Martin Whitfield
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Martin Whitfield
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Martin is not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Martin is a member of 1 cross-party group
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Martin does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Martin has 4 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Youth Employment
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Martin had 1 previous role
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
Register of interests
Martin'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 Martin Whitfield. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 6 May 2021, I was employed by East Lothian Council (of John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 3HA) as a primary teacher. I worked approximately 35 hours a week and received remuneration of between £40,001 and £45,000 per annum.
Gifts
On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended a rugby match at Murrayfield, as a guest of BT Group Plc (a telecommunications company of BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ). The value of the gift amounted to £325 for both the ticket and hospitality. [Registered 9 February 2022]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I was paid £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
On the 27 April 2022, I attended the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, as a guest of Young Scot. The hospitality had a value of £150. [Registered 4 May 2022]
I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
I received a bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 22 December 2021]
On 26 February 2022 I was the guest of NatWest Group at Scotland France 6 Nations Rugby Game. The value of the gift was ticket valued at £111.50 and hospitality of £35.00. The combined value of this gift and hospitality is below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category. [Registered 2 March 2022]
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
I am a Member of EIS.
I am a Trustee and Chair of the Burke-Veitch Scholarship which provides funds to allow children / young people to attend drama school. I have no financial interests arising from this role.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Martin Whitfield 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.
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee meeting date: 26 May 2022
Decision on Taking Business in Private
The Convener (Martin Whitfield): "Good morning. I apologise for the slight delay to the start of the 13th meeting in 2022 of the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee. We have received apologies from Edward Mountain MSP. In his place, we are joined by Sue Webber MSP…
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee meeting date: 26 May 2022
Future Parliamentary Procedures and Practices Inquiry
The Convener: "09:08 I welcome to the evidence session Artemis Pana, national co-ordinator, Scottish Rural Action; Bill Scott, senior policy adviser, Inclusion Scotland; Charis Scott, Scotland promotion and engagement manager, Christians Against Poverty; and Mhairi Wylie, chief officer, Highland Third Sector Interface, and member of the TSI Scotland…
Chamber meeting date: 18 May 2022
Scottish Attainment Challenge
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Is Ruth Maguire aware of any Scottish Government analysis of how the impact of those cuts on the nine authorities will affect them relative to the effect across Scotland?"
Chamber meeting date: 12 May 2022
Community Hospitals
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The cabinet secretary will be aware of the Edington cottage hospital in East Lothian within South Scotland, and the outstanding invitation from the broad community group to discuss the current situation with him…
Chamber meeting date: 12 May 2022
Striking University Staff
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is a pleasure to speak in the debate, and I congratulate Maggie Chapman on lodging the motion and getting cross-party support for it…
Votes
How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament
Find out how Martin Whitfield 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 against
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 voted against
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 voted against
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 voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Martin Whitfield in Parliament
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Martin Whitfield 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: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether any adjustment has been made to the future budget for the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme for the 2022-23 academic year, in light of the recent increase in the retail price of milk."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish its Rare Disease Action Plan."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 10 May 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has made available for the creation and implementation of its Rare Disease Action Plan in (a) the current financial year and (b) each of the last five years."
Answered by: Maree Todd on 10 May 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of paragraph 28 of the Audit Scotland report, New vessels for the Clyde and Hebrides, stating that “it is not clear what discussions took place between Scottish ministers and Transport Scotland about the contract award...there is no documented evidence to confirm why Scottish ministers were willing to…
Answered by: Kate Forbes on 4 May 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 February 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether young people who have received an email confirmation that they will receive a travel card for free bus travel, but have not received it, are able to claim back their bus travel costs between 1 February 2022 and the date on which they received their card, and if this is the case, what the process is for them to…
Answered by: Jenny Gilruth on 3 March 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 February 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many undergraduate and postgraduate students have presented as homeless since May 2016, broken down by higher education institution."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 31 January 2022
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the timeline for plans to pilot free school breakfast provision in primary and special schools."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 January 2022
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to (a) attract more and (b) retain (i) neurology specialists and (ii) MS nurses."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 20 November 2021
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it has given to local authorities regarding parent-teacher consultations, and whether any such guidance specifies (a) whether they should be virtual or in-person meetings, (b) the time of day that meetings should take place and (c) any position on the importance of meeting any requirements for engagement…
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 November 2021
See all of Martin Whitfield's written questions submitted in Parliament