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Member of the Scottish Parliament
Katherine Sangster
Scottish Labour · Member for Edinburgh and Lothians East (region)
At a glance Katherine Sangster is a Scottish Labour regional Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh and Lothians East (region).
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Katherine Sangster did not vote in 1. A rebellion is a vote against the way most of their own party voted; free votes, where no party line applies, are left out. At Holyrood an abstention is a deliberate recorded vote, distinct from not voting at all.
Party-loyalty figures are our own analysis of the official voting records (recorded votes only; they do not describe the formal whip). How we work this out.
Committees
- Education and Gaelic Committee Deputy Convener
Voting record
The most recent divisions Katherine Sangster voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | For |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | Against |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | For |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | Against |
| 25 Jun 2026 | Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population | Against |
| 24 Jun 2026 | Scotland Needs Reform: Five Years to 2031 | For |
| 24 Jun 2026 | Scotland Needs Reform: Five Years to 2031 | Abstain |
| 24 Jun 2026 | National Security (State Threats) Bill – UK Legislation | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | For |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change | Against |
| 23 Jun 2026 | Steel Industry (Nationalisation) Bill - UK Legislation | For |
| 17 Jun 2026 | Affordable Bus Fares | Against |
Register of interests
From the Scottish Parliament's Register of Interests. Shown as registered; nothing is added or interpreted.
Controlled transactions1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Gifts1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Heritable property1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Interest in shares1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Overseas visits1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Remuneration and related undertaking1
- Until 8 May 2026, when I resigned, I was a Director at The Fabian Society, a think tank (of 61 Petty France, Westminster, London, SW1H 9EU). I worked 8 hours per week and received remuneration of between £10,001 and £15,000 per annum. I received a final salary payment of £425.67 on 19 May 2026. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Voluntary1
- No registrable interests. (lodged 10 Jun 2026)
Questions
Katherine Sangster has tabled 15 questions in the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that schools can maintain individual flexibility while delivering…
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that schools can maintain individual flexibility while delivering universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.Many primary schools across Scotland already deliver breakfast offers using a range of delivery models. Work is underway with delivery stakeholders to assess existing models, explore how these can be expanded and enhanced, and identify how best to establish provision where none currently exists. This work is informing national delivery plans including recognising the importance of elements of local flexibility for individual schools.
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its news release of 14 January 2026, Expansion of breakfast clubs, wheth…
To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its news release of 14 January 2026, Expansion of breakfast clubs, whether it will clarify the difference in wording between the references to the “introduction of universal breakfast club services by August 2027” and “a national breakfast club programme across all primary and special schools from August 2027”, including the distinction between “by” and “from”, and confirm (a) which description most accurately reflects its policy intention and (b) when the services will begin.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring access to breakfast clubs for all primary school age children in Scotland by August 2027. Around 50% of primary schools in Scotland already have breakfast provision in place. To support further expansion, the Scottish Government is investing £15 million in 2026-27. From 2027-28, £44 million will be invested annually to support implementation of the national breakfast clubs offer.The policy intention is that a breakfast club offer will be available nationally across all primary and special schools from the academic year 2027-28 beginning in August 2027. As part of the additional £15 million investment in 2026-27, to support a phased delivery of that offer, many children will have access to a breakfast club before that date.
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with COSLA on any work force planning issues to support the deliv…
To ask the Scottish Government whether it has engaged with COSLA on any work force planning issues to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers .
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any work force planning issues to support the delivery …
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any work force planning issues to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.Engagement with COSLA, Local Government and other key stakeholders is underway as part of ongoing work to support delivery, which includes assessment of workforce planning. This is being informed by existing delivery models, how these could be expanded and enhanced and how provision can be established where none currently exists. Engagement and analysis of existing data will inform workforce planning to support implementation of a national offer.
To ask the Scottish Government how many extra school staff it anticipates local authorities will need to recruit in ord…
To ask the Scottish Government how many extra school staff it anticipates local authorities will need to recruit in order to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01290 on 14 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/questions-and-answers .
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding will be allocated per pupil to support the delivery of universal breakf…
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding will be allocated per pupil to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
The Scottish Government is committed to delivering a universal breakfast club offer for primary school age children by August 2027.To support this offer, we are investing £15 million this financial year to enable the phased expansion of breakfast clubs across Scotland and a recurring investment of £44 million from next financial year to fund national provision.Decisions have not been finalised on funding distribution. Work is ongoing with COSLA, Local Government and wider partners to agree a fair and proportionate distribution model for funding across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.
