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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Martin Whitfield

Scottish Labour

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day

About Martin Whitfield

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @_MWhitfield

Facebook: Martin's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5827
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Martin is a member of 1 cross-party group

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew's Day

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Martin has 2 parliamentary and government roles

Conveners Group

Member

Parliamentary Bureau

Member

Party Roles

Martin has 3 party roles

Business Manager

Scottish Labour

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children

Scottish Labour

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Young People

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Martin has had 3 previous roles

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

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Youth Employment

Scottish Labour

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee

Member

Register of interests

Martin'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 Martin Whitfield. The date of their initial statement was 08 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

Until 6 May 2021, I was employed by East Lothian Council (of John Muir House, Brewery Park, Haddington, East Lothian EH41 3HA) as a primary teacher. I worked approximately 35 hours a week and received remuneration of between £40,001 and £45,000 per annum.

Gifts

On 23 November 2023 I attended the Herald Scottish Politician of The Year Awards as a guest of Newsquest Media Group LTD (publisher of newspaper of Loudwater Mill, Station Road, Loudwater, High Wycombe, Bucks HP10 9TY) at Prestonfield Hotel in Edinburgh. The gift was to me as an individual and that the value including VAT was £360. [Registered 12 December 2023]

On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended a rugby match at Murrayfield, as a guest of BT Group Plc (a telecommunications company of BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London, EC1A 7AJ). The value of the gift amounted to £325 for both the ticket and hospitality. [Registered 9 February 2022]

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I was paid £150 from Ipsos MORI for their Annual Survey of MSPs on 22 December 2021. I donated this fee to charity. [Registered 22 December 2021]

Between 12 June and 19 June 2022 I travelled to Jersey to head an Electoral Observation Mission on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association British Islands and Mediterranean Region (CPA BIMR). The purpose of the visit was to observe the Island election as BIMR did in 2018. An initial report was published at the end of the visit with a full report being prepared with the mission's observations and recommendations. The total cost of the visit, met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, was £3,000. [Registered 3 August 2022]

I was paid £75 by Savanta on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]

I received a bottle of whisky from the Scotch Whisky Association, the nominal value for the COP26 Limited Edition Blended Scotch Whisky to be £30, although it is not for commercial sale. [Registered 22 December 2021]

I am a Member of EIS.

I am a Trustee and Chair of the Burke-Veitch Scholarship which provides funds to allow children / young people to attend drama school. I have no financial interests arising from this role.

I am a Trustee of Garden Elf, a small charity working with schools on gardening. I have no financial interests arising from this role.

I was paid £170 by You Gov on 11 November 2021 for completing a survey. [Registered 2 December 2021]

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 27 July 2021 for completing a survey.

On 5 December 2023 I received a gift of a food hamper valued at approximately £150 from Community Windpower Ltd (Godscroft Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 6XU). The gift was to me as an individual. [Registered 12 December 2023]

I was paid £100 by You Gov on 21 November 2022 for completing a survey. [Registered 12 December 2022]

On the 27 April 2022, I attended the Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2022, as a guest of Young Scot. The hospitality had a value of £150. [Registered 4 May 2022]

On 26 February 2022 I was the guest of NatWest Group at Scotland France 6 Nations Rugby Game. The value of the gift was ticket valued at £111.50 and hospitality of £35.00. The combined value of this gift and hospitality is below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category. [Registered 2 March 2022]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Martin Whitfield 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: 14 November 2024

Special Schools (Funding)

5. Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that approximately 1,200 applications for places in special schools were refused, whether it will increase funding and resources to ensure that all children requiring specialised support can access appropriate education without placing any additional pressure on families. (S6O-03961)"

Chamber meeting date: 14 November 2024

UK-EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The member struggles with the concept of a hard Brexit. Would he accept that it was a Conservative Brexit deal?"

Chamber meeting date: 13 November 2024

Business Motions

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "The standing orders of the Scottish Parliament provide for emergency bills. They are very specific about the timetabling of an emergency bill, in that it should take place over one day…

Chamber meeting date: 12 November 2024

Protection for Children (Physical Restraint and Seclusion)

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "I apologise to the cabinet secretary, because I am about to amend my question to her and go back to Roz McCall’s third question…

Chamber meeting date: 7 November 2024

Families in Temporary Accommodation

Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab): "As the First Minister is aware, temporary accommodation is a problem not only across the central belt. In South Scotland, 354 households are in temporary accommodation in East Lothian and 50 of those include children…

Votes

How Martin Whitfield has voted in Parliament

Find out how Martin Whitfield has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-15423.2

Business Programme

Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Result 48 for, 70 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-15423.1

Business Programme

Submitted by: Martin Whitfield, South Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Neil Bibby, Katy Clark, Rhoda Grant, Mark Griffin, Daniel Johnson, Michael Marra, Pauline McNeill, Paul O'Kane, Colin Smyth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-15401

Scotland’s Housing Emergency

Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, November 11, 2024

Supported by: Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Result 66 for, 52 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15425

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Result 61 for, 0 against, 57 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15401.3

Scotland’s Housing Emergency

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Result 60 for, 57 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Martin Whitfield has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-31350

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has regarding the percentage of food wasted from school meal services since 2012."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31351

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that feedback from pupils and parents regarding the quality of primary school meals is taken into account when developing or improving meal provision."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31345

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure that the supply chain for primary school meals is (a) sustainable, (b) environmentally friendly and (c) aligned with the national climate goals."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31349

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of primary school meals is prepared from fresh ingredients."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31346

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to ensure that all primary school meals meet the nutritional standards set out in the nutritional requirements for food and drink in schools regulations."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31347

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it monitors the quality of primary school meals across local authorities, and how frequently these checks are carried out."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31352

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of primary school pupils have been classified as overweight in each year since 2012."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31348

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what percentage of the food used in primary school meals is sourced locally."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31353

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to reduce the amount of saturated fat in primary school meals, and how compliance with these measures is assessed."

Answer expected on 2 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31214

Asked by: Whitfield, Martin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-25762 by Natalie Don on 13 March 2024, whether it will provide an update on what the average length of time has been between a disclosure check application being received by Disclosure Scotland and the provision of disclosure information in each year since 2016."

Answer expected on 28 November 2024

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