Skip to main content
Loading…
Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
Image description

Paul Sweeney

Scottish Labour

MSP for Glasgow (Region)


Paul Sweeney is Convener of the Public Petitions Committee

About Paul Sweeney

Contact details

Contact online

Website: pauljsweeney.com

X (previously known as Twitter): @x.com/PaulJSweeney

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 0131 348 6388
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Brunswick House
51 Wilson Street
Glasgow
G1 1UZ

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Labour
MSP for Glasgow (Region)
06 May 2021 to present

Committees

Paul Sweeney is a member of 2 committees

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

Public Petitions Committee

Convener

Cross-party groups

Paul Sweeney is a member of 3 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Armed Forces and Veterans

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Paul Sweeney has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Paul Sweeney has 1 party role

Shadow Minister for Business and Fair Work and Veterans

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul Sweeney has had the following roles in Parliament

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

10 April 2023 to 08 April 2026

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Health

Scottish Labour

10 April 2023 to 08 April 2026

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Veterans

Scottish Labour

02 May 2023 to 08 April 2026

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

31 January 2023 to 08 April 2026

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Substitute Member

19 January 2023 to 02 May 2023

Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Member

22 September 2021 to 25 April 2023

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 to 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Employment

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 to 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Finance

Scottish Labour

17 June 2021 to 19 January 2023

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Member

17 June 2021 to 19 January 2023

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

Register of interests

Paul Sweeney'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 Sweeney. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

I previously worked as an Operations Manager for BAE Systems – Naval Ships (a shipbuilding company of South Street, Scotstoun, Glasgow G14 0XN). I worked full time and my salary was between £30,001 and £35,000. I resigned from the company in September 2015 but I am registering this interest on the basis of the prejudice test having been met.

Gifts

On 13 August 2025, I and a member of my staff were guests of the Royal Navy (HM Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh, G84 8HL) for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality was £1,574.

On 22 August 2024 I and a member of my staff were guests of the Royal Navy (HM Naval Base Clyde, Helensburgh, G84 8HL) for dinner on the Royal Yacht Britannia and then at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The value of the hospitality was £1,520.

Overseas visits

From 15-25 May 2023 I visited New Dehli, Agra, and Ladakh in India to participate in the Generation Next Democracy Network Programme as part of the country’s G20 celebrations. This programme for an international delegation of 38 delegates included tours and introductions to important democratic institutions in India, meetings with elected officials and cultural experiences. The purpose was to educate those nominated by Consulates in their home countries about India’s democratic structures and culture. The costs of the visit were £989 for international flights, £1,613 for accommodation, £558 for domestic flights, and £200 for hospitality. The costs were met by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) (An agency of the Indian Government, at Azad Bhawan Rd, IP Estate, New Delhi, Delhi 110002). The Indian Council for Cultural Relations is an autonomous organisation of the Government of India involved in India's global cultural relations through cultural exchange with other countries.

From 28 July 2019 and 2 August 2019, when I was a Member of the UK Parliament, I visited Beijing and Jinan, China, to participate in the 2019 Young Leaders Roundtable and to build UK-China understanding and partnership on environment and climate change issues. The costs of the visit were £1,586.50 for international flights, £292.74 for accommodation and £215.19 for transport. The costs were met by (a) The Great Britain China Centre (a UK Government non-departmental public body of 15 Belgrave Square, Belgravia, London SW1X 8PS) with sponsorship from Prudential Plc and China International Capital Corporation (investment banks); and (b) the All-China Youth Federation (a Chinese Government Youth Organisation of 10 Qianmen Dongdajie, Dongcheng District, Beijing).

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

No registrable interests.

Interest in shares

No registrable interests.

Voluntary

I am a trustee of The Egyptian Halls SCIO (administered by the Scottish Civic Trust).

I am a Member of the Campaign for Socialism.

I am a Director and Council Member of the Institution of Engineers in Scotland.

I am a Member of Open Labour.

I am a Member of the Co-operative Party.

I am a member of the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust.

I am a Member of the Open Labour Executive Committee.

I am a Member of the Fabian Society.

I am a Member of Unite the Union.

I am a Chair and Trustee of the Springburn Winter Gardens Trust.

I am a Member of GMB Union.

I am a Member of the Co-operative Party's National Executive Committee.

