Colin Smyth
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Colin Smyth
Contact details
Contact online
Post-d: Colin.Smyth.msp@parliament.scot
Website: colinsmythmsp.com
Post-d: @colinsmythmsp
Facebook: Colin's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6986
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
17 Buccleuch Street
Dumfries
DG1 2AT
Phone: 01387 279205
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Colin is a member of 4 committees
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Colin is a member of 16 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on China
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Future of Football in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Colin does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Colin does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Colin has had 21 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
01 February 2023 - 25 April 2023
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Substitute Member
22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Substitute Member
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Economic Development
Scottish Labour
31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Scottish Labour
30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Net Zero
Scottish Labour
30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Labour
30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Labour
29 September 2021 - 01 February 2023
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Substitute Member
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Constitution
Scottish Labour
01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Europe
Scottish Labour
28 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Substitute Member
09 January 2018 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Member
19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Telecommunications
Scottish Labour
04 October 2018 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Infrastructure
Scottish Labour
04 October 2018 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Labour
02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021
Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy
Scottish Labour
19 December 2017 - 04 October 2018
Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy
Scottish Labour
08 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Health and Sport Committee
Member
25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Labour
25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017
Chief Whip
Scottish Labour
Register of interests
Colin'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 Colin Smyth 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: 30 November 2023
Pension Age Disability Payment
2. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Age Scotland and others to improve plans for the new pension age disability payment by including extra mobility and travel support for recipients. (S6O-02815)"
Chamber meeting date: 30 November 2023
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "The bill has been a long time coming. It is eight years since reports, first by RSPB Scotland and then by Scottish Natural Heritage, showed that raptor persecution is often linked to driven grouse moors…
Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 29 November 2023
Just Transition (North-east and Moray)
Colin Smyth: "Good morning. As you point out in your written evidence, the committee and others have recognised, as you have done, the absence of a clear definition of a just transition…
Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 29 November 2023
Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning, minister. I will kick off with questions on the mental health moratorium, which has been discussed quite a lot in the evidence that the committee has heard…
Chamber meeting date: 29 November 2023
Age Scotland (80th Anniversary)
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "Thank you for allowing me to speak early in the debate, Presiding Officer. I apologise to other members that the change of date means that I have to leave before the end of the debate, to attend another event…
Votes
How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament
Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.
Fiscal Framework Review
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 4, 2023
Supported by: George Adam, Tom Arthur, Joe FitzPatrick
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Result 63 for, 56 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Fiscal Framework Review
Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Alba Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Result 1 for, 119 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Fiscal Framework Review
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Result 56 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Fiscal Framework Review
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Result 25 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Fiscal Framework Review
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 5, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 6, 2023
Result 31 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Colin Smyth in Parliament
Find out what motions Colin Smyth has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Colin Smyth has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 6 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Public Health Scotland publication, Care home census for adults in Scotland, which showed that the number of care homes across the country has dropped by nearly a fifth in the past decade."
Taken in the Chamber on 14 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 October 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has been allocated by the UK Government for the upgrade of the A75."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 November 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to develop a longer-term funding model for the voluntary sector across all of its directorates."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it defines multi-year funding for voluntary sector organisations as a three-year minimum commitment."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made on delivering its commitment to reduce class contact time for teachers by 90 minutes per week to 21 hours, from the current 22.5 hours."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that multi-year funding arrangements for the voluntary sector have annual inflation-based uplifts inbuilt, at a level as close to inflation as possible."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will deliver its commitment to reduce class contact time for teachers by 90 minutes per week to 21 hours, from the current 22.5 hours."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that its funding decisions regarding support for the voluntary sector are issued no later than December, and that any funds are paid no later than the start of the tax year in April."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of public sector grants and contracts are currently delivered on a multi-year basis."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Age Scotland and others to improve plans for the new Pension Age Disability Payment by including extra mobility and travel support for recipients."
Taken in the Chamber on 30 November 2023