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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Kate Forbes

Scottish National Party

MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Kate Forbes

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @_kateforbes

Facebook: Kate's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Contact at local office

12 High Street
Dingwall
IV15 9RU

Phone: 01349 863 888
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Kate is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Kate is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Kate has 1 parliamentary and government role

Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic

Scottish Government

Party Roles

Kate does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Kate has had 14 previous roles

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

20 September 2023 - 17 September 2024

Committee of the Regions UK Contact Group

Member

29 June 2023 - 10 May 2024

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

29 June 2023 - 10 May 2024

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

19 May 2021 - 28 March 2023

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy

Scottish Government

18 February 2020 - 19 May 2021

Cabinet Secretary for Finance

Scottish Government

28 June 2018 - 18 February 2020

Minister for Public Finance and Digital Economy

Scottish Government

14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

parliamentaryLiaisonOfficerToTheCabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution

Scottish Government

19 April 2018 - 28 June 2018

Health and Sport Committee

Member

29 September 2016 - 28 June 2018

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Substitute Member

19 April 2018 - 28 June 2018

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Member

08 June 2016 - 19 April 2018

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

07 November 2017 - 19 April 2018

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

07 September 2016 - 29 September 2016

European and External Relations Committee

Substitute Member

08 June 2016 - 06 September 2016

Finance Committee

Member

Register of interests

Kate'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 Kate Forbes 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: 11 September 2025

Entrepreneurship

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "Recent Tech Nation data shows that Scotland’s start-up economy is booming, with our 19 per cent growth rate among the fastest in Europe. Our ambition is to establish Scotland as one of Europe’s fastest-growing start-up economies…

Chamber meeting date: 11 September 2025

Exports

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "Scotland is a trading nation. We have a long and rich history of producing goods and services that are highly regarded and sought-after across the world…

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2025

Scotland’s Finances

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "I am ever the optimist, so I will start with a few areas that I hope the Parliament can unite to commend…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Regional Growth Deals (Highlands and Islands)

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "The substantial £242.5 million that we are investing in four growth deals across the Highlands and Islands will empower and enable regional partners to deliver a wide range of projects that are tailored to local needs and circumstances…

Chamber meeting date: 3 September 2025

Grangemouth Cluster

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic (Kate Forbes): "I have regular engagements with various UK Government ministers, not least yesterday, when I met the energy minister Michael Shanks to discuss Grangemouth in particular…

Votes

How Kate Forbes has voted in Parliament

Find out how Kate Forbes has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-18795

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Richard Lochhead
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 60 for, 49 against, 7 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18795.1

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 11, 2025

Result 23 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18795.3

Supporting Scottish Exports in Response to Global Uncertainty

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 10, 2025

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

Result 26 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-18780.3

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 72 for, 45 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-18780

Impact of Accommodating Asylum Seekers on Scottish Local Government

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 8, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Result 91 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Kate Forbes has asked

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

Question ref. S6O-03449

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 May 2024

Question ref. S6O-03393

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024

Question ref. S6O-03372

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024

Question ref. S6O-03269

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it has allocated the funding raised through ScotWind option fees in the 2024-25 Scottish Budget."

Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03253

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on its plans to increase access to childcare in the creche beyond three hours per day."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03246

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 13 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that the voices of Highland communities are appropriately considered by the Energy Consents Unit when assessing applications from developers."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03190

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 6 March 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Highland about progressing planning and design work for the new Belford Hospital in Fort William."

Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2024

Question ref. S6O-03120

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2024

Question ref. S6W-24999

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30 January 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its Programme for Government commitment to pilot a new aquaculture consenting process to help deliver a more streamlined regime across Scotland."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 31 January 2024

Question ref. S6W-24472

Asked by: Forbes, Kate, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 12 January 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22531 by Paul McLennan on 13 November 2023, by what date in early 2024 it will provide an implementation update on short-term let licensing."

Answered by Paul McLennan on 23 January 2024

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