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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Tom Arthur

Scottish National Party

MSP for Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley (Constituency)

About Tom Arthur

Contact details

Contact online

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

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 01505 331990
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

49 High Street
Johnstone
PA5 8AJ

Phone: 01505 331990
Text relay calls welcome.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish National Party
MSP for Renfrewshire West and Levern Valley (Constituency)
07 May 2026 to present

Scottish National Party
Former MSP for Renfrewshire South (Constituency)
05 May 2016 to 08 Apr 2026

Committees

Tom Arthur is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Tom Arthur is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Tom Arthur has 1 parliamentary and government role

Minister for Business and Fair Work

Scottish Government

Party Roles

Tom Arthur does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Tom Arthur has had the following roles in Parliament

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

11 June 2025 to 20 May 2026

Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing

Scottish Government

08 May 2024 to 11 June 2025

Minister for Employment and Investment

Scottish Government

29 March 2023 to 08 May 2024

Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance

Scottish Government

20 May 2021 to 29 March 2023

Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth

Scottish Government

06 September 2018 to 04 May 2021

Finance and Constitution Committee

Member

25 February 2020 to 04 May 2021

Social Security Committee

Member

19 April 2018 to 25 February 2020

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

10 May 2017 to 13 December 2018

Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill Committee

Convener

08 June 2016 to 06 September 2018

Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

24 April 2018 to 28 June 2018

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs

Scottish Government

01 September 2016 to 23 April 2018

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Scottish Government

16 November 2017 to 19 April 2018

Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Member

14 June 2017 to 14 December 2017

Writers to the Signet Dependants' Annuity Fund Amendment (Scotland) Bill Committee

Member

10 May 2017 to 21 November 2017

Edinburgh Bakers' Widows' Fund Bill Committee

Convener

08 June 2016 to 16 November 2017

Health and Sport Committee

Member

19 April 2017 to 10 May 2017

Edinburgh Bakers' Widows' Fund Bill Committee

Member

19 April 2017 to 10 May 2017

Pow of Inchaffray Drainage Commission (Scotland) Bill Committee

Member

14 June 2016 to 31 August 2016

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport

Scottish Government

Register of interests

Tom Arthur'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 Tom Arthur. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2026.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests.

Gifts

No registrable interests.

Overseas visits

From 9 October to 13 October 2016 I was part of a cross party group delegation to Taiwan. The main purpose of this trip was to attend the National Day celebration, also to get to know Taiwan's political, economic, cultural, social developments, bilateral relations between Scotland and Taiwan, bilateral relations between Taiwan and China, and Taiwan's international participation. It was a comprehensive design aimed to let the MSPs know where Taiwan stands in East Asia and in the world, hoping that it could help to promote and strengthen the ties and exchanges between Scotland and Taiwan. During the trip we visited the capital city Taipei, in north Taiwan, as well as two other cities Taichung and Nantou, in central Taiwan. The cost of the trip was £6,000, which included round trip flights, meals, accommodation, transportation and tickets to cultural activities/official visits. All costs were met by the Taiwanese Government via their Representative in Scotland. The trip was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei Representative Office in the UK, 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE. I can confirm I received gifts of under £250 which were a miniature sculpture and a bottle of Taiwanese whiskey.

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

No registrable interests.

Interest in shares

No registrable interests.

Voluntary

I own a £1 share in Barrhead Housing Association.

I am a member of the Musicians Union.

Recent Activity

Official Report

What Tom Arthur 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.

New Railway Stations

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2026

The Minister for Business and Fair Work (Tom Arthur): "As the First Minister set out, the Scottish Government will invest in essential infrastructure across Scotland, including new train stations and ongoing electrification of our rail network…

Reform UK Priorities

Chamber meeting date: 24 June 2026

The Minister for Business and Fair Work (Tom Arthur): "First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week…

Reform UK Priorities

Chamber meeting date: 24 June 2026

The Minister for Business and Fair Work (Tom Arthur): "First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week…

Reform UK Priorities

Chamber meeting date: 24 June 2026

The Minister for Business and Fair Work (Tom Arthur): "First, I welcome colleagues across the chamber who join me in condemning the violence, xenophobia and racism that were experienced right here in the streets of our capital on Friday last week…

M8 (Woodside Viaducts)

Chamber meeting date: 23 June 2026

The Minister for Business and Fair Work (Tom Arthur): "The early public consultation on strategic options for the M8 Woodside viaducts permanent works project concluded on 25 March 2026…

Votes

How Tom Arthur has voted in Parliament

Find out how Tom Arthur 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 voted against

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 against

Agreed

Motions

Motions made by Tom Arthur in Parliament

Find out what motions Tom Arthur has submitted recently.

Questions

Questions Tom Arthur has asked

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

Question reference: S6W-00030

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 May 2021

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 14 May 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government what legislative consent memorandums it anticipates lodging in the Parliament in relation to the legislative programme of the UK Government announced in The Queen’s Speech on 11 May 2021."

Question reference: S5O-05152

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 17 March 2021

Current Status: Answered by Clare Haughey on 24 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting mental health services in the Renfrewshire South constituency."

Question reference: S5W-35917

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 10 March 2021

Current Status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 11 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government how its refreshed national digital strategy will enable Scotland's people and economy to flourish in an increasingly digital world."

Question reference: S5W-35556

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2021

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 11 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government what the rateable value is at which businesses receive 100% small business bonus relief on non-domestic rates, and what information it has regarding how this compares with England and Wales."

Question reference: S5W-35822

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 8 March 2021

Current Status: Answered by Michael Russell on 8 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publish details of its view regarding the UK Government’s activity in relation to devolution following Brexit."

Question reference: S5W-35554

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2021

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 8 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the amount paid in income tax paid by people earning the UK median wage in each of the last two years, and how this compares with the rest of the UK."

Question reference: S5W-35555

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2021

Current Status: Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 2 March 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government what the average household water bill is, and what information it has regarding how this compares with England and Wales."

Question reference: S5O-05057

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 17 February 2021

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 February 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce health inequalities."

Question reference: S5O-05021

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 10 February 2021

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 February 2021

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting rail services in the Renfrewshire South constituency."

Question reference: S5O-04888

Asked by: Tom Arthur, Renfrewshire South, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 16 December 2020

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 23 December 2020

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that care home residents who are unable to go outside can still meet friends and family."