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 a member of 2 committees
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Martin is a member of 1 cross-party group
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew's Day
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Martin has 1 parliamentary and government role
Conveners Group
Member
Party Roles
Martin has 3 party roles
Business Manager
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Martin has had 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Youth Employment
Scottish Labour
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
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 £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]
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]
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.
I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]
Between 12 June and 19 June 2022 I travelled to Jersey to head an Electoral Observation Mission on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). The purpose of the visit was to observe the Island election as BIMR did in 2018. An initial report was published at the end of the visit with a full report being prepared with the mission's observations and recommendations. The total cost of the visit, met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was £3,000. [Registered 3 August 2022]
I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.
I am a Member of EIS.
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]
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 £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 am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. 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.
Chamber meeting date: 31 May 2023
Education (National Discussion)
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Does Stephen Kerr agree that, after 17 years, it should be of extreme concern that the young people who responded to the consultation expressed a fear about being at school?"
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Fornethy House Survivors
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I congratulate Colin Smyth on securing the debate. I congratulate, too, the people who join us in the gallery and all the survivors—and those who have not survived until now—for coming forward to make that point…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2023
Artificial Intelligence (Scrutiny of Legislation)
2. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose scheduling parliamentary time to debate the potential role of artificial intelligence in the scrutiny of legislation. (S6O-02269)"
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2023
Ending Violence in Schools
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I declare my interest as a former employee of East Lothian Council…
Chamber meeting date: 23 May 2023
Scottish Connections Framework
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Will the cabinet secretary be able to discuss the role that the British Council will—or should—play with regard to the alumni platform?"
Votes
How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Martin Whitfield in Parliament
Find out what motions Martin Whitfield has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Martin Whitfield has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will propose scheduling parliamentary time to debate the potential role of artificial intelligence in the scrutiny of legislation."
Taken in the Chamber on 24 May 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Lothian, and local groups, since March 2023 regarding the reopening of the Edington Hospital in North Berwick."
Taken in the Chamber on 10 May 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 April 2023
Taken in the Chamber on 4 May 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body what steps it will take to create a more family-friendly environment."
Taken in the Chamber on 30 March 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met EDF and the Nuclear Industry Association regarding the future of Torness nuclear power station."
Taken in the Chamber on 29 March 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to maintain relationships with Scotland's European neighbours post-Brexit."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 March 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 7 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent inspection by Historic Environment Scotland of the works at the Union Chain Bridge over the River Tweed, and what its position is on whether the works carried out by Northumberland County Council comply with the consents granted in relation to the site's listed building status."
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 March 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour,
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the retirement of Hunterston B and Torness on Scotland’s CO2 emissions."
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 February 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the recent study by the University of Stirling, published on 20 February 2023, which showed that the curriculum is narrowing under the Curriculum for Excellence, with a reduction in the choice of school subjects."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 February 2023
"To ask the First Minister what recent action the Scottish Government has been taking to keep The Promise to young people in care."
Taken in the Chamber on 23 February 2023
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament