Elena Whitham
Scottish National Party
MSP for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley (Constituency) 2021 - present day
About Elena Whitham
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: elenawhitham.scot
X (previously known as Twitter): @ElenaWhitham
Facebook: Elena's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5494
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
46-48 Glaisnock Street
Cumnock
East Ayrshire
KA18 1BY
Phone: 01290 319126
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Elena is a member of 2 committees
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Elena is a member of 3 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Elena does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Elena does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Elena has had 8 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
29 March 2023 - 06 February 2024
Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy
Scottish Government
03 November 2022 - 29 March 2023
Minister for Community Safety
Scottish Government
27 January 2022 - 03 November 2022
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Convener
27 January 2022 - 03 November 2022
conveners group
Member
25 January 2022 - 27 January 2022
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Member
01 December 2021 - 24 January 2022
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Member
22 June 2021 - 24 January 2022
Local Government Housing and Planning Committee
Deputy Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Local Government Housing and Planning Committee
Member
Register of interests
Elena'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 Elena Whitham. The date of their initial statement was 02 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 24 June 2021 I was Depute Leader of East Ayrshire Council (of Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, KA3 7BU). I spent approximately 20 hours a week on this role and received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum. I donated this salary, after deductions and taxes, to charities within my ward. [Amended interest 31 August 2021]
Until 5 May 2022 I was a councillor at East Ayrshire Council (of Council Headquarters, London Road, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire, KA3 7BU). I spent approximately 15 hours a week on the role and received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 per annum. I donated my councillor salary, after deductions and taxes, to charities within my ward for the duration of my term. [Registered 31 August 2021, Amended interest 10 May 2022]
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 currently a member of the 16th Ayrshire Scout Group.
I am a member of the Humanist Society of Scotland. [Registered 29 April 2024]
I am a member of Women for Independence.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Elena Whitham 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: 27 June 2024
Public Spending
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "A recent study from researchers at the London School of Economics and Political Science has indicated that, between 2010 and 2019, United Kingdom Government austerity spending cuts cost the average person in the UK nearly half a year in life expectancy. Given that the Institute for Fiscal Studies has warned that both Labour and the Tories are…
Chamber meeting date: 27 June 2024
Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill: Stage 1
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "We have before us a bill at stage 1 that will go a long way to strengthening our democracy in the Scottish Parliament and across our council chambers. I thank everyone who has engaged with it this far…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 26 June 2024
Salmon Farming in Scotland
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "Good morning. You have just painted a picture of how varied the reasons are for the possible decline in wild salmon populations. The picture is very complex…
Chamber meeting date: 20 June 2024
Block Grant Changes
7. Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicating that forecast United Kingdom Government tax and spending plans would be funded by reductions in public investment, what assessment it has made of the potential impact that any changes to Scotland’s block grant resulting from this would have on…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 19 June 2024
Salmon Farming in Scotland
Elena Whitham (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP): "I will follow on from Beatrice Wishart’s questions. I am interested in the social contract that Professor Griggs recognised is needed to represent communities…
Votes
How Elena Whitham has voted in Parliament
Find out how Elena Whitham has voted recently.
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 50 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 24, 2024
Supported by: Màiri McAllan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Supported by: Mark Ruskell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 8 for, 108 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 58 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 68 for, 0 against, 46 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Elena Whitham in Parliament
Find out what motions Elena Whitham has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Elena Whitham has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 12 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies indicating that forecast UK Government tax and spending plans would be funded by reductions in public investment, what assessment it has made of the potential impact that any changes to Scotland’s block grant resulting from this would have on…
Taken in the Chamber on 20 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of recently published data by the National Records of Scotland regarding Scotland's Census 2022, which show that over 60% of the school-age population had no religion, whether it will follow the advice of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and allow young people the right to opt out of religious…
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 10 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of any impact that Brexit is having on Scotland’s culture sector."
Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what funding it provided to East and South Ayrshire Councils in 2023-24 for Discretionary Housing Payments."
Taken in the Chamber on 30 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the net zero secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any plans to review any unintended impacts of the fourth National Planning Framework on energy policy."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 30 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on any options that it is considering for restricting the advertising and promotion of alcohol and alcohol-branded products, following the consultation on restricting alcohol advertising and promotion, which was carried out between November 2022 and March 2023."
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 13 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to address any long waiting times for applications to Social Security Scotland, in light of reports that nine children have died while waiting for an application for the Child Disability Payment to be processed."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason Social Security Scotland staff reportedly do not work to timelines or key performance indicators, and what its position is on whether key performance indicators would help to improve the organisation’s efficiency."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Whitham, Elena, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to NHS Ayrshire and Arran to improve access to ADHD testing for adults."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2024
See all of Elena Whitham's questions submitted in Parliament