To ask the Scottish Government Government how much funding will be allocated per local authority to support the deliver…
To ask the Scottish Government Government how much funding will be allocated per local authority to support the delivery of universal breakfast clubs in all primary and special schools.
Answer · Siobhian Brown · 14 Jul 2026
As announced in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, we will continue to invest £3 million to fund breakfast clubs through the Bright Start Breakfasts Fund alongside additional investment of £15 million to phase delivery of a national breakfast club offer.From 2027-28 we will invest £44 million each year to deliver breakfast clubs for all children in primary school across Scotland from August 2027.Decisions have not been finalised relating to funding distribution. Work is ongoing with COSLA, Local Government and wider partners to agree a fair and proportionate distribution model for funding across financial years 2026-27 and 2027-28.
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to ensuring that local authorities that have already i…
To ask the Scottish Government what consideration is being given to ensuring that local authorities that have already implemented bans on mobile phones in schools do not incur additional costs when any national guidance is introduced.
Answer · Mairi McAllan · 21 Jul 2026
As I set out in my statement to Parliament on 2 June, we will launch our consultation on a legislative approach to restrictions on mobile phones in schools within the first 100 days of this government. Further development of the legislative approach will be informed by the outcomes of this consultation, including the views of local authorities who have implemented restrictions.
Motions lodged
| 5 Jun 2026 | Musselburgh Honest Lad and Honest Lass 2026 | 8 sig. |
| 26 May 2026 | Expanding Childcare | 0 sig. |
Speeches
Recent things Katherine Sangster has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.
25 Jun 2026 Prison Population (draft)
There is no doubt that Scotland’s prisons are under immense pressure. Once again, our prison population has reached a record level and, as we have heard, it is circa 800 over capacity and heading upwards. That should concern us because of …
24 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
The United Kingdom Labour Government is rolling out breakfast clubs at pace and is ensuring that primary schools are offered expert support and advice on how clubs can be delivered in a stigma-free way for the children who need them most. …
24 Jun 2026 Portfolio Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government what specific support it plans to provide to primary and special schools to enable the delivery of universal breakfast clubs. (S7O-00117)
23 Jun 2026 Non-domestic Rates (draft)
In its manifesto, the Scottish National Party promised reforms to non-domestic rates that would ensure that“online giants … pay their fair share”.Today’s statement does not point towards the fundamental changes that would be necessary to d…
17 Jun 2026 Decision Time (draft)
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the digital voting platform. I would have voted yes.
17 Jun 2026 Decision Time (draft)
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I could not connect to the digital voting platform. I would have voted yes.
16 Jun 2026 Jo Cox’s Death (10th Anniversary) (draft)
I thank Jenny Young for securing the debate.I remember hearing the news about Jo’s death as I was driving home from work. At that point, I was not involved in politics. It seemed an unspeakably shocking thing to have happened here, in a de…
16 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
Teaching unions have raised concerns that the way in which local authorities advertise temporary contracts is making work difficult to access for some teachers, by creating an inequality for those with caring responsibilities and those who…
16 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the progress it has made towards reducing the number of teachers on short-term or temporary contracts. (S7O-00065)
11 Jun 2026 Antisocial Behaviour (draft)
We have all heard deeply concerning stories from our constituents, including those about residents feeling unsafe in their own communities, businesses facing threats and vandalism, and workers being subjected to unacceptable abuse simply f…
11 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
One of my constituents in Danderhall has got in touch about their difficulty in securing a funded place that is convenient for their working and living arrangements. The only option that is available to them would mean crossing the infamou…
11 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its policy providing 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare, what action it is taking to address any parental concerns about flexibility and choice. (S7O-00056)
2 Jun 2026 Phone-free Classrooms (draft)
I thank the cabinet secretary for the advance notice of her statement.We welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to making progress on mobile phone-free classrooms. Scottish Labour campaigned on the issue for some time and it was foun…
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be meeting this month to decide on station closures that will have impacts across the Edinburgh and Lothians East region. The proposed changes are expected to push average local response times from…
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to address wildfire risks and to ensure appropriate resource is given to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, in light of last week’s fire on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh. (S7O-000…
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
Sorry.
2 Jun 2026 General Question Time (draft)
To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to address wildfire risks and to ensure appropriate—
14 May 2026 Oaths and Affirmations (draft)
I, Katherine Blackstock Sangster, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law.
Seat & career
- Edinburgh and Lothians East (region) Regional MSP 7 May 2026 – present
Contact & offices
Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.