Skip to main content

Language: English / Gàidhlig

Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

Colin Smyth

Scottish Labour

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day

About Colin Smyth

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @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

Cross-party groups

Colin is a member of 18 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 Brain Tumours

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on China

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Civil Nuclear Industry

Co-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 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 Older People, Age and Ageing

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 has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Colin does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Colin has had 23 previous roles

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

17 June 2021 - 13 November 2024

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Member

16 November 2023 - 31 January 2024

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

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: 13 March 2025

Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery Waiting Times (NHS Dumfries and Galloway)

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "My constituent John Small has been on the waiting list for knee replacement surgery in NHS Dumfries and Galloway for 14 months. John is 87 years old. Last week, he learned that he will be on that list for at least another four months…

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Pensioner Poverty Strategy

5. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Independent Age for a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland. (S6O-04438)"

Chamber meeting date: 12 March 2025

Wildlife Crime

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "The minister is aware of the unintended loophole in the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 that allows some grouse moor owners to apply for a grouse shooting licence that covers only the small area of their estate that is directly used for grouse shooting rather than the whole estate, even though the whole estate is managed to…

Chamber meeting date: 5 March 2025

Petition PE1979 (National Whistleblowing Officer)

2. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the calls in public petition PE1979 for gaps in the Scottish child abuse inquiry to be addressed and for an independent whistleblowing officer for education and children’s services to be established. (S6O-04379)"

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 5 March 2025

Tied Pubs (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft]

The Convener (Colin Smyth): "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the eighth meeting in 2025 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a short evidence session on the draft Tied Pubs (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025…

Votes

How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament

Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16777.2

Adoption of Innovation in Health and Social Care

Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 13, 2025

Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16755

Protecting Single-sex Spaces in the Public Sector

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Result 61 for, 31 against, 20 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16755.3

Protecting Single-sex Spaces in the Public Sector

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Result 57 for, 50 against, 7 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16749

Appointment of Chair to Environmental Standards Scotland

Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Supported by: Alasdair Allan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Result 83 for, 1 against, 22 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16750.4

Supporting Households with Cost of Living Pressures and Rising Energy Bills

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Result 19 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motions

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.

Question ref. S6W-35646

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34926 by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025, what discussions it has had with the Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group within NHS Golden Jubilee to develop a pathway for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease."

Answer expected on 27 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35295

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to reduce the full-time working week for NHS Scotland staff to 36 hours by April 2026, with the first half hour of this reduction taking effect from 1 April 2024, for what reason there are no proposals to reduce the working week in 2025, and whether it remains committed to fulfilling the…

Answered by Neil Gray on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34858

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves the educational opportunities available to prisoners at HMP Dumfries by increasing the range of subjects on offer and improving attendance rates and the number of qualifications offered or taken up, in light of the recent report, HMP Dumfries, Full…

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34855

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves CCTV coverage in D and E Hall and creates Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for monitoring all exercise yards, in light of the recent report, HMP Dumfries, Full Inspection, 26 to 30 August 2024, by HM Inspectorate of Prisons."

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025

Question ref. S6O-04438

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls from Independent Age for a pensioner poverty strategy for Scotland."

Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34925

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to reduce waiting times for people with (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease since the publication of its Respiratory Care Action Plan."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34927

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve care for people with (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34926

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve diagnosis for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34857

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to introduce respiratory protective equipment (RPE) to prisons to protect staff from being exposed to toxic fumes when any incidents involving the illicit use of drugs occur."

Answered by Angela Constance on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34856

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 11 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of plans in England and Wales to implement a phased removal of wet-shave razors from adult male prisons, what plans it has to replicate such a proposal in Scotland."

Answered by Angela Constance on 4 March 2025

Share this page