Liam McArthur
Scottish Liberal Democrats
MSP for Orkney Islands (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for Orkney (Constituency) 2007 - 2011
About Liam McArthur
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5815
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
14 Palace Road
Kirkwall
KW15 1PA
Phone: 01856 876541
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Liam is a member of 3 committees
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
Justice Committee
Member
Cross-party groups
Liam is a member of 19 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Architecture and the Built Environment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Colleges and Universities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Digital Participation
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Oil and Gas
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Prevention and Healing of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women's Justice
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liam has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
Presiding Officer's Advisory Group
Member
Party Roles
Liam has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Previous roles
Liam has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
25 May 2011 - 19 May 2016
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Liberal Democrats
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Party Spokesperson on Enterprise
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Register of interests
Liam'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 Liam McArthur. The date of the initial statement was 17 May 2016.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
From 27 to 28 October 2011 I participated in a trip to the Elgin-Franklin oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Total E&P UK (an oil and gas exploration and production company of Crawpeel Road, Altens, Aberdeen, AB12 3FG) met the costs of this visit which were approximately £1,750. This included coach and helicopter transport, accommodation and safety clothing. Further accommodation, of a value below the threshold for registration in the Gifts category, was provided by Oil and Gas UK and has been registered in the Voluntary category.
On Saturday 25 November 2017 I attended the Scotland v Australia Autumn Tests match as a guest of the Scottish Rugby Union (the governing body and promoter of Scottish rugby union, of Murrayfield, Edinburgh, EH12 5PJ). The Scottish Rugby Union provided two match tickets and hospitality, the combined value of which is estimated by the SRU to be around £1000. [Registered 12 December 2017]
Overseas visits
From 7 to 11 October 2014 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2,780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a tie and tie pin, a glass ornament and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
In August 2010 I became an honorary patron of the British Veterinary Association. My role involves raising awareness of the BVA’s role and receiving information on activities and attitudes of the BVA, including access to the members only section of the BVA website. This role is unremunerated. I estimate that the value of gaining access to the website is below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
On 27 October 2011 I received hotel accommodation in Aberdeen from Oil and Gas UK (the trade association for the offshore oil and gas industry). The costs to Oil and Gas UK are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. The accommodation was received in connection with a trip to an offshore oil and gas installation to learn more about the industry and how it operates. Other costs in relation to this trip were met by Total E&P UK and have been registered in the gifts category.
I am a Girl Guide Ambassador.
From 10 to 14 June 2014 I visited the Republic of Malawi on behalf of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Scotland branch to take part in a post-election seminar for newly elected members to the National Assembly of Malawi. Travel and accommodation costs were met by the CPA Secretariat. The CPA Scotland branch Executive Committee and the SPCB approved additional costs associated with internal transport and other business related costs in advance of the visit. At the end of the seminar, the CPA gave me the sum of £660 which represented the per diem to all participants to cover additional expenses at the seminar. I did not spend all of this sum and returned the balance (approximately £360) to the CPA Scotland branch to put towards other branch activities.
In October 2010 I became a patron of Orkney Alcohol Counselling and Advice Services. OACAS is a charitable company that forms part of the network of local alcohol agencies in Scotland affiliated to Alcohol Focus Scotland (AFS). It provides one-to-one counselling and an education service. My role involves representing and highlighting the work of OACAS and is unremunerated.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Liam McArthur 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: 10 December 2020
Shetland Ferry Services (Support)
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "As is the case in Shetland, the internal ferry services in Orkney are “a lifeline to the islands”, as the board of Orkney Ferries pointed out in a letter to the cabinet secretary at the beginning of August…
Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2020
Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill: Stage 1
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I thank committee members for their efforts in getting witnesses before them and providing us with a report in such a short space of time, and the minister and his officials for the consensual way in which he appears to be approaching the task…
Justice Sub-Committee on Policing meeting date: 7 December 2020
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Good morning, Dame Elish and Mr Kernohan. I echo the convener’s comments and thank you very much for your work on an important subject and for sharing the interim report with the committee and appearing before it at that stage…
Chamber meeting date: 3 December 2020
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "The biggest scientific effort in history has helped to find a vaccine; now, the biggest public health exercise in history is needed to distribute it…
Chamber meeting date: 3 December 2020
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I hope that the Deputy Presiding Officer might grant Andy Wightman a closing remark, so that he can explain why he was on special manoeuvres, skiing in Siberia. Laughter…
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Richard Lochhead, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 61 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Economy
Submitted by: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 94 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Supported by: Michelle Ballantyne
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 59 for, 4 against, 61 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 95 for, 25 against, 1 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Economy
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Kate Forbes, Fiona Hyslop, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 71 for, 31 against, 22 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Liam McArthur in Parliament
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Liam McArthur 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: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 11 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-26441 by Michael Matheson on 3 December 2019, when it expects to make a formal announcement on the continuation of the Air Discount Scheme post-December 2020."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 19 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects LumiraDx Platform instruments that can carry out 12-minute tests for COVID-19 to be made available for island NHS boards."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 10 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government when care-dependent people who live at home will receive the COVID-19 vaccine."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the success of the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund; how this is being measured; whether it plans any future analysis, broken down by each of the nine aims of the fund as stated on 29 March 2019, and whether it will place a copy of the record of work undertaken to date in the…
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 9 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 23 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, on what dates the committee overseeing the Saltire Tidal Energy Challenge Fund has met since the announcement of the fund; whether it will place a copy of the minutes of all of these meetings in SPICe, and whether the committee has any plans to meet in the future."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 9 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-30438 by Michael Matheson on 27 July 2020, on what dates ministers have met Heathrow Airport since 21 June 2018, which cabinet secretary is currently attending the meetings at six-monthly intervals, and whether it will place copies of the minutes of these meetings and…
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 7 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 4 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-31753 and S5W-32327 by Fergus Ewing on 16 September and 30 October 2020 respectively, whether it will provide an update on its work towards the publication of the final report of the Farming and Food Production Future Policy Group since the last group meeting in October 2020;…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 19 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government when the adult care homes visiting guidance will next be updated."
Answered by: ?Jeane Freeman on 4 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 20 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the most recent travel restrictions, whether people living in England can travel to Scotland to attend wedding ceremonies and, if so, to which areas and levels of restrictions they are permitted to travel to for this purpose."
Answered by: Ash Denham on 4 December 2020
Asked by: McArthur, Liam, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Date Lodged: 6 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to prioritising the installation of low-carbon heating in the existing housing stock ahead of improving energy efficiency in that sector."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 3 December 2020
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament