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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Finlay Carson

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Finlay Carson

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @fincarson

Facebook: Finlay's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Contact at local office

107 King Street
Castle Douglas
DG7 1LZ

Phone: 01556 504991
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Finlay is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Finlay is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Finlay has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Finlay does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Finlay has had 16 previous roles

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

22 June 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Convener

17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Natural Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

17 September 2019 - 04 May 2021

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Deputy Convener

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 June 2017 - 25 February 2020

Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee

Substitute Member

18 September 2019 - 25 February 2020

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Animal Welfare

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Digital Economy

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 June 2016 - 17 September 2019

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Fisheries

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Register of interests

Finlay'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 Finlay Carson 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: 20 May 2025

European Union-United Kingdom Summit

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "There is no doubt about the significant negative impact of the deal on the Scottish pelagic and demersal fishing industry as a result of the complete capitulation of the Labour Government…

Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2025

Beaches

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "First, I congratulate my friend, Kenneth Gibson, on securing this important debate. It is refreshing to hear Mr Gibson talk fish, when normally he talks about the economy…

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 14 May 2025

Disease Control (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Order 2025 (SSI 2025/108)

The Convener: "The next item on our agenda is consideration of a negative instrument. Does any member wish to make any comment on the order?"

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 14 May 2025

Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 [Draft]

The Convener: "Welcome back. Our second item of business is an evidence session on the draft Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025. We are very pleased to be joined by a panel of five stakeholders to discuss the instrument…

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 14 May 2025

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

The Convener (Finlay Carson): "Good morning, and welcome to the 16th meeting in 2025 of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. Before we begin, please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent…

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17598

Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities

Submitted by: Mairi Gougeon, Angus North and Mearns, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, May 19, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Result 63 for, 40 against, 7 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17598.2

Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities

Submitted by: Jamie Halcro Johnston, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Supported by: Tim Eagle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Result 31 for, 78 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17598.1

Empowering Scotland’s Island Communities

Submitted by: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Result 46 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 91

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 28 for, 87 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 135

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 48 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Finlay Carson has asked

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

Question ref. S6O-04720

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the improvements to the A75."

Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04627

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the net zero secretary has had with the rural affairs secretary regarding the potential environmental and biodiversity impact of the proposed Galloway National Park."

Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04580

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what funding will be available to help infrastructure projects in south west Scotland."

Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36182

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30074 by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2024, and in light of recent media coverage, including a video showing discarded fish on the seabed, how the suite of measures in place to manage fisheries and safeguard fish stocks are tackling illegal discarding."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 8 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35636

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the farmed fish sector has a non-binding industry code of good practice regarding the legal obligations for keepers and industry stakeholders under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012, and whether it will…

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35637

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place or planned to ensure that enforcement bodies and the fish farming industry fully understand and comply with legal welfare requirements for farmed fish across their entire lifecycle."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35638

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or update the current farmed fish industry-developed code of good practice by replacing or supplementing it with official guidance that provides prescriptive detail on meeting welfare obligations, and, if so, what consultation process will be carried out with stakeholders."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35720

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on the maintenance of all rural payment systems in each of the last four years."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35721

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on IT staff in relation to all rural payment systems in each of the last four years."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35764

Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be spent on (a) the maintenance of and (b) staffing for the rural payments IT system in each of the next two years."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 April 2025

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