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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Elena Whitham

Scottish National Party

MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Constituency) 2021 - present day

About Elena Whitham

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @ElenaWhitham

Facebook: Elena's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5494
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

46-48 Glaisnock Street
Cumnock
East Ayrshire
KA18 1BY

Phone: 01290 319126
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Elena is a member of 4 cross-party groups

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women's Health

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Elena does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Elena does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Elena has had 10 previous roles

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

20 February 2024 - 19 June 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

26 June 2024 - 20 November 2024

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

29 March 2023 - 06 February 2024

Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy

Scottish Government

03 November 2022 - 29 March 2023

Minister for Community Safety

Scottish Government

27 January 2022 - 03 November 2022

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Convener

27 January 2022 - 03 November 2022

conveners group

Member

25 January 2022 - 27 January 2022

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

01 December 2021 - 24 January 2022

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

22 June 2021 - 24 January 2022

Local Government Housing and Planning Committee

Deputy Convener

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Local Government Housing and Planning Committee

Member

Register of interests

Elena'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 Elena Whitham. The date of their initial statement was 02 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

Until 24 June 2021 I was Depute Leader of East Ayrshire Council (of Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, KA3 7BU). I spent approximately 20 hours a week on this role and received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum. I donated this salary, after deductions and taxes, to charities within my ward. [Amended interest 31 August 2021]

Until 5 May 2022 I was a councillor at East Ayrshire Council (of Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, KA3 7BU). I spent approximately 15 hours a week on the role and received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 per annum. I donated my councillor salary, after deductions and taxes, to charities within my ward for the duration of my term. [Registered 31 August 2021, Amended interest 10 May 2022]

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 Shelter Scotland Committee. [Registered 4 August 2025]

I am a member of the Humanist Society of Scotland. [Registered 29 April 2024]

I am a Board member of the Simon Community Scotland's Connect Hub for Women. [Registered 25 October 2024]

I am currently a member of the 16th Ayrshire Scout Group.

I am a member of Women for Independence.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Elena Whitham 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: 8 October 2025

Illegal Immigration

Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Will the member take an intervention?"

Chamber meeting date: 7 October 2025

Criminal Justice Modernisation and Abusive Domestic Behaviour Reviews (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Made a request to intervene."

Chamber meeting date: 2 October 2025

Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "I am speaking in support of the general principles of Maurice Golden’s Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill…

Criminal Justice Committee, Health Social Care and Sport Committee, and Social Justice and Social Security Committee (Joint Meeting) meeting date: 2 October 2025

Reducing Drug Deaths and Tackling Problem Drug Use

Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Good morning. I am interested in referrals to and from other services and how that process has developed while the Thistle has been open…

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 30 September 2025

ADHD and ASD Pathways and Support

Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Good morning, everybody, and thank you so very much for coming along. This is one of those times in life where, for me, lived experience converges with my role here as an MSP in taking evidence from you…

Votes

How Elena Whitham has voted in Parliament

Find out how Elena Whitham has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19275

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 81 for, 10 against, 23 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19276

Planning and Infrastructure Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 87 for, 23 against, 1 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19128

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 52 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19269

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 51 for, 25 against, 33 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19268

Suspension of Standing Orders

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 85 for, 0 against, 26 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Elena Whitham has asked

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

Question reference: S6F-04335

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:22 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

"To ask the First Minister what assessment the Scottish Government has made of any implications for its work to address poverty amongst older people of recent findings by the Living Wage Foundation that a majority of people on a low-income pension in the UK are unable to cover basic living costs."

Question reference: S6O-04990

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:17 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy to 2045, including in relation to riparian woodland planting."

Question reference: S6O-04960

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:10 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recently published report by Humanist Society Scotland, Preaching is not Teaching, regarding concerns that pupils in non-denominational schools may feel compelled to take part in religious worship activities against their own wishes."

Question reference: S6O-04902

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:3 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 10 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support small-scale food producers in rural communities, in light of its commitments under the National Good Food Nation Plan."

Question reference: S6O-04869

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:27 August 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the recently published NatWest Group and Beauhurst’s New Startup Index, indicating that Scotland has one of the fastest growing startup economies in the UK."

Question reference: S6W-39534

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:24 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 21 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government (a) what training and (b) how much training time on neurodivergence is allocated to staff across all education settings."

Question reference: S6W-39533

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:23 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 31 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much time and training on neurodivergence is allocated to community psychiatric nurses and mental health workers."

Question reference: S6O-04835

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:18 June 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the latest births and deaths figures published by National Records of Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-38181

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:3 June 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of NHS primary care audiology services in (a) addressing any inequality in access to and (b) reducing wait times for adult ear and hearing care needs."

Question reference: S6O-04777

Asked by: Elena Whitham, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party

Date lodged:4 June 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is supporting colleagues in COSLA regarding their call for civility in public life."

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