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 online
Email: [email protected]
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
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
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.
Here is the register for Shirley-Anne Somerville. The date of their initial statement was 10 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of the RSPB.
I am a member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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: 24 April 2024
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "On a point of order, Deputy Presiding Officer. I am having difficulties connecting. I would have voted no."
Chamber meeting date: 23 April 2024
Two-child Benefit Cap
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "I thank Clare Haughey for securing this debate. The Scottish Government has been consistent in its opposition to the two-child limit and associated rape clause since it was introduced…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Child Poverty Targets (Budget)
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "Tackling child poverty is a critical mission for the Government…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Child Poverty (Analysis by Child Poverty Action Group)
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "That analysis demonstrates the devastating impact of the United Kingdom Government’s decade of austerity and welfare cuts on families across the UK…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Adult and Child Disability Payments (Mid Scotland and Fife)
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice (Shirley-Anne Somerville): "Official statistics for adult disability payment and child disability payment, including information on processing times, are routinely published by Social Security Scotland…
See all of Shirley-Anne Somerville's contributions in the chamber
See all of Shirley-Anne Somerville's contributions in committees
Votes
How Shirley-Anne Somerville has voted in Parliament
Find out how Shirley-Anne Somerville has voted recently.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 44 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 44 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 64 for, 46 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 47 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Shirley-Anne Somerville in Parliament
Find out what motions Shirley-Anne Somerville has submitted recently.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Asked by: Somerville, Shirley-Anne, Lothians, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2010
"To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has regarding the potential impact of jobs in the renewables and low-carbon sector on tackling long-term unemployment."
Answered by Jim Mather on 6 May 2010
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
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
See all of Shirley-Anne Somerville's questions submitted in Parliament