Skip to main content
Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

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

Contact at local office

Phone: 0141 887 5111
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Paul is a member of 14 cross-party groups

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

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 Malawi

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 2 party roles

Party Spokesperson on Education

Scottish Labour

Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Paul has had 9 previous roles

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

10 April 2023 - 05 December 2025

Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Labour

10 April 2023 - 05 December 2025

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Labour

25 April 2023 - 02 September 2025

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Member

25 April 2023 - 02 September 2025

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

22 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Health Social Care and Sport Committee

Deputy Convener

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

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: 9 December 2025

Education Statistics

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. As I take on my new role, I am looking forward to my interactions with her, her ministerial team and, indeed, colleagues across the chamber…

Chamber meeting date: 19 November 2025

Education

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the Presiding Officer and all colleagues for the support that they have shown to me during my recent period of leave…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 26 June 2025

Scottish Commission on Social Security

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning. My questions will focus on the content of the annual report in terms of the funding and finance of SCoSS. From the 2023-24 annual report, we saw that expenditure would exceed the budget in 2024-25…

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2025

Youth Violence Summit

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Cashback for communities does, indeed, do great work and, clearly, youth work is part of the response…

Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2025

Historical Policies Affecting Gypsy Traveller Communities

Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the First Minister for advance sight of his statement, and I welcome the formal apology that he has made to Scotland’s Gypsy and Traveller communities…

Votes

How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament

Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-20099

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025

Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20068.1

Business Programme

Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 34 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 8, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 34 for, 87 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057.3

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 60 for, 60 against, 2 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057.1

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 23 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

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 reference: S6W-42280

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 2 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government by what date its targeted lung cancer screening programme will commence in 2027; where this will take place; how much will be allocated to it, and when nationwide coverage will be achieved."

Question reference: S6W-40681

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 19 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 30 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the current average waiting time is to see a cardiologist; how many people there currently are in total on NHS waiting lists for cardiology appointments, and what the (a) headcount and (b) FTE number of cardiologists currently is within the NHS."

Question reference: S6W-39311

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is given to dermatology services in the development of NHS workforce planning."

Question reference: S6W-39313

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 28 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase capacity across NHS dermatology services."

Question reference: S6W-39310

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether staffing levels across NHS dermatology services are sufficient."

Question reference: S6W-39307

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 22 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding the implementation of its guidance on the safe evacuation of disabled people and the development of personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEP) in schools and other educational establishments."

Question reference: S6W-39055

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 30 June 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports deer management in (a) lowland and (b) semi-rural areas."

Question reference: S6W-39312

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time for dermatology services is, broken down by NHS board."

Question reference: S6W-39309

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many dermatology service staff are employed by each NHS board."

Question reference: S6W-39314

Asked by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour

Date lodged: 10 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 17 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many clinics offer dermatology services, broken down by NHS board."

Share this page