Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
Email: [email protected]
Website: liammcarthur.org.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @Liam4Orkney
Facebook: Liam's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
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.
Substitute Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Co-Convener
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Convener
Scottish Parliament
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 October 2021 - 01 February 2023
Substitute Member
18 November 2020 - 14 September 2021
Member
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Appointed Member
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
29 May 2016 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Liberal Democrats
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021
Member
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Appointed Member
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Scottish Liberal Democrats
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Member
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Scottish Liberal Democrats
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Scottish Liberal Democrats
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.
No registrable interests
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 January 2025. The total value of this support over three years (January 2022 – January 2025) will amount to £47,979 with individual donations as follows: Friends at the End - £15,993, Dignity in Dying - £15,993 Humanist Society Scotland - £15,993. [Registered 3 May 2022, Amended interest 14 October 2022, Amended interest 24 October 2022, Amended interest 26 September 2023, Amended interest 6 September 2024]
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]
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]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
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]
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: 10 October 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Good afternoon. The first item of business is portfolio question time, and today’s portfolio is education and skills. Any member who wishes to ask a supplementary question should press their request-to-speak button during the relevant question."
Chamber meeting date: 10 October 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Question 4 was not lodged."
Chamber meeting date: 10 October 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Three members have requested to ask—I hope—brief supplementary questions."
Chamber meeting date: 10 October 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Question."
Chamber meeting date: 10 October 2024
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a statement by Angela Constance on Scotland’s prison population. 14:25"
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Supported by: Alasdair Allan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 10, 2024
Result 94 for, 0 against, 7 abstained, 28 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Maggie Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Monday, October 7, 2024
Supported by: Ariane Burgess, Ross Greer, Patrick Harvie, Gillian Mackay, Mark Ruskell, Lorna Slater, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Result 68 for, 27 against, 20 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Ross Greer, West Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Monday, October 7, 2024
Supported by: Ariane Burgess, Maggie Chapman, Patrick Harvie, Gillian Mackay, Mark Ruskell, Lorna Slater
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Result 64 for, 52 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Result 65 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Supported by: Ariane Burgess, Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 9, 2024
Result 68 for, 48 against, 1 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the report that it commissioned on the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland has been completed."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 1 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when its last correspondence with Police Scotland was regarding the contents of the 2023 report, Review of emerging technologies in policing."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether reform of the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland should be carried out; if it considers that such reform should be carried out, what its position is on whether this should be carried out via an Act of the UK Parliament, or via an Act of the Scottish Parliament,…
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 1 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what Police Scotland's response was to the recommendations in the 2023 report, Review of emerging technologies in policing."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the report that it commissioned on the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland is subject to peer review, and, if so, how long it anticipates that this will take, and whether the report's author is able to release a pre-print of the report before the review stage is completed."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the UK Government since July 2024 regarding potential reform of the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 2 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to consult on reforming the constitutional role(s) of the Law Officers for Scotland."
Answered by Angela Constance on 22 October 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 21 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the increase in ferry fares for 2025-26 is being implemented several months earlier on Northern Isles routes than on Clyde and Hebrides services."
Answer expected on 18 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian, what assessment it made in order to identify "essential need" prior to the freeze on public sector marketing expenditure."
Answer expected on 14 November 2024
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the statement in the letter of 3 October 2024 from its Directorate for Culture and Major Events to the managing director at The Orcadian that it is advised by procured agencies on the most "cost-effective media mix", whether it oversees the assessments made by procured agencies, and, if so, how."
Answer expected on 14 November 2024
See all of Liam McArthur's questions submitted in Parliament