As of 28 August 2025, I am a co-opted committee member of Reidvale Housing Association. The role is unremunerated.

I am a trustee of the Courtyard Pantry Enterprise (SC051688).

I am a Trustee of Beatroute Arts.

I am a Trustee and Director of the Glasgow City Heritage Trust.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Paul Sweeney 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.

Interests

Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 25 June 2026

The Convener (Paul Sweeney): "Good morning, and welcome to the first meeting of the Public Petitions Committee in session 7 of the Scottish Parliament…

Deputy Convener

Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 25 June 2026

The Convener: "The next item on the agenda is the election of a deputy convener. As the Parliament has specified in S7M-00269, only members of the Scottish National Party are eligible to be chosen as deputy convener of the Public Petitions Committee…

Decision on Taking Business in Private

Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 25 June 2026

The Convener: "The next item of business is a decision on whether to take item 4 in private. Do we agree to take that item in private?Members indicated agreement."

Action Mesothelioma Day 2026

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "As a member of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, I welcome the news on the proposed legislation, which is very welcome. Indeed, it is something that has been long hoped for…

Action Mesothelioma Day 2026

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2026

Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab): "As a member of the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee, I welcome the news on the proposed legislation, which is very welcome. Indeed, it is something that has been long hoped for…

Votes

How Paul Sweeney has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul Sweeney has voted recently.

Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population

Motion ref. S7M-00469

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Supported by: Kirsten Oswald
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 25, 2026

Result 89 for, 31 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population

Motion ref. S7M-00469.3

Submitted by: Maggie Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Supported by: Kate Nevens
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 25, 2026

Result 16 for, 104 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population

Motion ref. S7M-00469.5

Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Supported by: James Adams
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 25, 2026

Result 26 for, 78 against, 15 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population

Motion ref. S7M-00469.1

Submitted by: Amanda Bland, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 25, 2026

Result 26 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population

Motion ref. S7M-00469.2

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 24, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 25, 2026

Result 65 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Paul Sweeney has asked

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

Question reference: S7W-02582

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with commercial financial institutions regarding the use of international tax leasing frameworks to help offset the research, development and manufacturing costs associated with the construction of alternative propulsion and zero-emission vessels."

Question reference: S7W-02577

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the Competition and Markets Authority regarding the proposed direct award of contracts to Ferguson Marine for the construction of replacement vessels for the research vessel, Scotia, and the fisheries protection vessel, Minna, and two ferries under Phase 2 of the Small Vessel…

Question reference: S7W-02580

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for the Scottish National Investment Bank (SNIB) to provide refund guarantees or patient capital to Scottish shipyards to explicitly facilitate the use of cross-border, multi-party tax lease structures, such as the revised ship-financing arrangements in Spain following…

Question reference: S7W-02579

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the European Commission's approval of revised ship-financing arrangements in Spain following changes to the Spanish Tax Lease system, what financial mechanisms it has considered to help commercial shipyards in Scotland compete with European and international competitors that receive state support."

Question reference: S7W-02578

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government from which countries shipbuilding firms have been invited to tender for the detailed design and construction of the new passenger and vehicle ferry to replace MV Lord of the Isles on the Mallaig to Lochboisdale route."

Question reference: S7W-02581

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 17 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland or Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) has evaluated the feasibility of procuring future vessels, including zero-emission ferries, through international tax lease structures such as the Agrupación de Interés Económico (AIE) in Spain to reduce final purchase prices…

Question reference: S7W-02536

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will engage with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) regarding the feasibility of designating community fire stations as permanent safe access points to connect vulnerable individuals directly with addiction services and other health and social care partnership services."

Question reference: S7W-02538

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that individuals seeking immediate assistance for substance use disorder can access physical, 24-hour, low-barrier drop-in centres outwith the standard operating hours of primary care and community pharmacies."

Question reference: S7W-02537

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, following the roll-out of naloxone carriage by Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) personnel, whether it has plans to further expand the role of SFRS stations and frontline staff in facilitating emergency interventions and recovery referrals for those experiencing drug addiction."

Question reference: S7W-02535

Asked by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the Safe Stations initiative operating in Rhode Island and other United States municipalities, which utilises fire stations as 24-hour drop-in centres for immediate addiction support, and whether elements of this model could be integrated into its National Mission on Drugs."