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 their Constituency
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 20 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Stroke
Deputy Convener
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.
Here is the register for Paul O'Kane. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 10 May 2021, I was a Policy and Participation Manager at ENABLE Scotland (a Learning Disability Charity and Social Care Provider of Inspire House, 3 Renshaw Place, Eurocentral, North Lanarkshire, ML14UF). I worked 21 hours per week and the remuneration I received was between £30,001 and £35,000 (pro-rata) per annum.
I am a councillor for East Renfrewshire Council (of Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock, East Renfrewshire, G46 6UH) and additionally, until 10 June 2021, I will be Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities. I work approximately 21 hours per week and, until 10 June 2021, will receive remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 per annum. I have resigned as Depute Leader of the Council and Convener for Education and Equalities with effect from 10 June 2021 but will remain as a councillor. From 10 June 2021, I will receive remuneration of between £15,001 to £20,000 per annum. My councillor salary will be donated to local community groups in my Ward.
Until 10 June 2021, I will be Chair of the Transport and Mechanical Advisory Group Association of Public Sector Excellence (APSE) (a not for profit unincorporated association of 300 Councils across the UK promoting excellence in public services of Scottish Office, Brandon House, 23-25 Brandon Street, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, ML3 6DA). I work 4 hours per month and receive remuneration of between £1,001 and £2,000 per annum. I resigned from this role with effect from 10 June 2021.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of GMB Union.
I am a member of LGBT Labour Scotland.
I am a patron of LGBT Labour.
I am the Chair of Trustees of Neilston War Memorial Association.
I am a member of Community Union.
I am a member of ENABLE Scotland.
I am a member of the Scottish Co-operative Party.
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: 19 January 2022
Care Inspectorate (Inspection and Assessment of Care Homes)
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "Last week, it was reported that one third of Scottish care homes are now restricting visits because of the high prevalence of infections in communities and the interpretation of a managed outbreak by public health authorities…
Chamber meeting date: 19 January 2022
Local Government Funding
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I remind members that I am still a member of East Renfrewshire Council, where I have been a councillor for almost 10 years. It has been—and continues to be—one of the most fulfilling roles that I have ever had the honour to have…
Chamber meeting date: 18 January 2022
People with Learning Difficulties (In-patient Units)
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "As we have already heard, Enable Scotland’s report calls for “a Community First principle for the commissioning of support for all adults and children who have a learning disability in Scotland…
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 18 January 2022
Health and Wellbeing of Children and Young People
Paul O’Kane (West Scotland) (Lab): "I will bring together a few questions for the sake of time. The programme for government committed to 320 additional staff in CAMHS over five years. Is there a sense that that is enough to grow services and meet demand over the next five-year period…
Health, Social Care and Sport Committee meeting date: 18 January 2022
Public Health Protection and Health Security (Common Framework)
Paul O’Kane: "Good morning, cabinet secretary…
Votes
How Paul O'Kane has voted in Parliament
Find out how Paul O'Kane has voted recently.
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 87 for, 33 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Education Failures and Guaranteeing the 2022 Exam Diet
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 67 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 68 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Education Failures and Guaranteeing the 2022 Exam Diet
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 17, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 67 for, 53 against, 1 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Protecting Local Government Funding in Scotland
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 17, 2022
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Paul O'Kane in Parliament
Find out what motions Paul O'Kane has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Paul O'Kane has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 6 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a stand-alone and cross-cutting strategy for unpaid carers that will incorporate COVID-19 recovery and social care winter planning."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 6 December 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will develop a stand-alone strategy for carers, and, if so, when the strategy will be published."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 20 December 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many times an ambulance has been dispatched single-crewed in each year since 2019, broken down by (a) Scottish Ambulance Service division and (b) NHS board area."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 18 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 November 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of some people aged over 60 who are not in the shielding category reportedly being invited to receive their COVID-19 booster vaccine, whether people in this group are receiving this invitation ahead of people who are in the shielding category, and who received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine over…
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 17 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people who had previously received (a) zero doses, (b) one dose and (c) two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine have been hospitalised due to the virus."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 15 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress the National Childhood Bereavement Coordinator has made on developing a curriculum on bereavement."
Answered by: Clare Haughey on 11 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what (a) short- and (b) long-term bereavement support is available for families who lose a child suddenly in an NHS hospital."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 2 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how death, dying and bereavement education will be supported in schools, in light of it not being included in the report on the review of personal and social education in Scotland."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 November 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to allow new applications for the Scottish Carer's Assistance payment."
Answered by: Ben Macpherson on 29 October 2021
Asked by: O'Kane, Paul, West Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether children in all schools will have access to a counsellor to talk about death, dying and grief, and whether this will extend to children under the age of 10."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 29 October 2021
See all of Paul O'Kane's written questions submitted in Parliament