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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]

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 £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 was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 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]

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]

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]

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: 5 December 2024

Torness Nuclear Power Station

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The First Minister will be aware of EDF Energy’s decision to extend the life of Torness nuclear power station until 2030, which will secure hundreds of jobs, boost the economy of East Lothian and South Scotland, and provide crucial support to Scotland’s energy grid. Torness has been Scotland’s most productive clean energy asset, cutting 100 million…

Chamber meeting date: 5 December 2024

Apprenticeships (Awareness)

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Traditional skills such as stonemasonry are of vital importance across the south of Scotland. There are excellent examples of facilitators, such as the Ridge, a Scottish charitable incorporated organisation in Dunbar, East Lothian…

Chamber meeting date: 5 December 2024

Dying in Poverty in Scotland 2024

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Paul Sweeney has made a very powerful contribution on what is a massively important issue. Is it not right that society should reflect on how it cares for those at the very start of life—babies and children—but also for those at the end of life…

Chamber meeting date: 5 December 2024

Veterans and the Armed Forces Community

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate…

Chamber meeting date: 28 November 2024

Tweeddale Youth Action (25th Anniversary)

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I, too, begin by thanking and congratulating Christine Grahame on securing this important debate and by wishing TYA a happy 25th birthday…

Votes

How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament

Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 23

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 55 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 1

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 89 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15683

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 2, 2024

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 117 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 5

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 27 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 21

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 51 for, 60 against, 7 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

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. S6W-31847

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what the total amount is that has been allocated in its current Budget for youth work services."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31852

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its youth work budget for the next three years, and what percentage increase is planned."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31848

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a breakdown of its youth work budget, by local authority area, for the current financial year."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31853

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how many youth work organisations have had to reduce services or close due to any funding reductions since 2012."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31851

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding in total has been allocated for digital youth work projects, including virtual youth clubs, as part of its current Budget, and in each financial year since 2012-13."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31850

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of its education budget has been allocated to youth work in each financial year since 2012-13 to the current financial year."

Answer expected on 16 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31349

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of primary school meals is prepared from fresh ingredients."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31351

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that feedback from pupils and parents regarding the quality of primary school meals is taken into account when developing or improving meal provision."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31346

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that all primary school meals meet the nutritional standards set out in the nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools regulations."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31347

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the quality of primary school meals across local authorities, and how frequently these checks are carried out."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 2 December 2024

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