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]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5699
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Liam is a member of 1 committee
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Deputy Convener
Cross-party groups
Liam is not a member of any 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 Energy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Liam has had 13 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice Committee
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
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
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Finance Committee
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Finance Committee
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Substitute 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.
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.
I am a Girl Guide Ambassador.
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: 24 June 2021
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I remind members that social distancing measures are in place in the chamber and around the Holyrood campus. I ask that you take care and observe the measures, including when exiting and entering the chamber…
Chamber meeting date: 23 June 2021
School Sports Events
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "5. To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to schools to enable them to hold modified sports events that can be attended by parents and carers. (S6O-00061)"
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee meeting date: 22 June 2021
Interests
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Other than being an islander, I have no registrable interests to declare in relation to the committee, but I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests."
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee meeting date: 22 June 2021
Legacy Papers
Liam McArthur: "First, I want to thank the committee for choosing me as deputy convener. Like you, convener, I feel that it is a real privilege…
Chamber meeting date: 22 June 2021
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "I call Alex Cole-Hamilton. You have around six minutes, Mr Cole-Hamilton. 17:09"
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 24, 2021
Result 30 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Coronavirus (Extension and Expiry) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Supported by: George Adam
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 24, 2021
Result 90 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 24, 2021
Result 59 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 24, 2021
Result 61 for, 60 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Result 33 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
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: 15 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to allowing women aged 70 and over to self-refer for breast cancer screening."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 2 July 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government on what basis it took the decision to stop women aged 70 and over from self-referring for breast cancer screening."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 2 July 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of those screened for breast cancer were women aged 70 and over, in each year since 2010."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 2 July 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what representations it has received in the last 12 months from (a) Cancer Research UK, and (b) other cancer charities, regarding arrangements for breast cancer screening for women aged 70 and over."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 2 July 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 14 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans for NHS Scotland to combine medical records in a database shared with third parties, similar to proposals set out by NHS Digital for England."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 1 July 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 18 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00406 by Jamie Hepburn on 17 June 2021, whether it plans to match the timeframes announced by the Welsh Government in establishing an alternative model of international exchange."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 28 June 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 15 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-00307 by Ivan McKee on 7 June, whether it will provide an update on whether dancing is permitted at weddings in level 0 protection areas."
Answered by: Ivan McKee on 24 June 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 4 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what work it has undertaken to establish a new programme of international exchange; when it expects such a programme to be established, and for what reason this was not included in its plans for the first 100 days of the parliamentary session."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 17 June 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 4 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for the Islands Connectivity Plan."
Answered by: Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 3 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, to bring them in line with other forms of travel, what consideration it has given to reviewing social-distancing requirements on board ferries."
Answered by: Graeme Dey on 16 June 2021
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament