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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Paul O'Kane

Scottish Labour

MSP for West Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Paul O'Kane

Contact details

Contact online

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

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Paul is a member of 17 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel

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 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 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 Poverty

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 Ukraine

Deputy Convener

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 3 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul has had 5 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

22 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Labour

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.

Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2024

Medium-term Financial Strategy

7. Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the next medium-term financial strategy. (S6O-04103)"

Chamber meeting date: 11 December 2024

Changing Places Toilets (Funding)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "As convener of the cross-party group on changing places toilets, I welcome another opportunity to discuss this important issue in the chamber. Indeed, it is our second debate this year…

Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2024

Two-child Benefit Cap

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I welcome the Scottish Government’s on-going positive engagement with the British-Irish Council, which is a very important body for promoting peace and stability across these islands…

Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2024

Human Rights

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am pleased to open on behalf of Scottish Labour in this debate marking human rights day…

Chamber meeting date: 5 December 2024

Violence Against Women and Girls (Young People’s Voices)

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I am pleased to close on behalf of Scottish Labour in an important debate…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-15792.3

Delivering a Common Sense Budget for Scotland

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Result 73 for, 28 against, 21 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15792

Delivering a Common Sense Budget for Scotland

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 9, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Result 94 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15809

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Result 73 for, 49 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15783

Judicial Factors (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 9, 2024

Supported by: Angela Constance
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Result 119 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15782.2

Pathways to Global Human Rights: Towards a Stronger Human Rights Culture in Scotland

Submitted by: Tess White, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 9, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Result 28 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motions

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.

Question ref. S6W-32272

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it will provide the draft criteria for the planned Changing Places Toilet Fund to…

Answer expected on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32274

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, by what date it plans to have published the application form for the planned Changing…

Answer expected on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32273

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, by what date in the 2025-26 financial year it hopes to have opened the Changing Places…

Answer expected on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32270

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, how much funding has been allocated from within its draft mental health budget for…

Answer expected on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6W-32271

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport during the members' business debate on motion S6M-14427 (Reversal of £10 Million Funding for Changing Places Toilets) on 11 December 2024, whether it plans to publish the draft criteria for the planned Changing Places Toilet…

Answer expected on 9 January 2025

Question ref. S6O-04145

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what recent engagement its ministers have had with Disabled People's Organisations to discuss any concerns of disabled people."

Taken in the Chamber on 19 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31788

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Great School Libraries campaign to bring libraries and access to librarians back to every school in the UK, as it relates to Scotland."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 11 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31785

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it (a) can take and (b) is taking to support local authorities to ensure that licensed taxi drivers comply with the Equality Act 2010 in relation to refusing or attempting to refuse to carry visually impaired people due to them travelling with their guide dog."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 10 December 2024

Question ref. S6O-04103

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the next Medium-Term Financial Strategy."

Taken in the Chamber on 11 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31789

Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it has provided to local authorities for the provision of school (a) libraries and (b) librarians in the current financial year, and in each year since 2021."

Answer expected on 13 December 2024

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