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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Karen Adam

Scottish National Party

MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast (Constituency)


Karen Adam is Convener of the Education and Gaelic Committee

About Karen Adam

Contact details

Contact online

Website: KarenAdam.Scot

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 01779 400601
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

20 Chapel Street
Peterhead
AB42 1TL

Phone: 01779 400601
Text relay calls welcome.

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

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish National Party
MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast (Constituency)
06 May 2021 to present

Committees

Karen Adam is a member of 1 committee

Education and Gaelic Committee

Convener

Cross-party groups

Karen Adam is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Karen Adam has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Karen Adam does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Karen Adam has had the following roles in Parliament

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

20 February 2024 to 08 April 2026

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Convener

20 February 2024 to 08 April 2026

Conveners Group

Member

06 March 2024 to 18 September 2024

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 2021 to 20 February 2024

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Member

01 February 2023 to 14 February 2024

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

17 June 2021 to 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

Register of interests

Karen Adam'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 Karen Adam. The date of their initial statement was 27 May 2026.

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

No registrable interests.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Karen Adam 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.

Creative Economy

Chamber meeting date: 24 September 2026

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP): "This summer, I attended the Edinburgh deaf festival at Deaf Action, and that is a useful place for me to start my speech about growing Scotland’s creative economy…

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2027-28

Education and Gaelic Committee meeting date: 22 September 2026

The Convener (Karen Adam): "Good morning, and welcome to the fourth meeting in 2026 of the Education and Gaelic Committee. We will be taking evidence for our pre-budget scrutiny in advance of the budget documents being published on 3 December…

Programme for International Student Assessment 2025

Chamber meeting date: 17 September 2026

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP): "Supporting our children and young people to thrive should not begin and end at the classroom…

Domestic Abuse and Gender-Based Violence Support (Rural and Coastal Communities)

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

4. Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that women and girls in rural and coastal communities who experience domestic abuse and gender-based violence have equal access to specialist support and protection, including through the criminal justice system. (S7O-00223)"

Violence Against Women (Prevention)

Chamber meeting date: 15 September 2026

Karen Adam (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP): "I initially wanted to speak in this debate because, like many women, unfortunately, I have experienced male violence…

Votes

How Karen Adam has voted in Parliament

Find out how Karen Adam has voted recently.

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.2

Submitted by: Q Manivannan, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 99 for, 16 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.4

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 40 for, 65 against, 7 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304

Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Martyn Day, Alyn Smith
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 89 for, 22 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.3

Submitted by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 46 for, 53 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.1

Submitted by: David Kirkwood, South Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 15 for, 93 against, 7 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Karen Adam in Parliament

Find out what motions Karen Adam has submitted recently.

Questions

Questions Karen Adam has asked

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

Question reference: S7O-00223

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 9 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that women and girls in rural and coastal communities who experience domestic abuse and gender-based violence have equal access to specialist support and protection, including through the criminal justice system."

Question reference: S7O-00182

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 2 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it expects to receive from the UK Government's Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, broken down by financial year."

Question reference: S7W-02672

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 24 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 25 August 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the publication of the consultation on restricting mobile phones in schools."

Question reference: S7O-00074

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 10 June 2026

Question reference: S6O-05711

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 18 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that older people’s housing, including sheltered housing, is prioritised in local housing planning and delivery."

Question reference: S6O-05631

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 4 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the reliability and accountability of bus services in rural and coastal constituencies."

Question reference: S6O-05528

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 11 February 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how the additional £10 million of funding for community justice services announced in its draft Budget 2026-27 will be allocated."

Question reference: S6O-05346

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 17 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 8 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it provides to local roads authorities on maintaining public safety on local roads and pavements in winter, including decisions on street lighting, footway treatment and local grit provision."

Question reference: S6F-04571

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 5 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 8 January 2026

"To ask the First Minister what action the Scottish Government is taking to support those affected by fuel poverty, in light of the recent rise in energy prices and their potential impact on the cost of living for households in Scotland."

Question reference: S6O-05287

Asked by: Karen Adam, Banffshire and Buchan Coast, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Energy Profits Levy on energy jobs and the energy supply chain in the north east."