Claire Baker
Scottish Labour
MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2007 - present day
About Claire Baker
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6769
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Cross-party groups
Claire is a member of 12 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Creative Economy
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Music
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poland
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Towns and Town Centres
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women in Enterprise
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Claire has 2 parliamentary and government roles
Conveners Group
Member
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
Party Roles
Claire has 1 party role
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Drugs Policy
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Claire has had 32 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
20 September 2018 - 14 September 2021
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Member
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
06 September 2018 - 04 May 2021
Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee
Deputy Convener
19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Labour
19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Labour
11 January 2018 - 06 September 2018
Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee
Deputy Convener
09 January 2018 - 11 January 2018
Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee
Member
28 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Justice Committee
Substitute Member
28 November 2017 - 09 January 2018
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Member
25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017
Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Labour
19 August 2015 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Democracy
Scottish Labour
08 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
European and External Relations Committee
Substitute Member
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
16 December 2014 - 19 August 2015
Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations
Scottish Labour
19 September 2012 - 08 January 2015
Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee
Substitute Member
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish Labour
19 December 2011 - 16 December 2014
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Labour
23 June 2011 - 19 September 2012
Economy Energy and Tourism Committee
Substitute Member
14 June 2011 - 21 December 2011
Education and Culture Committee
Deputy Convener
20 May 2011 - 19 December 2011
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Labour
01 June 2011 - 14 June 2011
Education and Culture Committee
Member
01 April 2008 - 22 March 2011
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Higher Education
Scottish Labour
15 September 2010 - 22 March 2011
Justice Committee
Substitute Member
02 October 2008 - 22 March 2011
Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee
Member
02 October 2008 - 15 September 2010
Public Petitions Committee
Substitute Member
01 May 2008 - 01 October 2008
Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
13 June 2007 - 01 October 2008
Public Petitions Committee
Member
20 September 2007 - 01 May 2008
Audit Committee
Member
27 June 2007 - 01 May 2008
Equal Opportunities Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Claire'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 Claire Baker. The date of their initial statement was 18 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 19-27 August 2022, I attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Halifax, Canada. The cost of flights of £1,642.89 was met by the Executive Committee of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (of Richmond House, Houses of Parliament, London, 0AA) and of meals of approximately £158 were met by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Canada Region (of the House of Commons, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6). The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is a membership association of legislatures from the Commonwealth which brings together Members, irrespective of gender, race, religion or culture, who are united by community of interest, respect for the rule of law and individual rights and freedoms, and by the pursuit of the positive ideals of parliamentary democracy. [Registered 18 May 2023]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
I own, jointly with my husband, a flat in Aberdeen with a market value of between £100,001 and £150,000 with gross rental income of up to £5,000 per annum.
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of the Buffalo Farm Limited’s Founders Club. In exchange for a refundable joining fee, I receive an annual product voucher per Founders Club membership, issued annually in arrears and equal to 10% of each joining fee per annum. [Registered 10 June 2022]
On Saturday 5 February 2022 I attended the Scotland v England rugby match at BT Murrayfield as guests of Openreach. In addition to tickets for the match, the hospitality included food and drink. I understand that the cost of this hospitality was approximately £600. [Registered 10 February 2022]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Claire Baker 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: 28 March 2024
Public Transport (Fair Fares Review)
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): "I welcome the publication of the review. After it had been given as the answer to many portfolio questions, we now have the document. That is to be welcomed, but a degree of disappointment has already been expressed this afternoon…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Parliament Campus Safety
Claire Baker (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): "The corporate body takes its security and safety responsibilities very seriously. A wide range of physical and personal security arrangements are in place to ensure the safety of everyone who visits or works in the building…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Protests (Investigations)
Claire Baker (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): "As I said, we welcome peaceful protests outside the building. We recognise that there have been recent incidents, and a review of the protest, its impact and lessons learned is under way…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Crèche Access
Claire Baker (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): "After considerable engagement with the Care Inspectorate and our service provider, My Ohana, we successfully achieved a variation to our registration in December last year…
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
Badge and Apparel Policies
Claire Baker (Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body): "We do not hold data on the number of visitors whose items were retained; we hold data only on the items’ details…
Votes
How Claire Baker has voted in Parliament
Find out how Claire Baker has voted recently.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Result 89 for, 0 against, 31 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Natalie Don, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 18, 2024
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Claire Baker in Parliament
Find out what motions Claire Baker has submitted recently.
Welcoming National Lottery Awards for All Scotland Community Fund Award to Burntisland Big Green Market
Celebrating 30 Years' Service of Senior Coordinator Eleanor Thomson at Homestart Kirkcaldy
Questions
Questions Claire Baker has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what the average waiting time is for a determination on Adult and Child Disability Payments in Mid-Scotland and Fife."
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its review of how to increase the number of co-operatives, social enterprises and employee-owned businesses, as part of the move to a wellbeing economy."
Taken in the Chamber on 6 March 2024
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government on what date it plans to publish its consultation on the minimum age of marriage, in light of the concluding observation of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child that all marriages of under-18s should be prohibited in Scotland."
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 February 2024
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting events to commemorate the 750th anniversary of the birth of Robert the Bruce, which takes place on 11 July this year."
Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2024
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 January 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to make rail travel more affordable and attractive for passengers in the Mid Scotland and Fife region."
Taken in the Chamber on 18 January 2024
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 7 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of (a) any financial impact of NHS Scotland’s individual NHS boards referring patients to NHS England for magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) treatment, (b) whether individual NHS England trusts have the adequate resources to allow proper access by patients from Scotland…
Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 December 2023
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 October 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the comments by the then Cabinet Secretary for Justice, during the stage 1 debate on the Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill on 21 January 2021, that the Scottish Government wants to work with bereaved families to produce a bill that could help to address the issues raised, but in a way that is within the…
Answered by Angela Constance on 8 November 2023
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 October 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its regular discussions with the Scottish Law Commission on its work programme, whether it can confirm if the commission is looking specifically at work-related involuntary act culpable homicide as part of its review of homicide law."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 November 2023
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 October 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates it will receive the Scottish Law Commission’s findings and recommendations from its review of homicide law, which is due to report in 2023."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 November 2023
Asked by: Baker, Claire, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 1 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how it supports small businesses in the Mid Scotland and Fife region."
Taken in the Chamber on 9 November 2023