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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Martin Whitfield

Scottish Labour

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Martin Whitfield

Contact details

Contact online

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

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

Conveners Group

Member

Parliamentary Bureau

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]

On 5 December 2023 and on 12 December 2024 I received food hampers valued at approximately £150 and £185 respectively from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 18 December 2024]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am a Member of EIS.

I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.

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]

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]

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]

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]

I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.

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 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.

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 2025

Secure Accommodation Capacity

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister for advance sight of her statement. The minister indicated that 78 beds were available across Scotland—that is according to Scottish Government data that was published for 2022-23…

Chamber meeting date: 25 March 2025

Scottish Universities (Funding Model)

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I take the minister back to Willie Rennie’s second question, which was about whether the funding model is broken…

Chamber meeting date: 20 March 2025

Additional Support Needs (Learning Environments)

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The Government rightly supports the presumption of mainstreaming. When we get education right for pupils with ASN, we get it right for the vast majority of pupils…

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee meeting date: 20 March 2025

Committee Effectiveness Inquiry

The Convener: "Our second agenda item is an evidence session as part of our committee effectiveness inquiry, which is seeking to answer the question of whether changes to the Parliament’s procedures and practices would help committees to work more effectively…

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee meeting date: 20 March 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Martin Whitfield): "Good morning. I welcome everyone to the fourth meeting in 2025 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. I have received apologies from Ruth Maguire, and I welcome Rona Mackay, who is attending as a committee substitute…

Votes

How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament

Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16892

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 91 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16942

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16960

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025

Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16923

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16923.1

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 107 for, 8 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

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.

Question ref. S6O-04533

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the reported rising childcare costs on families, particularly those on low and middle incomes, in light of recent research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity."

Taken in the Chamber on 3 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35315

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the economic impact of youth work, and how it measures the effectiveness of youth work programmes in contributing to local and national economic development."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35311

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of youth work on improving (a) mental health, (b) physical health and (c) wellbeing, and how it supports programmes that focus on promoting such work."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35312

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of youth work on addressing (a) substance abuse and (b) other health-related concerns, and how it supports programmes that focus on promoting such work."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35323

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that youth work initiatives are aligned with national economic priorities and strategies, such as the Young Person’s Guarantee."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35319

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that youth work services are accessible in areas of economic deprivation."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35328

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that delegating the delivery of youth work to local authorities does not compromise the quality or consistency of services."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35317

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to local authorities to ensure the delivery of youth work services and programmes, and how it works with them to (a) ensure that youth work is integrated into broader economic and social development strategies, (b) measure and report on the impact of youth work on young people’s economic…

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35313

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of youth work on improving employability and skills development, and how it supports programmes that focus on promoting such work."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35324

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it engages with youth workers to assess the effectiveness of its policies in this area on achieving positive economic outcomes."

Answered by Graeme Dey on 13 March 2025

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