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 2 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
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 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 currently a member of the 16th Ayrshire Scout Group.
I am a member of Women for Independence.
I am a member of the Humanist Society of Scotland. [Registered 29 April 2024]
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: 12 June 2024
Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) (Scotland) Bill
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "I, too, place on the record my deep appreciation for Gillian Mackay’s tireless work in getting her important bill to this stage. Its significance is monumental…
Chamber meeting date: 12 June 2024
Rural Depopulation
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "I thank Tim Eagle for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Those of us who represent rural areas are acutely aware of depopulation and its consequences for our communities…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 12 June 2024
Salmon Farming in Scotland
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Thank you, convener—I will answer to anything, really. Good morning, Charles. Last week, the committee heard from Professor Sam Martin that mortality normally starts to drop off in the winter time, when we have colder waters and colder weather…
Chamber meeting date: 5 June 2024
Brexit (Impact on Culture Sector)
7. Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of any impact that Brexit is having on Scotland’s culture sector. (S6O-03522)"
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 5 June 2024
Salmon Farming in Scotland
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Good morning. I am interested in the interaction between farmed salmon and wild salmon populations, and the potential risks around that…
Votes
How Elena Whitham has voted in Parliament
Find out how Elena Whitham has voted recently.
Scottish Government Priorities: Investing in Scotland’s Public Services
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 13, 2024
Result 24 for, 81 against, 0 abstained, 24 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Investing in Scotland’s Public Services
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 13, 2024
Result 45 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Investing in Scotland’s Public Services
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 11, 2024
Supported by: Neil Gray, Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 13, 2024
Result 61 for, 46 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Result 29 for, 79 against, 1 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 12, 2024
Result 29 for, 81 against, 1 abstained, 18 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: 12 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicating that forecast UK Government tax and spending plans would be funded by reductions in public investment, what assessment it has made of the potential impact that any changes to Scotland’s block grant resulting from this would have on…
Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recently published data by the National Records of Scotland regarding Scotland's Census 2022, which show that over 60% of the school-age population had no religion, whether it will follow the advice of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and allow young people the right to opt out of religious…
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of any impact that Brexit is having on Scotland’s culture sector."
Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provided to East and South Ayrshire Councils in 2023-24 for Discretionary Housing Payments."
Taken in the Chamber on 30 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the net zero secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any plans to review any unintended impacts of the fourth National Planning Framework on energy policy."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any options that it is considering for restricting the advertising and promotion of alcohol and alcohol-branded products, following the consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion, which was carried out between November 2022 and March 2023."
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 May 2024
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."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 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."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS Ayrshire and Arran to improve access to ADHD testing for adults."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2024
See all of Elena Whitham's questions submitted in Parliament