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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Claire Baker

Scottish Labour

MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2007 - present day

About Claire Baker

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6769
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Ore Valley Business Centre
93 Main St
Lochgelly
Fife
KY5 9AF

Phone: 01592 786 726
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Claire is a member of 2 committees

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Claire is a member of 10 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness

Deputy Convener

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

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Music

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Towns and Town Centres

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women in Enterprise

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Claire has 1 parliamentary and government role

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Appointed Member

Party Roles

Claire has 1 party role

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Claire has had 36 previous roles

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

27 September 2024 - 05 December 2025

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Labour

23 June 2021 - 06 November 2024

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Convener

23 June 2021 - 06 November 2024

conveners group

Member

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 - 28 December 2022

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Drugs Policy

Scottish Labour

20 September 2018 - 14 September 2021

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive

Member

17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Member

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

06 September 2018 - 04 May 2021

Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee

Deputy Convener

19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Labour

19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Labour

11 January 2018 - 06 September 2018

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Deputy Convener

09 January 2018 - 11 January 2018

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Member

28 June 2016 - 09 January 2018

Justice Committee

Substitute Member

28 November 2017 - 09 January 2018

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017

Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish Labour

19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016

Party Spokesperson on Democracy

Scottish Labour

08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016

European and External Relations Committee

Substitute Member

16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015

Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations

Scottish Labour

19 September 2012 - 08 January 2015

Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee

Substitute Member

19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014

Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Labour

19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014

Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Labour

23 June 2011 - 19 September 2012

Economy Energy and Tourism Committee

Substitute Member

14 June 2011 - 21 December 2011

Education and Culture Committee

Deputy Convener

20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People

Scottish Labour

01 June 2011 - 14 June 2011

Education and Culture Committee

Member

01 April 2008 - 22 March 2011

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Higher Education

Scottish Labour

02 October 2008 - 22 March 2011

Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee

Member

15 September 2010 - 22 March 2011

Justice Committee

Substitute Member

02 October 2008 - 15 September 2010

Public Petitions Committee

Substitute Member

01 May 2008 - 01 October 2008

Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee

Substitute Member

13 June 2007 - 01 October 2008

Public Petitions Committee

Member

20 September 2007 - 01 May 2008

Audit Committee

Member

27 June 2007 - 01 May 2008

Equal Opportunities Committee

Substitute Member

Register of interests

Claire'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.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Claire Baker 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 December 2025

Refugees and Asylum Seekers (Misinformation)

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): "Will the minister join me in utterly condemning the individuals who gathered on the steps of Kirkcaldy town house with raised right hands and a flag with Nazi symbolism on it? Locals have reported that those individuals were a group of teenagers…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 11 December 2025

Social Security Independent Advocacy Service

Claire Baker: "I am pleased that you have confirmed that TUPE is being used for the advocates who worked for the previous organisation. That organisation employed 48 advocates, I think, among its 58 staff members. Is that right…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 11 December 2025

Interests

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): "Thank you, convener. I am pleased to join the committee. I do not have anything relevant to declare."

Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2025

Social Security Spending

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): "I begin by addressing the framing of the debate. Titling the motion “Controlling the Rising Benefits Bill” is not just unhelpful; it misunderstands the purpose of social security…

Chamber meeting date: 2 December 2025

Violence against Women and Girls

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): "I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this important debate. The 16 days of activism campaign remains a stark reminder of the violence and abuse that far too many women and girls continue to face…

Votes

How Claire Baker has voted in Parliament

Find out how Claire Baker has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-20135

Motion of No Confidence

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 57 for, 67 against, 1 abstained, 4 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 50 Amendment 11

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 1 for, 95 against, 18 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20167

Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Maurice Golden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Friday, December 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 119 for, 2 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20138

Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, December 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Result 120 for, 0 against, 1 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20099

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025

Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Claire Baker has asked

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

Question reference: S6W-42758

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (a) had been and (b) were still to be paid, by 19 December 2025."

Question reference: S6W-42756

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many Pension Age Winter Heating Payments it expects will remain to be paid by 31 December 2025."

Question reference: S6W-42757

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many Pension Age Winter Heating Payments (a) had been and (b) were still to be paid, by 30 November 2025."

Question reference: S6W-42291

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 3 December 2025

Current Status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 16 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the letter to the Finance and Public Administration Committee by the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government on 28 January 2025, in which the cabinet secretary announced the proposed establishment of a 12-month £2 bus fare cap pilot in a regional transport partnership area from 1 January…

Question reference: S6W-41938

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry is expected to publish its final report."

Question reference: S6W-41939

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a timescale for the statutory consultation on the appointment of a new chair for the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry."

Question reference: S6W-41940

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 18 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 1 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, following the resignation of Lord Bracadale, when it expects a new chair to be in place for the Sheku Bayoh Inquiry."

Question reference: S6O-05191

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 November 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 26 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what recent work it has undertaken with the agricultural sector to reduce the number of fatalities within the industry."

Question reference: S6O-05124

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 5 November 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to prevent the permanent loss of church buildings with significant cultural or heritage value, in light of the decision by the Church of Scotland to reduce its estate."

Question reference: S6W-41344

Asked by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 15 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-40662 by Jim Fairlie on 1 October 2025, what the value is of the bareboat charterparty agreement with the operator, Serco NorthLink."

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