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
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 1 parliamentary and government role
Conveners Group
Member
Party Roles
Martin has 4 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Youth Employment
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Martin had 1 previous role
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 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
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
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 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 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 was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
I am a Member of EIS.
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]
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 am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. 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: 2 February 2023
Additional Support for Learning
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer about children with autism. The Scottish National Party’s 2021 manifesto said: “Scotland’s education system should be accessible to all young people…
Chamber meeting date: 31 January 2023
Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I hear your warning, Presiding Officer. It is a great pleasure to follow Jenni Minto in the debate…
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
2. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, including the latest discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government. (S6O-01829)"
Chamber meeting date: 25 January 2023
Childcare
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is a pleasure to follow Roz McCall in this debate. I also extend my thanks to Meghan Gallacher for securing this important debate…
Chamber meeting date: 19 January 2023
Fire Brigades Union DECON Campaign
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I congratulate Maggie Chapman on securing the debate…
Votes
How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: George Adam, Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Ivan McKee, Lorna Slater, Nicola Sturgeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Result 68 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 24 for, 96 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Ivan McKee, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Roz McCall, Liz Smith, Sue Webber
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 54 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Alexander Burnett, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Sue Webber, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
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: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what requirements there are to undertake a Children’s Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) as part of designing and planning new schools."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to update its guidance, School design: optimising the internal environment: building our future: Scotland's school estate, which was published in 2007."
Answer expected on 10 February 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it collects on whether new schools in Scotland meet the standards set out in the (a) UK Government document, Building Bulletin 93: Acoustic design of schools: performance standards, and (b) Scottish Government guidance, School design: optimising the internal environment: building our future:…
Answer expected on 10 February 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill, including the latest discussions it has had with the UK Government."
Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the full £20 million of funding to support the roll-out of counselling provision, as committed to in the 2018-19 Programme for Government, has been delivered, and, if this is not the case, for what reason."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 January 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in delivering equity of access to mental health support services for college and university students."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 10 January 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on BMA Scotland’s reported estimate that Scotland is approximately 1,000 short of the required number of whole time equivalent GPs."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many assaults against high school teachers on school property have been recorded in each year since 2017."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 6 December 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many high school pupil-to-pupil fights on school property have been recorded in each year since 2017."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many high school pupils have been suspended from school following a violent attack on a teacher or pupil in each year since 2017."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 5 December 2022
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament