Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
About Liam McArthur
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
Twitter: @Liam4Orkney
Facebook: Liam's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1PA
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Liam is a member of 1 committee
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Liam is a member of 8 cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
Deputy Presiding Officer
Scottish Parliament
Party Roles
Liam has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on the Climate Emergency
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Liam has had 15 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice Committee
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021
Presiding Officer's Advisory Group
Member
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Finance Committee
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Finance Committee
Member
Register of interests
Liam'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 Liam McArthur. The date of their initial statement was 20 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
From 27 to 28 October 2011 I participated in a trip to the Elgin-Franklin oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Total E&P UK (an oil and gas exploration and production company of Crawpeel Road, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3FG) met the costs of this visit which were approximately £1,750. This included coach and helicopter transport, accommodation and safety clothing.
Overseas visits
From 7 to 11 October 2014 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2,780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a tie and tie pin, a glass ornament and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am the Chair of the Orkney Japan Association.
I am a Girl Guide Ambassador.
In August 2010 I became an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association. My role involves raising awareness of the BVA’s role and receiving information on activities and attitudes of the BVA, including access to the members only section of the BVA website. This role is unremunerated. I estimate that the value of gaining access to the website is below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. On 12 August 2021 I became a lifetime member. [Amended interest 27 August 2021]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Liam McArthur 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: 20 January 2022
Constitution, External Affairs and Culture
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I remind members that Covid-related measures are in place and that face coverings should be worn while moving around the chamber and the wider campus…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2022
Independence Referendum (Staffing Resources)
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Can you be as brief as possible, please, cabinet secretary?"
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2022
Performance Venues (Covid-19 Restrictions)
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I am sorry, but we do not appear to be able to hear the Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development. Maybe you can start your response again, minister, and see whether the issue has been resolved…
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2022
Cultural and Arts Sectors (Worker Support)
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "We need a question, please, Ms Duncan-Glancy"
Chamber meeting date: 20 January 2022
Live Music and Night-Time Industries
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Due to the technical difficulties, I will let the item overrun a little further to allow a supplementary question from Stephanie Callaghan. I ask her to be as brief as possible."
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 87 for, 33 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Education Failures and Guaranteeing the 2022 Exam Diet
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 67 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 68 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Education Failures and Guaranteeing the 2022 Exam Diet
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 17, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 67 for, 53 against, 1 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Local Government Funding in Scotland
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 17, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Liam McArthur in Parliament
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Liam McArthur has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have received energy saving help from it in each of the last five years, also broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) the government schemes involved in providing the help or fuel poverty relief."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 12 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether newspaper publishing businesses will be eligible for the business rates relief extension announced by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance on 10 December 2021 and, if not, what financial support will be available to such businesses from March 2022."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 January 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government (a) whether it has provided or (b) when it will provide a full response to the previous parliamentary session's Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee’s Inquiry into Regional Marine Planning, as committed to in the Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment’s letter to the…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-04128 by Humza Yousaf on 30 November 2021, whether it will provide a specific date for the expected availability of COVID-19 booster vaccination information on the vaccine passport app, and through the NHS Portal."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 20 December 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will add the COVID-19 booster vaccination to (a) the NHS Scotland Covid Status app and (b) vaccination certificates."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 14 December 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how much Highlands and Islands Airports Limited's (HIAL) Air Traffic Management System project has cost to date."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 13 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) procurement under the Air Traffic Management System project has been cancelled and, if so, for what reason."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards delivering road equivalent tariff (RET) on Pentland Firth routes, and what the timeframe for implementing this is."
Answered by: Graeme Dey on 13 December 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its consultation report on the draft licensing order and business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for short-term lets, how many local authorities responded to the consultation exercise and, of those who responded, how many (a) raised no issues with the proposed licensing and (b)…
Answered by: Shona Robison on 13 December 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reach a mutual agreement between NHS Scotland, England and Wales regarding COVID-19 vaccine certification."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 6 December 2021
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament