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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Paul O'Kane

Scottish Labour

MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Paul O'Kane

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5942
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Phone: 0141 887 5111
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Paul is a member of 14 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Deafness

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Dyslexia

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Learning Disability

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on LGBTI+

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Paul does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Paul has 3 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul has had 5 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

22 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Labour

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Member

Register of interests

Paul'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 Paul O'Kane. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

Until 10 June 2021, I will be Chair of the Transport and Mechanical Advisory Group Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) (a not for profit unincorporated association of 300 Councils across the UK promoting excellence in public services of Scottish Office, Brandon House, 23-25 Brandon Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, ML3 6DA). I work 4 hours per month and receive remuneration of between £1,001 and £2,000 per annum. I resigned from this role with effect from 10 June 2021.

Until 4 May 2022, I was a councillor for East Renfrewshire Council (of Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6UH) and additionally, until 10 June 2021, I was Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities. I worked approximately 21 hours per week and, until 10 June 2021, received remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 per annum. I had resigned as Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities with effect from 10 June 2021 but remained as a councillor. From 10 June 2021 to 4 May 2022, I received remuneration of between £15,001 to £20,000 per annum. My councillor salary was donated to local community groups in my Ward. [Amended interest 5 October 2022]

Until 10 May 2021, I was a Policy and Participation Manager at ENABLE Scotland (a Learning Disability Charity and Social Care Provider of Inspire House, 3 Renshaw Place, Eurocentral, North Lanarkshire, ML14UF). I worked 21 hours per week and the remuneration I received was between £30,001 and £35,000 (pro-rata) per annum.

Gifts

On 18th September 2022, I received two Group D Finals tickets for my husband and I for the Davis Cup in Glasgow from the Lawn Tennis Association (National Tennis Centre, 100 Priory Lane, Roehampton, London, SW15 5JQ). The value of these tickets was £492. [Registered 3 October 2022]

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 the Scottish Co-operative Party.

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 25 September 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 25 September 2024]

I was paid £70 by You Gov on 25 July 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I am a member of LGBT Labour Scotland.

I was paid £75 by Savanta on 26 June 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I am a member of Community Union.

I was paid £30 by You Gov on 25 April 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I received two complimentary tickets from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland of Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB for my husband and I to attend the Royal Highland Show on Sunday 23 June 2024, the estimated value of the tickets was £68.00. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 10 July 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I am the Chair of Trustees of Neilston War Memorial Association.

I am a patron of LGBT Labour.

I am a member of GMB Union.

I received two complimentary tickets from the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland of Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston, Edinburgh, EH28 8NB for my husband and I to attend the Royal Highland Show on Sunday 25 June 2023, the estimated value of the tickets was £68.00. [Registered 16 September 2024]

I am a member of ENABLE Scotland.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Paul O'Kane 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: 1 May 2025

Youth Violence

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Earlier this month, in my West Scotland region, two young girls were brutally assaulted by other teenagers during two horrific incidents just days apart. The incidents were recorded and shared widely on social media…

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee meeting date: 29 April 2025

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)

Paul O’Kane: "Good morning to the panel. Housing and homelessness are extremely topical at any time, but particularly at this juncture, given that legislation is progressing through the Parliament. We have covered quite a lot of issues this morning…

Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee meeting date: 29 April 2025

Motion to Remove a Member of the Committee

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the debate as we consider the motion before us this morning. The motion has been lodged under the standing orders of the Parliament, and it is important that we have a full and open debate…

Chamber meeting date: 24 April 2025

Framework Legislation and Henry VIII Powers

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am pleased to contribute to the debate. It is an important debate, because it allows members to express their views and opinions about how we operate in this Parliament and how we pass legislation…

Chamber meeting date: 23 April 2025

United Kingdom Government Welfare Reforms

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "During the debate, we have already acknowledged the complexity of social security and the complexities of having a devolved system and a reserved system that interact and interlock…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17399

Scotland’s Hydrogen Future

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Supported by: Alasdair Allan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Result 113 for, 6 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17399.1

Scotland’s Hydrogen Future

Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Result 34 for, 67 against, 17 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17399.3

Scotland’s Hydrogen Future

Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Result 51 for, 62 against, 6 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17399.2

Scotland’s Hydrogen Future

Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 1, 2025

Result 6 for, 97 against, 17 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17360.1

Protecting Scotland’s Fishing Industry

Submitted by: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Result 17 for, 87 against, 11 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Paul O'Kane has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6O-04639

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 30 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on its own reported assessment that its target of delivering 110,000 affordable homes by 2032 is at risk."

Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37267

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis on the cost per person to successfully transition an individual into employment through its Parental Employability Support Fund, and, if so, what that cost was."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37258

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for (a) bereaved individuals under the age of 50 whose partner has died and (b) children of individuals where a parent has died under the age of 50."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37259

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance is in place for education practitioners regarding how to support children and young people who have been bereaved of a parent."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37265

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals were supported into employment through its Young Person's Guarantee in each of the last three years, and what this figure was as a proportion of all individuals supported through the programme in each of those years."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37263

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals were supported into employment through its No One Left Behind programme in each of the last three years, and what this figure was as a proportion of all individuals supported through the programme in each of those years."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37268

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis on the cost per person to successfully transition an individual into employment through its Young Person's Guarantee, and, if so, what that cost was."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37261

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has conducted any analysis of the appropriate level of payment for Funeral Support Payment since its introduction in 2019."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37262

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed, or plans to review, the eligibility criteria for Funeral Support Payment."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37264

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many individuals were supported into employment through its Parental Employability Support Fund in each of the last three years, and what this figure was as a proportion of all individuals supported through the programme in each of those years."

Answer expected on 13 May 2025

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