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 20 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 Fishing
Member
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 13 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
01 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Member
23 June 2011 - 23 March 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
20 May 2011 - 23 March 2016
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Liberal Democrats
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Liberal Democrats
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Rural Affairs and Environment Committee
Member
03 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Finance Committee
Substitute Member
01 September 2008 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Liberal Democrats
21 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 02 September 2008
Finance Committee
Member
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Party Spokesperson on Enterprise
Scottish Liberal Democrats
24 May 2007 - 01 September 2008
Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Liberal Democrats
Register of interests
Liam'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 Liam McArthur. The date of their 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.
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.
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.
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.
Covid-19 Restrictions (Islands)
Liam McArthur made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 29 October 2020
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "Along with the island authorities, Beatrice Wishart and I have been raising concerns about the continued restrictions on small indoor meetings in Orkney and Shetland…
UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Liam McArthur made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 29 October 2020
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I, too, start by thanking the Finance and Constitution Committee and the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee for their work to date on the bill…
Island-based Veterans (Support)
Liam McArthur made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 28 October 2020
7. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government how it supports island-based veterans. (S5O-04687)"
Energy Inquiry
Liam McArthur made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 28 October 2020
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "I start by acknowledging that I am in receipt of feed-in tariff payments and renewable heat incentive scheme payments. I warmly welcome the Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee’s findings and recommendations…
Test and Protect Data
Liam McArthur made 3 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 27 October 2020
5. Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish details of organisations with whom test and protect data can be shared, and for what purposes. (S5T-02472)"
Votes
How Liam McArthur has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liam McArthur has voted recently.
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 27 for, 92 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Jeane Freeman, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Clare Haughey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 92 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 28, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 90 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
The Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 28, 2020
Supported by: Christina McKelvie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Result 109 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Result 108 for, 6 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Liam McArthur in Parliament
Find out what motions Liam McArthur has submitted recently.
Helimed-79 Flies to Nearly 100 Emergencies in its First Six Months
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Cat Browne Completes Mount Everest Fundraising Challenge
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Gary Lloyd Wins UHI Higher Education Student of the Year
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Westray Golf Club Has Longest Hole in the UK
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Shapinsay Albino Seal Accepted by its Community
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
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.
S5W-32186 - Answered
30 September 2020
McArthur, Liam: "To ask the Scottish Government when the refit period for the MV Hamnavoe will take place; how long it will last, and what plans are in place to ensure that a passenger vessel will be allocated to the Stromness-Scrabster route as replacement cover during the refit period."
S5W-32187 - Answered
30 September 2020
McArthur, Liam: "To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Transport Scotland and SERCO Northlink Ferries to find a suitable replacement vessel for when the MV Hamnavoe is on refit."
S5W-32366 - Unanswered
07 October 2020
McArthur, Liam: "To ask the Scottish Government what rate of cycles Scotland’s polymerase chain reaction tests for COVID-19 are being run at, and for what reason they are being run at this rate."
S5W-31973 - Answered
22 September 2020
McArthur, Liam: "To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-31492 by Fergus Ewing on 18 September 2020, whether the full £65 million budget for the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) will be reinstated for 2021, and how it plans to continue funding LFASS in future years."
S5W-32324 - Unanswered
05 October 2020
McArthur, Liam: "To ask the Scottish Government, further to the response by the Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands on 20 August 2020 (Official Report, c…
See all of Liam McArthur's written questions submitted in Parliament