Martin Whitfield
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Martin Whitfield
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: martinwhitfieldmsp.com
X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield
Facebook: Martin's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Martin is a member of 2 committees
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Martin is a member of 1 cross-party group
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew's Day
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Martin has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
Conveners Group
Member
Party Roles
Martin has 3 party roles
Business Manager
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Martin has had 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Youth Employment
Scottish Labour
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Member
Register of interests
Martin'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 Martin Whitfield. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 6 May 2021, I was employed by East Lothian Council (of John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 3HA) as a primary teacher. I worked approximately 35 hours a week and received remuneration of between £40,001 and £45,000 per annum.
Gifts
On 23 November 2023 I attended the Herald Scottish Politician of The Year Awards as a guest of Newsquest Media Group LTD (publisher of newspaper of Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY) at Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh. The gift was to me as an individual and that the value including VAT was £360. [Registered 12 December 2023]
On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended a rugby match at Murrayfield, as a guest of BT Group Plc (a telecommunications company of BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ). The value of the gift amounted to £325 for both the ticket and hospitality. [Registered 9 February 2022]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
On 5 December 2023 I received a gift of a food hamper valued at approximately £150 from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 12 December 2023]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I was paid £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]
Between 12 June and 19 June 2022 I travelled to Jersey to head an Electoral Observation Mission on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). The purpose of the visit was to observe the Island election as BIMR did in 2018. An initial report was published at the end of the visit with a full report being prepared with the mission's observations and recommendations. The total cost of the visit, met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was £3,000. [Registered 3 August 2022]
I received a bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 22 December 2021]
I am a Member of EIS.
I am a Trustee and Chair of the Burke-Veitch Scholarship which provides funds to allow children / young people to attend drama school. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
On 26 February 2022 I was the guest of NatWest Group at Scotland France 6 Nations Rugby Game. The value of the gift was ticket valued at £111.50 and hospitality of £35.00. The combined value of this gift and hospitality is below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category. [Registered 2 March 2022]
On the 27 April 2022, I attended the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, as a guest of Young Scot. The hospitality had a value of £150. [Registered 4 May 2022]
I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Martin Whitfield 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: 26 March 2024
Points of Order
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer…
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Higher Education (Access)
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The minister previously pointed out that there were some high-profile courses where there was a challenge. In particular, I am thinking of law courses at the University of Edinburgh, which is where the issue started 18 months ago."
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Motion without Notice
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Autistic Pupils (Support)
6. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the comments made by the National Autistic Society Scotland that some autistic pupils in Scotland have to “fail” in mainstream education before receiving the support that they need. (S6O-03237)"
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee meeting date: 21 March 2024
Decision on Taking Business in Private
The Convener (Martin Whitfield): "Good morning. Welcome to the seventh meeting in 2024 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. We have received no apologies this morning. Our first agenda item is a decision on whether to take items 3 and 4 in private…
Votes
How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Result 89 for, 0 against, 31 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Natalie Don, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 18, 2024
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Martin Whitfield in Parliament
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Martin Whitfield has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many young offenders currently being held in a young offenders institution are (a) 16 and (b) 17 years old."
Answered by Angela Constance on 27 March 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how its Homelessness in Scotland statistics accurately capture the number of people in Scotland who have been "looked after" prior to becoming homeless."
Answer expected on 24 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many grants for care experienced people it has awarded in each year since 2016, broken down by (a) age and (b) local authority area."
Answer expected on 23 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what data it collects regarding the circumstances of death when a young person dies in the care of a local authority; how any such data is published, and when any such data will next be reviewed."
Answer expected on 23 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how often it reviews statistical collection and publishing cycles in order to deliver joined-up policy making."
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of community-based health and social care spend is currently spent on preventative whole family support, broken down by local authority area, and when it expects the total figure to reach its 5% target."
Answer expected on 22 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government which body has the responsibility for monitoring the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, and how it will ensure that this data is collected consistently across all 32 local authorities."
Answer expected on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects statutory guidance for the use of seclusion and restraint in schools to be in place."
Answer expected on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many children and young people from a different legal jurisdiction are currently in a care setting in Scotland, and how it ensures that the rights of any such children or young people under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are upheld."
Answer expected on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of each of the five prevention pathways in its Ending Homelessness Together action plan."
Answer expected on 18 April 2024
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament