Paul O'Kane
Scottish Labour
MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Paul O'Kane
Contact details
Contact online
Email: Paul.O'[email protected]
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
Paul is a member of 2 committees
Cross-party groups
Paul is a member of 17 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Care Leavers
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Changing Places Toilets
Convener
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 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
22 June 2021 - 25 April 2023
Health Social Care and Sport Committee
Deputy Convener
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 am a patron of LGBT Labour.
I am the Chair of Trustees of Neilston War Memorial Association.
I am a member of ENABLE Scotland.
I am a member of GMB Union.
I am a member of LGBT Labour Scotland.
I am a member of Community Union.
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: 18 April 2024
Child Poverty (Analysis by Child Poverty Action Group)
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I note what the cabinet secretary said in her answer, and in previous answers, about an incoming Labour Government…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill: Stage 1
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am pleased to open on behalf of Scottish Labour in this stage 1 debate, and I am pleased to support the general principles of my colleague Mark Griffin’s bill…
Chamber meeting date: 17 April 2024
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Although I was not in the Parliament at the time when the legislation was passed, I recognise, as colleagues have done, that it was accepted in good faith and that it sought to act on the findings of Lord Bracadale’s review, of which we have heard much this afternoon. We would all want to take a moment to recognise that hate crime is pernicious and…
Chamber meeting date: 28 March 2024
Scottish Child Payment (Aberdeen)
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "The minister rightly points to the impact of the Scottish child payment but, given last week’s poverty and inequality statistics and his Government’s budgetary decisions, which include slashing the housing and employability budgets, does he accept what the Institute for Public Policy Research, Save the Children and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 28 March 2024
Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning. First, for the benefit of the committee, I ask the witnesses to give a brief overview of how the current system of compensation recovery works. That would be a useful place to start…
Votes
How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament
Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Paul O'Kane in Parliament
Find out what motions Paul O'Kane has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people that require social care are currently receiving this support in inappropriate hospital stays or out-of-area placements, and what its position is on whether this reflects the commitment in the Coming Home Implementation programme to greatly reduce delayed discharges and inappropriate out-of-area…
Answer expected on 2 May 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Immediate Priorities Plan developed with disabled people’s organisations."
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 March 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, since the introduction of annual health checks for adults with a learning disability in May 2022, how many adults have been offered such a health check."
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, since the introduction of annual health checks for adults with a learning disability in May 2022, what percentage of eligible adults have received such a health check."
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, since the introduction of annual health checks for adults with a learning disability in May 2022, how many adults have received such a health check."
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, since the introduction of annual health checks for adults with a learning disability in May 2022, how many adults had received such a health check by 31 March 2023."
Answered by Maree Todd on 12 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of decisions taken in the Budget for 2024-25 on aims to increase the supply of accessible and adapted housing."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 8 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many properties have either been built or had modifications made to them, to increase the supply of accessible and adapted housing, in the last year."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 8 February 2024
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to a supplementary to question S6O-03013 by Emma Roddick on 25 January 2024, whether it will detail the ways in which it is “increasing the supply of accessible and adapted housing”."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 8 February 2024