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]
Committees
Liam is a member of 3 committees
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
Justice Committee
Member
Cross-party groups
Liam is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liam has 3 parliamentary and government roles
Presiding Officer's Advisory Group
Member
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
Party Roles
Liam has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Liam has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 17 May 2016.
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. Further accommodation, of a value below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category, was provided by Oil and Gas UK and has been registered in the Voluntary category.
On Saturday 25 November 2017 I attended the Scotland v Australia Autumn Tests match as a guest of the Scottish Rugby Union (the governing body and promoter of Scottish rugby union, of Murrayfield, Edinburgh, EH12 5PJ). The Scottish Rugby Union provided two match tickets and hospitality, the combined value of which is estimated by the SRU to be around £1000. [Registered 12 December 2017]
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
On 27 October 2011 I received hotel accommodation in Aberdeen from Oil and Gas UK (the trade association for the offshore oil and gas industry). The costs to Oil and Gas UK are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. The accommodation was received in connection with a trip to an offshore oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Other costs in relation to this trip were met by Total E&P UK and have been registered in the gifts category.
From 10 to 14 June 2014 I visited the Republic of Malawi on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland branch to take part in a post-election seminar for newly elected members to the National Assembly of Malawi. Travel and accommodation costs were met by the CPA Secretariat. The CPA Scotland branch Executive Committee and the SPCB approved additional costs associated with internal transport and other business related costs in advance of the visit. At the end of the seminar, the CPA gave me the sum of £660 which represented the per diem to all participants to cover additional expenses at the seminar. I did not spend all of this sum and returned the balance (approximately £360) to the CPA Scotland branch to put towards other branch activities.
In October 2010 I became a patron of Orkney Alcohol Counselling and Advice Services. OACAS is a charitable company that forms part of the network of local alcohol agencies in Scotland affiliated to Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS). It provides one-to-one counselling and an education service. My role involves representing and highlighting the work of OACAS and is unremunerated.
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.
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 March 2021
Covid-19 Restrictions (Island Communities)
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Last week, the First Minister’s statement on Covid-19 restrictions left our island communities in limbo. While the rest of Scotland prepares for such restrictions to be eased from 26 April, islanders remain in the dark…
Chamber meeting date: 24 March 2021
Orkney Islands Council (Meetings)
3. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government when it last met Orkney Islands Council and what was discussed. (S5O-05156)"
Chamber meeting date: 23 March 2021
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Thank you, Presiding Officer."
Chamber meeting date: 18 March 2021
Jobs Protection (Highlands and Islands)
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "An islands impact assessment of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd’s plans to centralise air traffic services, backed by the Scottish Government, has identified a number of significant economic impacts and no positive impacts at all…
Chamber meeting date: 18 March 2021
Drug Deaths and Harms
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I will start where James Kelly concluded and acknowledge the contribution that Jenny Marra and Neil Findlay have made to the debate. I very much look forward to hearing their speeches in due course…
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Result 120 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motion of No Confidence
Submitted by: Ruth Davidson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, March 4, 2021
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Bill Bowman, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Peter Chapman, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Maurice Golden, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Alison Harris, Liam Kerr, Gordon Lindhurst, Dean Lockhart, Tom Mason, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, John Scott, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Adam Tomkins, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 31 for, 65 against, 27 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Neil Bibby, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 111 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 18 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Independent. Date lodged: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
National Mission to Reduce Drug Deaths and Harms
Submitted by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Supported by: Donald Cameron
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 18, 2021
Result 43 for, 69 against, 1 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted against
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: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people convicted of possession, without intent to supply, of (a) heroin, (b) cocaine, (c) cannabis, (d) amphetamines, (e) ecstasy and (f) other drugs in each year since 2016-17 received (i) a custodial sentence, (ii) a community payback order, including a requirement to carry out a drug treatment programme,…
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) design capacity, (b) number of occupants and (c) occupancy rate was in each prison in each of the last 12 months."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average number of hours per week that prisoners were engaged in purposeful activity has been in each of the last 12 months, broken down by institution."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has (a) received or (b) requested an update from Police Scotland or the Scottish Police Authority on the launch of the service-wide staff survey; whether the results will be comparable to the 2015 survey either (i) in part or (ii) in full, and on what date the results will be published."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government further to the answer to question S5W-34670 by Paul Wheelhouse on 10 February 2021, whether it will provide an update on (a) discussions held to identify premises that can be progressed early in the build programme for the North Lot area and (b) plans to deploy 16 subsea cables to islands, as a result of the contract…
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many prisoners are being held in (a) individual cells and (b) cells holding more than one person, and how many prisoners are sharing an individual cell intended for one person with someone else."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 10 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when free lateral flow antigen test kits will be available to all businesses, including those with fewer than 50 employees."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 24 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when the proposed locations of the remaining nine Innovation hubs being launched as part of the S5G Connect Programme in 2021 will be announced."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects survey and remodelling work in the North Lot area for the R100 Programme to be completed, and whether it will publish a roll-out plan that includes an estimated completion date for the North Lot area."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to inclusion of free bus travel for under-22s in its budget, what steps it is taking to provide free ferry travel for under-22s who are living in island communities."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 23 March 2021
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament