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 17 March 2011

"To ask the Scottish Executive whether it continues to support the introduction of minimum pricing as a means of tackling problems with alcohol."

Answered by Nicola Sturgeon on 17 March 2011

Question ref. S3W-39851

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 24 February 2011

"To ask the Scottish Executive how much it and its agencies invested in the renewables and community renewables industry between (a) 2003 and 2007 and (b) 2007 and 2011."

Answered by Jim Mather on 9 March 2011

Question ref. S3W-39781

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 February 2011

"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs it estimates will be created under its plans for a low-carbon economy by 2014-15."

Answered by John Swinney on 24 February 2011

Question ref. S3W-37554

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 16 November 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive when it will fulfil the requirement of section 35 of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 to set out a report on proposals and policies for meeting annual emissions targets for 2010 to 2022."

Answered by Stewart Stevenson on 17 November 2010

Question ref. S3W-33478

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of Edinburgh Napier University’s decision to discontinue its Communication, Advertising and PR undergraduate degree (a) how many applicants will be affected by this decision and (b) what recourse applicants who are negatively affected will have to ensure they can begin their chosen area of study."

Answered by Michael Russell on 13 May 2010

Question ref. S3W-33303

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in the renewables and low-carbon sector are expected to be created in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years."

Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010

Question ref. S3W-33307

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it has in place, or plans to put in place, to prepare and train unskilled, low skilled and other hard-to-employ groups for employment in the renewables and low-carbon sector."

Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010

Question ref. S3W-33308

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive what specific measures it has in place, or plans to put in place, to assist small businesses to take advantage of future opportunities in the renewables and low-carbon sector."

Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010

Question ref. S3W-33304

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive what estimates it has regarding the geographical spread of potential future jobs in the renewables and low-carbon sector."

Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010

Question ref. S3W-33305

Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010

"To ask the Scottish Executive how many jobs in the renewables and low-carbon sector expected to be created over the next 20 years will be (a) low, (b) semi and (c) highly skilled."

Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010

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