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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

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 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 Malawi

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 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Education

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul has had 10 previous roles

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

03 December 2025 - 21 January 2026

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Member

10 April 2023 - 05 December 2025

Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Labour

10 April 2023 - 05 December 2025

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

25 April 2023 - 02 September 2025

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Member

25 April 2023 - 02 September 2025

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

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 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.

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]

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

From 23 to 26 March 2025, I participated in a delegation to Bosnia-Herzegovina to learn about the war of the early 1990s and the genocide at Srebrenica. Travel expenses, accommodation in Sarajevo, city taxes, museum entries and meals to the total value of £780.00 were provided by Beyond Srebrenica, (a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SC046540) which coordinates Srebrenica awareness activities in Scotland of c/o Turcan Connell Solicitors, Princes Exchange, Earl Grey Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9EE). [Registered 8 April 2025]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am a member of Community Union.

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 25 September 2024 for completing a survey. [Registered 25 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 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 was paid £70 by You Gov on 25 July 2024 for completing a survey. [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 member of LGBT Labour Scotland.

I am a member of the Scottish Co-operative Party.

I am a member of ENABLE Scotland.

I am a patron of LGBT Labour.

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

I am a member of GMB Union.

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

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.

Teacher Job Shortages (Temporary Contracts)

Chamber meeting date: 22 January 2026

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "It was this First Minister who, at the beginning of this parliamentary session, promised a focus on recovery from the pandemic in education…

Teacher Job Shortages (Temporary Contracts)

Chamber meeting date: 22 January 2026

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "It was this First Minister who, at the beginning of this parliamentary session, promised a focus on recovery from the pandemic in education…

Teacher Job Shortages (Temporary Contracts)

Chamber meeting date: 22 January 2026

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "It was this First Minister who, at the beginning of this parliamentary session, promised a focus on recovery from the pandemic in education…

Teacher Job Shortages (Temporary Contracts)

Chamber meeting date: 22 January 2026

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "It was this First Minister who, at the beginning of this parliamentary session, promised a focus on recovery from the pandemic in education…

Teacher Job Shortages (Temporary Contracts)

Chamber meeting date: 22 January 2026

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "It was this First Minister who, at the beginning of this parliamentary session, promised a focus on recovery from the pandemic in education…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.

Wellbeing and Sustainable Development (Scotland) Bill

Motion ref. S6M-20414

Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 22, 2026

Result 25 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 57 Amendment 43

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Result 28 for, 72 against, 18 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 57 Amendment 42

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Result 46 for, 73 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 57 Amendment 40

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Result 47 for, 73 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 57 Amendment 38

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Result 47 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

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 reference: S6O-05388

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 21 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what cross-government action it is taking to support island connectivity in the West Scotland region."

Question reference: S6W-42962

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 12 January 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 26 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that Police Scotland has the capacity, training and resources to respond effectively to explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) incidents in Scotland, including improving coordination with UK military EOD units to reduce response times and bolster public safety."

Question reference: S6T-02831

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 12 January 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 13 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports of a postcode lottery for classroom supplies and that some schools have only 93p per child per week for basic classroom supplies."

Question reference: S6W-42780

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 7 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what further consideration it has given to a fireworks licensing scheme or restrictions on the days on which fireworks can be supplied and used."

Question reference: S6W-42781

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 6 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what further action it is taking to address the problematic use of fireworks."

Question reference: S6W-42280

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 2 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government by what date its targeted lung cancer screening programme will commence in 2027; where this will take place; how much will be allocated to it, and when nationwide coverage will be achieved."

Question reference: S6W-40681

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is to see a cardiologist; how many people there currently are in total on NHS waiting lists for cardiology appointments, and what the (a) headcount and (b) FTE number of cardiologists currently is within the NHS."

Question reference: S6W-39311

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is given to dermatology services in the development of NHS workforce planning."

Question reference: S6W-39313

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase capacity across NHS dermatology services."

Question reference: S6W-39310

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether staffing levels across NHS dermatology services are sufficient."

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