Elena Whitham
Scottish National Party
MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Constituency) 2021 - present day
About Elena Whitham
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: elenawhitham.scot
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 1 cross-party group
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices
Member
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 8 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 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]
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]
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 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: 18 April 2024
Fossil and Biofuel Heating Systems
3. Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any potential impact on rural community housing of its decision not to allow the use of fossil and biofuel heating systems in new-build construction. (S6O-03310)"
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Climate Change Committee Scotland Report
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Regrettably, the cross-party consensus that existed both here and at Westminster in 2019 has evaporated…
Chamber meeting date: 17 April 2024
Water Management (Financial Support)
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "It is clear that dealing with the impact of flooding and adverse weather is challenging…
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "As a member of Parliament representing the vast and wonderful rural constituency of Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, a new member of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee, a granddaughter of a dairy farmer—and, indeed, a former housewife—it is imperative that I stand here today to speak in this debate and support the Agriculture and Rural…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 20 March 2024
Greyhound Racing (PE1758)
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "I thank George and Daniel for joining us this morning. I am sorry that I am joining you remotely. I have some questions on welfare…
Votes
How Elena Whitham has voted in Parliament
Find out how Elena Whitham has voted recently.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Elena Whitham in Parliament
Find out what motions Elena Whitham has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address any long waiting times for applications to Social Security Scotland, in light of reports that nine children have died while waiting for an application for the Child Disability Payment to be processed."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Social Security Scotland staff reportedly do not work to timelines or key performance indicators, and what its position is on whether key performance indicators would help to improve the organisation’s efficiency."
Answer expected on 3 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any potential impact on rural community housing of its decision not to allow the use of fossil and biofuel heating systems in new-build construction."
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 2 November 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 October 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how it is working with colleagues in local government, as part of its Covid Recovery Strategy, to support Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley’s recovery from COVID-19."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 November 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 October 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any discussions with the UK Government, in light of the concerns raised with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy regarding the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill."
Taken in the Chamber on 26 October 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 10 October 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what further support it will provide to low income families this winter."
Answered by Shona Robison on 10 October 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 September 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has carried out of the impact on farmers in Scotland of the UK Government’s energy price cap."
Taken in the Chamber on 5 October 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 24 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on the uptake to date of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel, and what assessment it has made of the impact of the scheme on children in households on the lowest incomes and their ability to access opportunities."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 July 2022
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 9 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether an assessment has been made of the chairs in the MSP block for use by members and staff, in relation to occupational health and the latest standards."
Answered by Christine Grahame (on behalf of the SPCB) on 16 June 2022
See all of Elena Whitham's questions submitted in Parliament