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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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

X (previously known as 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 local office

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

Cross-party groups

Liam is a member of 9 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Member

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles

Conveners Group

Convener

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 25 previous roles

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

06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Substitute Member

18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive

Member

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

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Liberal Democrats

29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice Committee

Member

06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021

Justice SubCommittee on Policing

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

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People

Scottish Liberal Democrats

20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Education and Culture Committee

Member

23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016

Public Audit Committee

Substitute Member

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Liberal Democrats

01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Liberal Democrats

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

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Enterprise

Scottish Liberal Democrats

24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Liberal Democrats

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.

I have been receiving the support of an additional staff member to support the development of my Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The post is funded by three permissible donors: Friends at the End (a Scottish registered charity working to promote end of life choices, of 4 Queen St, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE); Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT); Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). From January 2022 to June 2022 the support was provided 4 days per week. Since June 2022 the additional support provided was one day per week. It is expected that support will continue at one day per week until June 2025. The total value of this support over this period (January 2022 – June 2025) will amount to £54,054 with individual donations as follows: Friends at the End - £18,018, Dignity in Dying - £18,018 Humanist Society Scotland - £18,018. [Registered 3 May 2022, Amended interest 14 October 2022, Amended interest 24 October 2022, Amended interest 26 September 2023, Amended interest 6 September 2024, Amended interest 14 January 2025]

Since September 2021, I have received support in publishing materials relating to my proposed Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults, in the form of a website maintained by the permissible donor, Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Suite 25, 4 Lochside Way, Edinburgh, EH12 9DT). Humanist Society Scotland have developed and continue to maintain this website, www.assisteddying.scot, as well as covering the cost of the domain and website hosting. It was set up to host information relating to the public consultation on my proposals, in line with rules governing Member’s Bills, including: my proposal consultation document; accessible versions of the consultation; the Non-Governmental Bills Unit’s Summary Report on the consultation, and; responses to the public consultation by any individuals or organisations who provided permission for these to be published. It also hosts a report produced by the Medical Advisory Group I established to inform the practical implementation of legal assisted as proposed in my Member’s Bill. The cost of the website is £572.56 per annum. Up to September 2023 the total costs for the website are: £1,145.12. The website will remain live for the remainder of this Session of the Parliament to a total cumulative cost of £2,671.95. [Registered 26 September 2023]

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.

From 9 February to 13 February 2024 I visited California, USA, as part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs, meeting health professionals, family members of individuals who had used the state’s End of Life Options Act, Senators and representatives of organisations who provide information about the provisions of the Act. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation and meals amounted to £2,694 and were paid by the permissible donor Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). [Registered 7 March 2024]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am the former Chair of the Orkney Japan Association. [Amended interest 11 September 2024]

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: 13 March 2025

Education (Participation in Sport)

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I may come to regret saying this, but Brian Whittle is absolutely right—"

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Conversion Practices

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "That is not the question that is in the Business Bulletin, Mr Ruskell."

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Social Justice

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. The next item of business is portfolio questions on social justice. I remind members who wish to ask a supplementary question to press their request-to-speak buttons during the relevant question."

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Cladding Remediation

The Deputy Presiding Officer: "That concludes portfolio questions. Before we move to the next item, there will be a brief pause to allow front benches to change."

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Health and Social Care Innovation

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-16777, in the name of Neil Gray, on the adoption of innovation in health and social care. 15:22"

Votes

How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament

Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16777.2

Adoption of Innovation in Health and Social Care

Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 13, 2025

Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16755

Protecting Single-sex Spaces in the Public Sector

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Result 61 for, 31 against, 20 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16755.3

Protecting Single-sex Spaces in the Public Sector

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Result 57 for, 50 against, 7 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16749

Appointment of Chair to Environmental Standards Scotland

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Supported by: Alasdair Allan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Result 83 for, 1 against, 22 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16750.4

Supporting Households with Cost of Living Pressures and Rising Energy Bills

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Result 19 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Liam McArthur has asked

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

Question ref. S6O-04467

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 12 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that there is adequate access to support in schools for children with additional support needs in island areas, including the Orkney constituency."

Taken in the Chamber on 20 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35477

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to renegotiate the current GP contract."

Answered by Neil Gray on 12 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35219

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 2011 was the timescale for the completion of HMP Highland communicated to it, and what the estimated timescale was at each update."

Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35224

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what additional resources it will provide to prison officers working in overcrowded conditions at HMP Inverness until the new replacement prison is completed."

Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35218

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government on what dates since 2011 were any costs of HMP Highland communicated to the Scottish Government, and what the estimated costs were on each date."

Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35220

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government which contractors bid to build HMP Highland."

Answered by Angela Constance on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35216

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 24 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners have been given early release from HMP Barlinnie in each month since January 2022."

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35287

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will ask NatureScot to meet with the Scottish Raptor Study Group to discuss concerns around proposed changes to the schedule 1 bird monitoring licence conditions."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 7 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35288

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to question S6O-04224 and the two supplementary questions by Jim Fairlie on 22 January 2025, whether it will provide an update on the assurances that, under the proposed changes to the schedule 1 bird monitoring licence conditions, in cases where it is not reasonably practicable for…

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 7 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35293

Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19194 by Paul McLennan on 28 June 2023, when it plans to publish the next local authority analysis for the Scottish House Condition Survey."

Answered by Paul McLennan on 7 March 2025

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