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 3 committees
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Substitute Member
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment 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
Deputy 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
Deputy 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 has 5 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Economic Development
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Net Zero
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Colin has had 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
09 January 2018 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Member
28 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Health and Sport Committee
Member
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: 7 December 2022
United Kingdom Climate Change Committee Reports
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "The report is utterly damning. Progress has stalled, seven out of 11 legal targets have been missed and a plea that was made a year ago for clarity and transparency has gone completely unanswered by the Government…
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee meeting date: 7 December 2022
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the committee for considering my amendment 110, which relates to a defence for a person who is charged with the offence of hunting a wild animal with a dog. The bill provides that “It is a defence for a person charged with an offence ..…
Chamber meeting date: 6 December 2022
COP27 Outcomes
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "Despite COP27 having taken some modest steps forward on loss and damage support for countries that are vulnerable to climate change, we did not see the transformative leap that we urgently needed…
Chamber meeting date: 24 November 2022
Renewable Energy Sector (Economic Impact)
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank Paul McLennan for lodging his motion, particularly given the timeliness of the debate…
Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 23 November 2022
Just Transition Commission
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "Good morning to the panel. The commission and many others have consistently called for greater clarity around the pipeline of work that is required to transition to net zero…
Votes
How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament
Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.
International Human Rights Days
Submitted by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 8, 2022
Result 29 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
International Human Rights Days
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 8, 2022
Result 23 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
International Human Rights Days
Submitted by: Christina McKelvie, Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Supported by: Ben Macpherson, Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 8, 2022
Result 86 for, 31 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
The State of the Scottish Education System
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Supported by: Clare Haughey, Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Result 66 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Supported by: Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Result 30 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 8 no 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: 9 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with SEPA regarding any increased risk to bathing waters being below sufficient classifications for swimming in, during winter weather."
Answer expected on 9 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing the quantity of environmental bathing water sampling from six months a year to 12, in light of the increase in wild swimming as a hobby across Scotland, and the reported increased risk of sewage overflows in winter weather, and what its position is on whether checking for…
Answer expected on 9 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of (a) just transition, (b) net zero and (c) energy, and whether it will provide a list of these groups."
Answer expected on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on Scotland, what its position is on whether the UK Government should leave the Energy Charter Treaty."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on Scotland, what its position is on whether the Energy Charter Treaty is functioning well."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on Scotland, whether it considers the Energy Charter Treaty should be reformed, and, if so, what its position is on how it should be reformed."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its current estimate is of the amount of community benefit funds currently being paid for both onshore and offshore wind developments."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many additional public electric vehicle (EV) charging points are planned across Scotland, broken down by (a) local authority area and (b) estimated timescale for delivery."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it supports the reopening of the railway between Dumfries and Stranraer."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 5 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding reform of the Energy Charter Treaty."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022