Profile

Liberal Democrat Peer

Entered the House of Lords on 20 April 2016

Previously MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross until 30 March 2015 — General election

Entered the House of Commons on 7 June 2001 — General election

Also represented Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross

• Personal website
• Wikipedia page
• BBC News profile

Expenses

• Expenses from 2004 to 2009
• Expenses from 2010 onwards

Topics of interest

• Transport
• Work and Pensions
• Scotland
• Treasury
• Defence
• Railways
• Parliamentary Questions
• Departmental ICT
• Civil Servants (Relocation)
• Tax Credits

Currently held offices

• Member, Industry and Regulators Committee (since 31 Jan 2024)
• Member, Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (Lords) (since 13 Jul 2023)

Other offices held in the past

• Member, Risk Assessment and Risk Planning Committee (15 Oct 2020 to 24 Nov 2021)
• Member, Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards (Joint Committee) (16 Jul 2012 to 12 Jun 2013)
• Member, Draft House of Lords Reform Bill (Joint Committee) (23 Jun 2011 to 26 Mar 2012)
• Member, Liaison Committee (Commons) (27 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Chair, Finance and Services Committee (27 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Chair, Finance and Services Committee (27 Jul 2010 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Finance and Services Committee (26 Jul 2010 to 27 Jul 2010)
• Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Business, Innovation and Skills) ( 8 Oct 2008 to 6 May 2010)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills ( 8 Oct 2008 to 6 May 2010)
• Member, Treasury Committee (24 Apr 2006 to 30 Mar 2015)
• Member, Administration Committee (12 Jul 2005 to 6 May 2010)
• Member, Speaker's Advisory Committee on Works of Art (11 Jul 2005 to 6 May 2010)
• Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Transport) (10 May 2003 to 10 May 2005)
• Shadow Secretary of State for Transport (10 May 2003 to 10 May 2005)
• Member, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (16 Jul 2001 to 12 Jul 2005)
• Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Scotland) ( 1 Jul 2001 to 10 Mar 2006)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Scotland) ( 1 Jul 2001 to 10 Mar 2006)
• Opposition Whip (Commons) ( 1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2002)
• Liberal Democrat Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport) ( 1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2005)
• Liberal Democrat Whip ( 1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2002)
• Shadow Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport) ( 1 Jun 2001 to 1 Jun 2005)

Public bill committees (Sittings attended)

• Finance (No.2) Bill Committee (8 out of 21)
• Violent Crime Reduction Bill Committee (5 out of 7)
• Road Safety Bill Committee (9 out of 9)
• School Transport Bill Committee (1 out of 4)
• Traffic Management Bill Committee (9 out of 9)

Recent appearances

• House of Lords Reform - Motion to Take Note 12 Nov 2024

  My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness the Leader of the House for having brought forward this debate, which has been thoughtful and an immensely valuable contribution to deliberations on the future of your Lordships’ House. However, for me, it has brought on a slight Groundhog Day feeling, since I have been taking part in such debates since my first incarnation in this House, in the other...

• Crown Estate Bill [HL] - Committee (2nd Day): Amendment 37 22 Oct 2024

  My Lords, I will speak to this group of amendments. I was not sure which one most suited the comments I wished to make, but I think it is probably Amendment 37F in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Leicester. At the heart of all three amendments is a question about the relationship between, on the one hand, the economic activity that we wish to undertake, quite properly, and, on the other, the...

• Crown Estate Bill [HL] - Committee (2nd Day): Amendment 37 22 Oct 2024

  I suspect I would be pretty horrified, given all the information that I know about it, but I have long tried to stick to a principle in your Lordships’ House to speak about what I really know about and avoid the things I do not know too much about, so I hope the noble Lord will forgive me if I do not go down that road. To come back to my central point on the need to get information, it is...

More of Viscount Thurso’s recent appearances