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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Brian Whittle

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day

About Brian Whittle

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @BrianWhittle

Facebook: Brian's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5623
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Brian is a member of 2 committees

Cross-party groups

Brian is a member of 14 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Life Sciences

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Brian does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Brian has 4 party roles

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Wellbeing

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Care

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Brian has had 22 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

06 November 2024 - 26 June 2025

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

08 February 2024 - 10 October 2024

Local Government Housing and Planning Committee

Substitute Member

29 June 2023 - 10 October 2024

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Member

28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Business

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Economic Growth

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 September 2021 - 08 February 2024

Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee

Substitute Member

17 June 2021 - 14 July 2023

COVID19 Recovery Committee

Member

21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Health

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021

Health and Sport Committee

Member

25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021

Social Security Committee

Substitute Member

26 May 2016 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 June 2016 - 25 February 2020

Public Petitions Committee

Member

26 May 2016 - 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health Education

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

17 November 2016 - 29 June 2017

Health and Sport Committee

Substitute Member

28 June 2016 - 29 June 2017

Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee

Substitute Member

Register of interests

Brian'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 Brian Whittle 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: 9 October 2025

Mental Health Budget

5. Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government’s response is to reports that the mental health budget has been reduced in the 2025-26 autumn budget revision. (S6F-04374)"

Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025

Youth Mental Health Support

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I thank the minister for early sight of his statement. The rise in poor mental health among children is one of the most concerning health issues that we face in Scotland, even in an environment in which poor health outcomes are too common…

Chamber meeting date: 9 October 2025

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "Will the minister take an intervention?"

Chamber meeting date: 8 October 2025

Colleges and Apprenticeships

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "Will the member give way?"

Chamber meeting date: 8 October 2025

Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 (Scottish Carbon Budgets) Amendment Regulations 2025

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "It used to be said that the enemy of a good plan was the pursuit of a perfect one. Apparently, the modern version is to say that the enemy of a good climate change plan is the Scottish Government…

Votes

How Brian Whittle has voted in Parliament

Find out how Brian Whittle has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19275

Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 81 for, 10 against, 23 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19276

Planning and Infrastructure Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 87 for, 23 against, 1 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19128

Right to Addiction Recovery (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 9, 2025

Result 52 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19269

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 51 for, 25 against, 33 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19268

Suspension of Standing Orders

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 7, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Result 85 for, 0 against, 26 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Brian Whittle has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6W-41174

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the policy of the Energy Consents Unit is in regard to the treatment of objections submitted by members of the public in which the content appears to have been generated using artificial intelligence."

Question reference: S6W-41171

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the policy of the Energy Consents Unit is in regard to the treatment of objections submitted by members of the public."

Question reference: S6W-41173

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the policy of the Energy Consents Unit is in regard to the treatment of objections submitted by multiple members of the public containing substantially identical text and only minor, non-substantive, alterations."

Question reference: S6W-41175

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Energy Consents Unit formally recognises any external organisation providing paid or unpaid support to facilitate the submission of public objections to energy developments, and, if so, what form this recognition takes."

Question reference: S6W-41176

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance the Energy Consents Unit applies to distinguish between joint or template-based and individual objections to developments."

Question reference: S6W-41172

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:9 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the policy of the Energy Consents Unit is in regard to the treatment of objections submitted by multiple members of the public using template-based text."

Question reference: S6W-41067

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:8 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has carried out regarding whether, at its commencement, its COVID-19 and flu vaccination programme for winter 2025-26 was fully resourced with regard to staffing and vaccine availability."

Question reference: S6W-41064

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:8 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of flu in the winter 2024-25 period on NHS staff absence rates, and how this compares with the (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19, (c) 2022-23 and (d) 2023-24 period."

Question reference: S6W-41066

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:8 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the rising number of older people in Scotland, due to its ageing population, with regard to resourcing its adult (a) spring and (b) winter COVID-19 and flu vaccination programme."

Question reference: S6W-41074

Asked by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:8 October 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making flu vaccination mandatory for all public-facing NHS staff."

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