Martin Whitfield
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Martin Whitfield
Contact details
Contact online
Website: martinwhitfieldmsp.com
X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield
Facebook: Martin's facebook
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 2 parliamentary and government roles
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
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.
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: 18 April 2024
Points of Order
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Would it be possible to reschedule general question time to another slot to allow for the motion without notice that has been proposed?"
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Points of Order
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "Further to Douglas Lumsden’s point of order, Presiding Officer, when the announcement was made in April 2022 that the census deadline would be extended, you were challenged by not being able to see what was in the Government’s statement, because it had not yet been published. Would it be within the auspices of your power to observe the Climate…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill: Stage 1
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "We have heard across the chamber throughout this session—indeed, at last—that we recognise the importance of the lived experience of people feeding into the construction of legislation…
Chamber meeting date: 17 April 2024
Scotch Whisky Industry
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I am grateful to members for allowing the extension of this important debate…
Chamber meeting date: 16 April 2024
Free Bikes for School-age Children
2. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its pledge to provide a free bike to every school-age child who cannot afford one. (S6T-01914)"
Votes
How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament
Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
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: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response it to the latest report on childcare costs by Pregnant Then Screwed."
Answered by Natalie Don on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how its Homelessness in Scotland statistics accurately capture the number of people in Scotland who have been "looked after" prior to becoming homeless."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government which body has the responsibility for monitoring the use of seclusion and restraint in schools, and how it will ensure that this data is collected consistently across all 32 local authorities."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to schools to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects statutory guidance for the use of seclusion and restraint in schools to be in place."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the status of each of the five prevention pathways in its Ending Homelessness Together action plan."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how its coordinates homelessness prevention across government for (a) care experienced young people and (b) veterans."
Answered by Paul McLennan on 17 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many children and young people from a different legal jurisdiction are currently in a care setting in Scotland, and how it ensures that the rights of any such children or young people under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) are upheld."
Answered by Natalie Don on 16 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the needs of care experienced young people are not specifically addressed in its publication, Creating Hope Together: Scotland’s Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2022-2025."
Answered by Maree Todd on 16 April 2024
Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many children and young people have died in the care of a Scottish local authority prior to their 18th birthday since 2018."
Answered by Natalie Don on 16 April 2024
See all of Martin Whitfield's questions submitted in Parliament