Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, Europe and External Affairs

Scottish Government

28 June 2018 - 17 February 2020

Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations

Scottish Government

06 September 2016 - 28 June 2018

Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland’s Place in Europe

Scottish Government

15 June 2016 - 27 August 2016

Finance Committee

Convener

15 June 2016 - 27 August 2016

Conveners Group

Member

08 June 2016 - 15 June 2016

Finance Committee

Member

27 November 2014 - 23 March 2016

Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee

Member

21 January 2016 - 23 March 2016

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

05 November 2015 - 21 January 2016

Health and Sport Committee

Substitute Member

27 November 2014 - 05 November 2015

Justice Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 1999 - 31 March 2003

Education Culture and Sport Committee

Member

16 May 2002 - 31 March 2003

Standards Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 1999 - 01 November 2000

Procedures Committee

Member

17 May 1999 - 26 September 2000

Parliamentary Bureau

Member

Remuneration and related undertaking

From 11 May 2015 until 1 September 2016 I was Professor in Scottish Culture and Governance at the University of Glasgow (an institution of higher education and research of Gilbert Scott Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ). I received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 per annum. My duties included: two public lectures per year; a number of lectures and seminars for students; research on cultural and governance issues; work with alumni; and general advice to the Principal and Senior Management Team. My hours in this role varied but I estimate that the time commitment was approximately 40 days per year. As a result of my appointment as Minister for UK Negotiations on Scotland's Place in Europe, the contract for this employment will be suspended whilst I am in Government. [Amended interest 01 September 2016]

Gifts

On Friday 26 May 2017 I attended the “Remarks by the Honourable Barack H Obama” charitable event in Edinburgh organised by the Hunter Foundation as a guest of Macklin Enterprise Partnerships Ltd (an equity investment and specialist advice company, of 205 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, G2 5QD). The cost of hospitality for the evening was £2,400 which was met by Macklin Enterprise Partnerships Ltd. [Registered 14 June 2017]

On 1 March 2019, on a pre-opening visit to the new Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay in my constituency, I was presented by the owners, Hunter Laing & Co Ltd , with a bottle of Bunnabhain 27 Year Old Whisky from their “Old & Rare” Range which retails at £325. [Registered 9 March 2019]

Overseas visits

On 14-17 September 2015, I visited Bosnia as part of a delegation organised by the charitable initiative Remembering Srebrenicia, which is a project of the charity Ummah Help (of Newland House, 2nd Floor, 137-139 Hagley Road, Birmingham, B16 8UA). The visit was part of the ‘Lessons from Srebrenica’ educational visits programme. The costs of the visit were met by Remembering Srebrenicia and amounted to £428 for flights and £186.41 for other costs including accommodation, food and transport during the visit, with a total cost of £614.41.

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 14 June 2018]

Voluntary

I am a weekly contributor to the Sunday National, for which I receive no remuneration. [Registered 23 May 2019]

Until August 2020 I was the Honorary President of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation. I received no remuneration for this role. [Registered 7 September 2018, Amended Interest 20 August 2020, Ceased Interest 20 August 2020]

I have a contract with Scottish Hydro for the feed in tariff for solar PV panels on my house. I estimate that this will generate approximately £1,000 a year.

I am a member of the Wine Society in which I own one share worth twenty pounds.

I am a member of the Scottish Society for the History of Photography.

I am a member of the Scottish Flag Trust at Athelstaneford.

On 16 November 2018 my wife and I attended the 9th annual SNP St Andrew's Night Dinner at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in Glasgow, as the guest of Community Windpower Ltd. Estimated total cost of hospitality £150. [Registered 18 November 2018]

I am a member of ACHA (the Argyll Community Housing Association).

I am a Patron of the Cowal Way, which is a long distance path within my constituency. I receive no remuneration for this role. [Registered 7 September 2018]

On 8 July 2018 I accepted an invitation to become an Honorary President of the Clyde Fisherman’s Association. I receive no remuneration for this role. [Registered 8 July 2018]

I am a member of the Glasgow Art Club.

On election in 2007 I resigned from active membership of Lodge 1120, Kyles of Bute, to which I had been admitted in December 2004.

I am a Trustee of the Baird of Bute Society, based in Rothesay which exists to organise the annual commemoration of Rothesay Blacksmith Andrew Baird who built and flew the first Scottish heavier than air machine from Ettrick Bay, Bute in September 1910. The society gives annual awards for aviation and science and promotes enterprise, innovation and aspiration by means of school activity and an annual science scholarship. I receive no remuneration for this role.

On 30 June 2015 I attended meetings in London arranged by the not for profit US Heritage Foundation, Cyark. I received reimbursement for my expenses (travel and subsistence) of £590 from Cyark on 10 August 2015.

I am a member of the Association for Scottish Literary Studies.

I am a member of the Saltire Society.

On 27 July 2016 my wife and I were the guests of David and Jean Ainslie who own Sea Life Adventures (of Clachan, Seil), on one of the company's wildlife trips to Corryvreckan , Jura & Scarba. The value of this trip was £128. [Registered 02 August 2016]

I am an Honorary Vice President of the European Movement in Scotland. I receive no remuneration for this role. [Registered 16 March 2017]

On 17 May I undertook at visit to Glen Scotia Distillery in Campbeltown to launch their contribution to the Campbeltown Malt Whisky Festival and was presented with a bottle of 18 year old Glen Scotia Whisky , first fill from a bourbon cask, with a commemorative label, estimated value £250. [Registered 23 May 2019]

I am a member of the Colintraive and Glendaruel Development Trust. I receive no remuneration for this role.

On 27 October 2020 I was gifted a framed poem by William Wolfe. The value of this gift was £100 and was given to me by the Scottish Poetry Library. [Registered 30 October 2020]

On 16 November 2018 I won a prize in a raffle held at the SNP St Andrew’s Night Dinner at the Doubletree by Hilton in Glasgow, which was a voucher for two nights dinner bed and breakfast for two people at that hotel, total estimated worth £400 and redeemable before 16 November 2019. [Registered 18 November 2018]

I am a member of the Scottish Episcopal Church associated with the congregations in Rothesay and Dunoon.

I am a member of the University and College Union.

On 14 February 2017 I was notified by the University of Glasgow that I have been appointed, by the University Court, as an Honorary Professor in the College of Arts. This is an unpaid position and runs from 1 February 2017 to 31 March 2021. [Registered 15 February 2017]

On 6 January 2017 my wife and I were guests of the NFUS , Bute Branch, on the occasion of their AGM at the Kingarth Hotel, Bute. We were given dinner, bed & breakfast for two with an estimated value of £100. [Registered 10 January 2017]

Motion ref. S5M-24270

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

Motion ref. S5M-24292

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

Motion ref. S5M-24271

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

Motion ref. S5M-24238

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

Motion ref. S5M-24396.1

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

Motion ref. S5M-24360

Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 17) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/136)

Motion ref. S5M-24303

Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/117)

Motion ref. S5M-24235

Coronavirus (Scotland) Acts (Amendment of Expiry Dates) Regulations 2021 [draft]

Motion ref. S5M-24188

Health Protection (Coronavirus) (Restrictions and Requirements) (Local Levels) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 16) Regulations 2021 (SSI 2021/86)

Motion ref. S5M-24165

Doing Politics Differently – the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland