Paul O'Kane
Scottish Labour
MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Paul O'Kane
Contact details
Contact online
Post-d: Paul.O'Kane.msp@parliament.scot
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5942
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Phone: 0141 887 5111
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Paul is a member of 2 committees
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee
Deputy Convener
Cross-party groups
Paul is a member of 24 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Care Leavers
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Changing Places Toilets
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Deafness
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Dyslexia
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Learning Disability
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on LGBTI+
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Long Covid
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Lung Health
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Muscular Dystrophy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palliative Care
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Stroke
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Paul does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Paul has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Paul had 1 previous role
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Health Social Care and Sport Committee
Member
Register of interests
Paul'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 Paul O'Kane 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.
Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 22 March 2023
Reducing Drug Deaths in Scotland and Tackling Problem Drug Use
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab) (Health, Social Care and Sport Committee): "Good morning. I will continue the conversation about the interventions, programmes and projects that are run, particularly in the third sector. I am particularly interested in sustainability, as there is clearly a funding focus…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2023
Care of Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Conditions
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the minister for advance sight of her statement…
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 21 March 2023
Health and Care (Staffing) (Scotland) Act 2019 Amendment Regulations 2023 [Draft]
Paul O’Kane: "These technical amendments have to be made—this is a tidying-up exercise, if you like. Is it still the minister’s view that the timescale of April 2024 is the one to which the Government is working for full implementation?"
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 21 March 2023
Scrutiny of NHS Boards (NHS Ayrshire and Arran, NHS Borders and NHS Forth Valley)
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Thank you, convener, and good morning. I want to follow up on the issue that was raised around people attending inappropriately, if you like…
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 21 March 2023
Female Participation in Sport and Physical Activity
Paul O’Kane: "Good morning to the panel. I will ask about socioeconomic issues for women and girls in sport. We had a response from Lanarkshire health and social care organisations that told us clearly that physical activity and sport are costly…
Votes
How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament
Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.
Employment Support for Veterans and their Families
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Supported by: Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 23, 2023
Result 45 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Transition to a Wellbeing Economy
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 20, 2023
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Ivan McKee, Lorna Slater
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Result 64 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Transition to a Wellbeing Economy
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Supported by: Claire Baker, Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Result 24 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Transition to a Wellbeing Economy
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Supported by: Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 22, 2023
Result 30 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Expansion of Vocational and Technical Qualifications in Scotland’s Secondary Schools
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 20, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 21, 2023
Result 54 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Paul O'Kane in Parliament
Find out what motions Paul O'Kane has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Paul O'Kane has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how much money it has invested in new diagnostic techniques in the current parliamentary session."
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how the £20 million it committed to investing in the Detect Cancer Early programme has been used."
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how much money has been allocated for the redesign of urgent care throughout the current parliamentary session."
Answered by Humza Yousaf on 17 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle any economic inequalities faced by unpaid carers."
Taken in the Chamber on 16 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when it will fulfil its commitment to abolish non-residential social care charges."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 8 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 1 March 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its target to recruit 800 additional GPs by the end of 2027."
Taken in the Chamber on 9 March 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to extend the Network Support Grant scheme for the bus network beyond March 2023 in (a) general and (b) order to ensure there is sufficient support for the number 52 bus route in Barrhead."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 7 February 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) regarding the proposal to withdraw the Network Support Grant scheme at the end of March 2023."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide details of its analysis of the impact of the Network Support Grant scheme on the bus network across Scotland."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent communication it has had with McGill's Buses regarding the number 52 bus route in Barrhead."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 6 February 2023