Richard Lochhead
Scottish National Party
MSP for Moray (Constituency) 2006 - present day
Former MSP for North East Scotland (Region) 1999 - 2006
About Richard Lochhead
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 01343 545077
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
80 South Street
Elgin
Moray
IV30 1JG
Phone: 01343 545077
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Richard is not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Richard is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Richard has 1 parliamentary and government role
Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Party Roles
Richard does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Richard has had 32 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
29 March 2023 - 13 June 2023
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade
Scottish Government
19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023
Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work
Scottish Government
04 September 2018 - 19 May 2021
Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science
Scottish Government
16 November 2017 - 06 September 2018
Education and Skills Committee
Member
29 September 2016 - 06 September 2018
Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee
Member
06 September 2016 - 30 March 2017
Education and Skills Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
European and External Relations Committee
Member
18 June 2014 - 18 May 2016
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment
Scottish Government
25 May 2011 - 18 June 2014
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Scottish Government
17 May 2007 - 25 May 2011
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Scottish Government
03 May 2006 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on Fisheries
Scottish National Party
03 May 2006 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish National Party
03 May 2006 - 02 April 2007
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish National Party
04 May 2006 - 02 April 2007
European and External Relations Committee
Substitute Member
04 May 2006 - 02 April 2007
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Member
13 September 2004 - 07 April 2006
Party Spokesperson on Fisheries
Scottish National Party
13 September 2004 - 07 April 2006
Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish National Party
13 September 2004 - 07 April 2006
Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish National Party
30 September 2004 - 07 April 2006
European and External Relations Committee
Substitute Member
30 September 2004 - 07 April 2006
Environment and Rural Development Committee
Member
11 June 2003 - 14 September 2004
European and External Relations Committee
Convener
11 June 2003 - 14 September 2004
conveners group
Member
30 May 2003 - 13 September 2004
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish National Party
30 May 2003 - 13 September 2004
Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish National Party
04 June 2003 - 11 June 2003
European and External Relations Committee
Member
27 June 2001 - 31 March 2003
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Parliamentary Business
Scottish National Party
27 June 2001 - 31 March 2003
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development
Scottish National Party
19 December 2001 - 31 March 2003
Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations
Scottish National Party
08 January 2001 - 31 March 2003
Rural Development Committee
Member
16 May 2002 - 08 January 2003
Procedures Committee
Substitute Member
17 June 1999 - 07 January 2001
Rural Affairs Committee
Member
02 November 2000 - 07 January 2001
European Committee
Member
Register of interests
Richard'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.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Richard Lochhead 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: 17 April 2024
Scotch Whisky Industry
The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade (Richard Lochhead): "Will the member take an intervention?"
Chamber meeting date: 21 March 2024
GP Surgery Closures (Highlands and Islands)
Richard Lochhead: "I thank Douglas Ross for giving way, and I congratulate him on securing this important debate. I join him in paying tribute to the save our surgeries campaign, whose members are here today to promote the interests of their communities…
Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2024
Scotland’s Economy
The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade (Richard Lochhead): "I welcome the debate. It is important for the Scottish Parliament to debate the future of Scotland’s economy regularly. We are at a pivotal moment in economic history…
Chamber meeting date: 8 February 2024
Just Transition (Gender Equality)
The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade (Richard Lochhead): "We are committed to doing what we can to increase diversity and representation in the workforce by supporting women and people with protected characteristics to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the green transition…
Chamber meeting date: 7 February 2024
Business Confidence and Promotion of Entrepreneurship
The Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade (Richard Lochhead): "The Scottish Government is fully committed to boosting the confidence of our business sector by establishing Scotland as a world-class entrepreneurial nation, which is underpinned by our 10-year economic strategy…
Votes
How Richard Lochhead has voted in Parliament
Find out how Richard Lochhead has voted recently.
Scottish Employment Injuries Advisory Council Bill
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 18, 2024
Result 20 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Richard Lochhead in Parliament
Find out what motions Richard Lochhead has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Richard Lochhead has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it will take to ensure that Scottish Ambulance Service emergency vehicles based in Moray are able to return to Moray following hospital transfers without being diverted to non-life-threatening calls when out of the area."
Answered by Jeane Freeman on 18 September 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what powers local authorities have to tackle seagull populations on the grounds of health and safety or other factors that affect the quality of life for residents and communities, and what its position is on increasing these powers."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government to what extent the impact of pylons or other infrastructure required to connect onshore renewables to the national grid infrastructure is taken into account when determining planning applications for wind farms."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 30 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its proposals for Scotland’s role in the development of future UK trade arrangements."
Answered by Michael Russell on 29 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce new measures to tackle littering from vehicles."
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase fines for littering."
Answered by Roseanna Cunningham on 28 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its ministerial roundtable event on 27 June 2018, what steps it will take to tackle the impact of parcel delivery surcharges."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 27 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the review of community benefit from onshore renewable energy developments, and what its position is on the case for community benefit to apply to communities affected by pylons or other infrastructure required to connect onshore renewables to the national grid, as is the case for…
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 24 August 2018
Asked by: Lochhead, Richard, Moray, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 1 August 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to concerns that land being used for growing crops to feed anaerobic digesters is having a detrimental effect on Scottish agriculture and feed supplies."
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 22 August 2018
See all of Richard Lochhead's questions submitted in Parliament