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 local office
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 not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Liam is a member of 10 cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liam has 1 parliamentary and government role
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
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
19 May 2016 - 20 May 2021
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
08 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
06 October 2016 - 04 May 2021
Member
08 November 2016 - 04 May 2021
Substitute 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
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Substitute Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Member
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
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.
Since January 2022, I have been receiving the support of an additional staff member, for four days per week, to support the development of my proposed Member’s Bill on Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults. The post is funded by three permissible donors: Friends at the End (a Scottish registered charity working to promote end of life choices, of 4 Queen St, Edinburgh, EH2 1JE); Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT); Humanist Society Scotland (a Scottish registered charity that promotes humanist views and campaigns for assisted dying, of Playfair House, 6 Broughton Street Lane, Edinburgh, EH1 3LY). From the end of June 2022 until January 2023, this staff member’s work on the proposed Bill will decrease to one day per week. The total value of this support will amount to £26,200. [Registered 3 May 2022]
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 a Girl Guide Ambassador.
I am the Chair of the Orkney Japan Association.
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: 26 May 2022
Falkland Islands
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I ask members and those in the public gallery who are leaving to do so as quickly and quietly as possible…
Chamber meeting date: 26 May 2022
Social Security Benefits
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I call Maggie Chapman. You have a generous six minutes. 16:04"
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2022
Point of Order
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "Thank you, Mr Balfour. As you and probably everyone now knows, that is not a point of order. There are ways for members who need or wish to correct the Official Report to do so."
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2022
Business Motion
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "The next item of business is consideration of business motion S6M-04614, in the name of George Adam, on behalf of the Parliamentary Bureau, setting out a business programme. Interruption. Can we have a bit of quiet, please…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2022
Community Wealth Building
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur): "I gently remind all members that they should remain in the chamber for at least two speeches after they have made their speeches. I will not name and shame, but periodically these reminders are useful. 16:15"
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 65 for, 48 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 28 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Update on Delivery of Social Security Benefits
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Supported by: Mark Griffin, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Result 49 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 16 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Community Wealth Building – Delivering Transformation in Scotland’s Local and Regional Economies
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Result 31 for, 87 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 23, 2022
Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 21 for, 97 against, 3 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
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: 26 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how the Islands Bond will be distributed between island groups."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Islands Bond consultation will be published."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much revenue it estimates (a) it and (b) Crown Estate Scotland will receive from ScotWind leases in each of the next 10 years."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 26 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Islands Bond will be introduced by summer 2022, as committed to in its 2021-22 Programme for Government."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 29 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of dwellings in each local authority area use (a) oil, (b) mains gas, (c) electricity, (d) community heating schemes, (e) heat pumps and (f) other sources as the main fuel type or method of central heating."
Answered by: Patrick Harvie on 13 May 2022
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that Ferguson Marine is in negotiations to build warships for the Bangladesh Navy, what its position is on whether Ferguson Marine should adhere to the Scottish Government publication, Guidance on due diligence: human rights, before engaging in any future contract to deliver vessels for the…
Answered by: Kate Forbes on 10 May 2022
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 27 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether Ferguson Marine should adhere to the Scottish Government publication, Guidance on due diligence: human rights, before engaging in any investment relationship involving the construction of sea vessels, and, if it considers that Ferguson Marine should adhere to the publication, which…
Answered by: Kate Forbes on 10 May 2022
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates a shortfall in future staffing levels among Police Scotland officers (a) at each rank and (b) in each area as a result of the McCloud remedy, and, if so, what impact it anticipates this will have on officer capacity (i) at each rank and (ii) in each area."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 5 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to safeguard Police Scotland's future capacity in the event of potential officer shortages resulting from the implementation of the McCloud remedy."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 31 March 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-06408 by Jamie Hepburn on 4 March 2022, on what date it anticipates the consultation on the proposed Scottish Exchange Programme will be launched."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 27 April 2022
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament