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Former Member of the Scottish Parliament

Margaret Mitchell

Unknown party

At a glance Margaret Mitchell was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

Votes cast1,367
Attendance47%
Voted For555
Voted Against693

Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Margaret Mitchell did not vote in 272.

Voting recordlatest 15 shown

The most recent divisions Margaret Mitchell voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.

2 Dec 2025 Uniting Local and National Efforts Across Sectors to End Violence Against Women and Girls For
12 Nov 2025 Better Bus Services Against
24 Mar 2021 Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill For
23 Mar 2021 Motion of No Confidence For
23 Mar 2021 Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill For
23 Mar 2021 European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill For
18 Mar 2021 National Mission to Reduce Drug Deaths and Harms For
18 Mar 2021 National Mission to Reduce Drug Deaths and Harms For
17 Mar 2021 Approval of SSI Against
17 Mar 2021 Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill For
16 Mar 2021 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill For
11 Mar 2021 Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Bill Against
11 Mar 2021 Approval of SSI Against
11 Mar 2021 Redress for Survivors (Historical Child Abuse in Care) (Scotland) Bill For
10 Mar 2021 University of St. Andrews (Degrees in Medicine and Dentistry) Bill For

See full voting record

Questions550 tabled

Margaret Mitchell has tabled 550 questions in the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for lear… 28 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for learning implementation, whether it plans to investigate issues regarding the qualifications and training provided for teachers to enable them to competently assess for dyslexia, in light of concerns that, in a number of local authorities, the role of classroom teachers without specific training in this regard is increasing, while the role of educational psychologists is decreasing.

Answer · John Swinney · 4 Feb 2021

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.
We provide free professional learning opportunities for practitioners in order to support education authorities to meet their duties under the Additional Support for Learning Act – including identifying, providing for, and reviewing the additional support needs of all their pupils, including those with dyslexia. These support practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, including through the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit and the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice online professional learning modules.
We recognise the important role that Education Psychologists play in supporting all children and young people, including those with dyslexia. Their work significantly contributes to the equality and inclusiveness of schools, and they play a vital role in raising the attainment of our children and young people. Educational Psychologists have and continue to provide vital support to children and young people throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
In October 2020, the Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA and ADES, published our joint response which accepted the recommendations made by Angela Morgan's review of implementation of additional support for learning. Our joint action plan sets out the range of interlinked measures that will be taken to address each of the review’s 9 themes and improve the educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs to ensure that they are fully supported in their learning. To take forward these measures we are working closely with local authorities and schools to improve consistency of support across Scotland. This includes improved guidance, building capacity to deliver effective additional support, improving career pathways and providing professional development resources.

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether teachers, across all local authorities, who undertake as… 28 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether teachers, across all local authorities, who undertake assessments for dyslexia are appropriately trained and skilled.

Answer · John Swinney · 4 Feb 2021

We have provided a range of free professional learning opportunities for teachers aimed at supporting practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, and reduce barriers to learning. This includes the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit and identification pathway, launched in 2017, and the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice online professional learning modules, which enable staff to gain professional recognition in this area.
A formal identification of dyslexia is not required in order for a pupil to access support.

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for lear… 28 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its response to the 2020 report on the review of additional support for learning implementation, whether it will provide evidence to show how young people will not be subject to a so-called “postcode lottery” in relation to access to support.

Answer · John Swinney · 4 Feb 2021

We are committed to ensuring that all children and young people get the support that they need to reach their full learning potential.
The Additional Support for Learning Act 2004 (as amended) requires education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of all their pupils.
In October 2020, the Scottish Government, in partnership with COSLA and ADES, published our joint response which accepted the recommendations made by Angela Morgan's review of implementation of additional support for learning. Our joint action plan sets out the range of interlinked measures that will be taken to address each of the review’s 9 themes and improve the educational experiences of children and young people with additional support needs to ensure that they are fully supported in their learning.

To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance measures are in place in local authorities in relation to the ide… 28 Jan 2021 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government what quality assurance measures are in place in local authorities in relation to the identification of secondary school pupils with dyslexia; what its position is on whether these measures are (a) appropriate and robust in relation to the levels of identification and (b) addressing the issue of low identification rates.

Answer · John Swinney · 4 Feb 2021

We want all children and young people, including those with dyslexia, to receive the support they need to reach their full potential. The Additional Support for Learning Act places duties on education authorities to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. We are committed to supporting teachers and school staff to meet these needs.
We have provided a range of free professional learning opportunities for teachers aimed at supporting practitioners to further develop their knowledge, understanding and skills in supporting learners with dyslexia, and reduce barriers to learning. This includes the Addressing Dyslexia Toolkit and identification pathway, launched in 2017, and the Dyslexia and Inclusive Practice online professional learning modules, which enable staff to gain professional recognition in this area.
A formal identification of dyslexia is not required in order for a pupil to access support.

To ask the Scottish Government when the next evaluation will be carried out of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements pro… 13 Jan 2021 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the next evaluation will be carried out of the M8 M73 M74 Motorway Improvements project, in line with the Scottish Trunk Road Infrastructure Project Evaluation guidance.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government how many projects have been funded via the Agricultural Transformation Programme; how mu… 16 Dec 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many projects have been funded via the Agricultural Transformation Programme; how much funding each project has been awarded to date, and how it plans to distribute the remainder of the £40 million fund before the end of the financial year.

Answer · Fergus Ewing · 24 Dec 2020

The Sustainable Agriculture Capital Grants Scheme, funded through the Agricultural Transformation Fund (ATF) issued over 3,600 letters to eligible farmers and crofters worth a grant value of over £17.8m Through the additional ATF funding allocated to the Forestry Grant Scheme, to date, 13 Woodland Creation projects have been offered support worth over £700,000 and 18 harvesting and processing projects have been approved amounting to funding awards of almost £210,000. None of the Financial transactions funding has been allocated. Opportunities to utilise this funding have been limited due to Covid restrictions on business earlier in the year.

To ask the Scottish Government when the standards for a Barnahus response to children and young people who have been vi… 22 Oct 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the standards for a Barnahus response to children and young people who have been victims and witnesses of violence in Scotland will be put out for consultation.

Answer · Humza Yousaf · 16 Nov 2020

The impact of Covid-19 resulted in the suspension of work on Barnahus Standards development whilst frontline services prioritised immediate responses to the pandemic.
We have agreed with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, the Care Inspectorate and key stakeholders that work will re-start in November under a revised timetable to build on learning from the current children and families, health and justice work-streams and the impact of and response to Covid-19 to support the continued co-design of draft standards for consultation in 2021.

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for legal aid under the Advice and Assistance (Pro… 3 Sep 2020 · Written Question

To ask the Scottish Government how many applications there have been for legal aid under the Advice and Assistance (Proceedings for Recovery of Documents) (Scotland) Regulations 2017 in each year since they came into force, and how many of those applications have been successful.

Answer · Ash Denham · 17 Sep 2020

In the financial year 16-17 there were 7 applications, all were granted;
In the financial year 17-18 there were 3 applications, all were granted’
In the financial year 18-19 there were 13 applications, all were granted; and
In the financial year 19-20 there were 6 application, all were granted.
Therefore, in total there have been 29 applications received and all have been granted. These applications are determined without reference to the financial circumstances of the applicant. The Scottish Legal Aid Board must be satisfied that legal representation is required to allow the person to participate effectively in the proceedings.

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Motions lodged477 lodged

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Seat & career4 seats held

Source: this MSP's profile on parliament.scot.

Allowances£3,223 · 2021

2021 (latest published)

Rent£1,709
Office Phone and Broadband Costs£288
Members Mileage£216
Staff Mileage£211
Staff Homeworking£156
Business Phone - Members Home£128
Office Phone and Broadband£119
Postage Stamps£85
Members Home Business Phone£67
Members Mobile Phone£57
Staff Rail£43
Staff Mobile Phone£32
Computer Peripherals£27
Stationery£25
Trade Waste£22
Newspaper Subscriptions£19
Staff Mobile Phone Bill£16
Confidential Waste Disposal£4

Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)

Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.