Iain Gray
Scottish Labour
MSP for East Lothian (Constituency) 2007 - present day
Former MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands (Constituency) 1999 - 2003
About Iain Gray
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 01620 822711
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
5a Mitchell's Close
Haddington
EH41 3NB
Phone: 01620 822711
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Cross-party groups
Iain is a member of 5 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Children and Young People
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Colleges and Universities
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Muscular Dystrophy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Iain does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Iain has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Education
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Skills
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Iain has had 25 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
10 January 2018 - 01 November 2018
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Member
28 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Opportunity
Scottish Labour
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on Education
Scottish Labour
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Labour
03 September 2013 - 08 January 2015
Finance Committee
Substitute Member
28 June 2013 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Labour
28 June 2013 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Employment
Scottish Labour
28 June 2013 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Sustainable Growth
Scottish Labour
18 January 2012 - 03 September 2013
Public Audit Committee
Convener
18 January 2012 - 03 September 2013
Scottish Commission for Public Audit
Member
18 January 2012 - 03 September 2013
Conveners Group
Member
19 September 2012 - 03 September 2013
Welfare Reform Committee
Member
22 December 2011 - 18 January 2012
Public Audit Committee
Member
20 May 2011 - 17 December 2011
Party Leader
Scottish Labour
13 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Party Leader
Scottish Labour
17 September 2007 - 16 September 2008
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Labour
13 June 2007 - 20 September 2007
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Member
18 May 2007 - 17 September 2007
Party Spokesperson on Enterprise
Scottish Labour
18 May 2007 - 17 September 2007
Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Labour
09 May 2002 - 01 May 2003
Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong Learning
Scottish Government
28 November 2001 - 09 May 2002
Minister for Social Justice
Scottish Government
02 November 2000 - 28 November 2001
Deputy Minister for Justice
Scottish Government
19 May 1999 - 02 November 2000
Deputy Minister for Community Care
Scottish Government
Register of interests
Iain's register of interests
MSP's 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 Iain Gray. The date of their initial statement was 18 May 2016.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
In January 2016 I received from Musselburgh Racecourse (of Linkfield Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, EH21 7RG) two annual memberships of Musselburgh Racecourse for 2016 with a value of approximately £420. On 23 December 2016 I received from Musselburgh Racecourse two further annual memberships for the racecourse for 2017 with a value of approximately £440. In January 2018 I received from Musselburgh Racecourse two further annual memberships for the race course, value approximately £460. In January 2019 I received from Musselburgh Racecourse two further annual memberships for the race course, value approximately £420. In January 2020 I received from Musselburgh Racecourse two further annual memberships for the race course, valued at £420 including VAT, individually the badges are priced at £210. [Amended interest 23 December 2016, Amended interest 16 January 2018, Amended interest 23 January 2019, Amended interest 6 February 2020].
Overseas visits
From 11 to 14 November 2018 I visited Bosnia as part of a delegation organised by Remembering Srebrenica Scotland. Costs, which were £627, were met by Remembering Srebrenica (Scotland) (a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) No SCO46540 of Turcan Connell Solicitors Princes Exchange Earl Grey Street Edinburgh EH3 9EE). [Registered 22 November 2018]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
On 23 September 2013 I became a Director and Chair of the Hibernian Community Foundation, a charitable organisation. This post is voluntary and without remuneration.
I am the Chair of the J.P Mackintosh memorial lecture East Lothian Committee. I receive no remuneration for this role.
I am a member of Unite The Union.
Biography
Overview
After studying physics at Edinburgh University, I taught physics and maths in Lothian and Mozambique. I then worked for Oxfam for 12 years.
From 1999 to 2003 I was the MSP for Edinburgh Pentlands and served as a Minister. I spent 3 years as a Special Adviser to the Secretary of State for Scotland, before returning to Holyrood as East Lothian’s MSP in 2007.
What motivated you to become an MSP?
My interest in politics started at a young age and I joined the Labour Party to campaign for a more equal society. After years as an active party member and campaigning for social justice through my work at Oxfam, I decided to seek election when the Scottish Parliament was established. I was honoured to be elected in Edinburgh Pentlands and to serve that constituency for 4 years.
After moving to Haddington I was chosen to stand in East Lothian and I‘ve represented that constituency since 2007, being re-elected in 2011 and 2016.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Iain Gray 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.
Education Recovery
Iain Gray made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 23 June 2020
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): "I thank Mr Swinney for early sight of his statement. I once accused him of making the mother of ministerial climbdowns—well, he has outdone himself today, because this is the mother and father of ministerial climbdowns…
School Education and Early Learning: Covid-19
Iain Gray made 5 Contributions to this discussion
Education and Skills Committee - 19 June 2020
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): "I am sorry, but I want to return to the contingency plan. Carrie Lindsay said that language is important, and it absolutely is. All this week in Parliament, we have been told that blended learning is a contingency plan for going back in August…
Covid-19: Next Steps
Iain Gray made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 18 June 2020
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): "Phase 2 allows university lab research to resume but, right now, universities are also setting budgets for teaching and learning in the next academic year, in which they face a shortfall of at least £0.5 billion…
Music Festivals (Support)
Iain Gray made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 18 June 2020
8. Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what support it is offering to the live music festival sector to support the return of such events in 2021. (S5O-04427)"
Home Education (Covid-19 Support)
Iain Gray made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 18 June 2020
Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): "In Dumfries and Galloway and across Scotland, plans have been put in place for blended learning…
Written questions
Written questions Iain Gray 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.
S5W-30058 - Answered
18 June 2020
Gray, Iain: "To ask the Scottish Government whether restrictions have been placed on the Individual Training Account scheme for 2020-21 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and, if so, in what sectors. "
S5W-30081 - Answered
18 June 2020
Gray, Iain: "To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) primary and (b) secondary full-time equivalent school counsellors will be available to pupils when schools return on 11 August."
S5W-30083 - Answered
18 June 2020
Gray, Iain: "To ask the Scottish Government what measures it will put in place to ensure that all pupils have access to a school counsellor, even when studying at home."
S5W-30080 - Answered
18 June 2020
Gray, Iain: "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to address an increased need for mental health provision for pupils, as a result of COVID-19 and school closures, when schools return on 11 August."
S5W-30082 - Answered
18 June 2020
Gray, Iain: "To ask the Scottish Government how many of the 350 additional school counsellors, anticipated to be in place by September 2020, will be in place on (a) 11 August and (b) 1 September."
See all of Iain Gray's written questions submitted in Parliament