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)

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

Recent appearances

• North Sea Vessel Collision - Statement 13 Mar 2025

  My Lords, my noble friend on the Front Bench mentioned the “Braer” incident, and I remember well the “Ascania” incident off the coast of Caithness. Both events led Alistair Carmichael and me to lobby for a tug to be based at Kirkwall. Can I follow up with the Minister on an answer he gave earlier? Like many who live on the coast, I follow the shipping, and I see it on the horizon or...

• North Sea Energy - Statement 12 Mar 2025

  My Lords, I join my noble friend on the Front Bench in broadly welcoming the Statement. The Beatrice wind farm, which has been extremely successful, has its operating headquarters and all its service boats in the port of Wick. It has been a tremendous economic boon for the east coast of Caithness. I expect that further developments, such as the west of Orkney wind farm—which is in the...

• House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill - Committee (2nd Day): Amendment 14 (to Amendment 13) 10 Mar 2025

  My Lords, my Amendment 66 has been grouped with these amendments. I will briefly explain what the amendment does and then make a valiant, though likely unsuccessful, attempt to persuade the noble Lord, Lord Grocott, that it would be worth accepting. My amendment seeks to address the fact that there is broad agreement across the House that in some way, shape or form the length of time that...

More of Viscount Thurso’s recent appearances

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