Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
About Liam McArthur
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
Orkney Islands
KW15 1PA
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Liam is a member of 1 committee
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Liam is a member of 8 cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
Deputy Presiding Officer
Pàrlamaid na h-Alba
Party Roles
Liam has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on the Climate Emergency
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Liam has had 15 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
06 May 2021 - 27 August 2021
Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
22 June 2021 - 26 August 2021
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice Committee
Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
29 August 2017 - 04 May 2021
Presiding Officer's Advisory Group
Member
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Finance Committee
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Finance Committee
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Liam'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 Liam McArthur. The date of their initial statement was 20 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
From 27 to 28 October 2011 I participated in a trip to the Elgin-Franklin oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Total E&P UK (an oil and gas exploration and production company of Crawpeel Road, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3FG) met the costs of this visit which were approximately £1,750. This included coach and helicopter transport, accommodation and safety clothing.
Overseas visits
From 7 to 11 October 2014 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2,780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a tie and tie pin, a glass ornament and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am the Chair of the Orkney Japan Association.
I am a Girl Guide Ambassador.
In August 2010 I became an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association. My role involves raising awareness of the BVA’s role and receiving information on activities and attitudes of the BVA, including access to the members only section of the BVA website. This role is unremunerated. I estimate that the value of gaining access to the website is below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. On 12 August 2021 I became a lifetime member. [Amended interest 27 August 2021]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Liam McArthur 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: 2 December 2021
International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-02225, in the name of Pam Duncan-Glancy, on international day of persons with disabilities. The debate will be concluded without any question being put…
Chamber meeting date: 2 December 2021
Covid-19: Preparing for Winter and Priorities for Recovery
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I remind members that anybody who has participated in the debate needs to be in the chamber for the closing speeches. 16:26"
Chamber meeting date: 1 December 2021
Small Business Support
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "We have a number of supplementary questions."
Chamber meeting date: 1 December 2021
Justice and Veterans
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I remind members that Covid measures are in place and that face masks should be worn while moving around the chamber and across the Holyrood campus. The first item of business is portfolio questions. The first portfolio is justice and veterans…
Chamber meeting date: 1 December 2021
Women’s Access to Justice
The Deputy Presiding Officer: "Question 2 has been withdrawn."
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Action on Active Ventilation in Schools
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, November 29, 2021
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Result 65 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Patient Safety at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Supported by: Rachael Hamilton, Douglas Lumsden
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Result 54 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Action on Active Ventilation in Schools
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Result 65 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Patient Safety at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Submitted by: Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Result 64 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Patient Safety at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, November 29, 2021
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Carol Mochan, Paul O'Kane, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Result 64 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Liam McArthur in Parliament
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Liam McArthur has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the publication of its consultation report on the draft licensing order and business and regulatory impact assessment (BRIA) for short-term lets, how many local authorities responded to the consultation exercise and, of those who responded, how many (a) raised no issues with the proposed licensing and (b)…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress towards delivering road equivalent tariff (RET) on Pentland Firth routes, and what the timeframe for implementing this is."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will add the COVID-19 booster vaccination to (a) the NHS Scotland Covid Status app and (b) vaccination certificates."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 25 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many customers of Bulb Energy there are in Scotland; whether it has had any contact with Bulb Energy; if so, when, and what was discussed, and whether it has any plans to support (a) Bulb Energy customers in Scotland and (b) other customers in Scotland affected by failing energy suppliers."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will establish an energy skills and services export target, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will create a support mechanism for the wave and tidal energy industry to work alongside the UK Government’s revenue stabilisation mechanism, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a target of installing 1GW of solar PV capacity on public and commercial buildings by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will set a target of heating 45% of homes and 25% of commercial, industrial and public buildings from renewable sources by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will reform the planning process to deliver at least 12GW of additional onshore wind and 11GW of offshore wind by 2030, as recommended in the Scottish Renewables publication, Beyond COP26: Next steps for Scotland’s clean energy revolution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 19 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the members of the new Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel."
Awaiting answer
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament