Finlay Carson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Finlay Carson
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5890
Text relay calls welcome.
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
Cross-party groups
Finlay is a member of 12 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ice Sports
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nature and Climate
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rugby Development in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
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 6 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
17 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Deputy Convener
18 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
29 June 2017 - 25 February 2020
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 17 September 2019
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
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.
Here is the register for Finlay Carson. The date of their initial statement was 09 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
I am a Director of Conchieton Solutions, an IT consultancy firm (of Conchieton Business Centre, Conchieton, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4TA). I received dividends of £2,000 on 1 June 2020 and £2,000 in June 2021. I estimate that, over the next session, I will spend 5 hours per annum on this role.
I am a partner in J and F Carson, a farming and property letting partnership (of Conchieton Business Centre, Conchieton, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4TA). I received £13,000 in drawings from the partnership in 2020. In 2021 I will be remunerated by way of profit share and I estimate I will spend up to 14 hours per annum on this role.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
On 23 February 2018 I and my daughter attended the Scotland v France rugby match at Murrayfield as guests of BT Openreach. In addition to tickets for the match the hospitality included food and drink. I understand that the cost of this hospitality was approximately £1000. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test but wish it to be registered in the voluntary section of my register.
From 14 to 16 August 2018 I travelled to Norway on a study visit to explore Deposit Return Schemes. The costs of the visit were approximately £689, £220 for hotel, £319 for flights and around £150 for meals, which were met by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (a registered charity that funds the charitable work of organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society of Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG). I believe that the interest does not meet the prejudice test.
On 9 March 2019 I attended the Scotland v Wales rugby match at Murrayfield as guests of BT Scotland. In addition to the ticket for the match, the hospitality included food and drink. I understand that the cost of this hospitality was approximately £500. I believe that the interest does not meet the prejudice test.
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: 31 May 2023
Fisheries Management
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Brendan O’Hara, the Scottish National Party’s chief whip at Westminster, has written to 11,000 householders in Argyll and Bute, to encourage them to write to the First Minister over the ill-thought-out, ill-conceived HPMAs…
Chamber meeting date: 30 May 2023
Hospital at Home Programme
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I appreciate the cabinet secretary giving way. Although many of us appreciate the importance of care at home, areas such as Dumfries and Galloway have a severe lack of nurses and help to deliver that care…
Chamber meeting date: 25 May 2023
Agriculture Policy
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I am pleased to open this afternoon’s debate on behalf of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. The committee is holding the debate as part of its pre-legislative scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s proposals for future agriculture policy…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 24 May 2023
Bee Diseases and Pests Control (Scotland) (Amendment) Order 2023 (SSI 2023/114)
The Convener: "Under item 3, we will consider a Scottish statutory instrument. Members will recall that we deferred our consideration of this negative instrument in order to seek further clarification and information on a number of points…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 24 May 2023
Decision on Taking Business in Private
The Convener (Finlay Carson): "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 16th meeting in 2023 of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. Before we begin, I remind members who are using electronic devices to switch them to silent, please…
Votes
How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Finlay Carson in Parliament
Find out what motions Finlay Carson has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the (a) other UK administrations, (b) Health and Safety Executive and (c) stakeholders regarding alternatives to Asulox as a bracken control measure going forward."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 25 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what the policy is for people employed by the Scottish Ambulance Service who have had their C1 licence temporarily revoked due to medical issues."
Answer expected on 8 June 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to introduce legislation relating to pet-friendly residential tenancy agreements."
Answer expected on 7 June 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider bringing forward an amendment to the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill to include provisions on snaring."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is now on the legal advice that it received in 2017, on which the decision of the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform not to extend powers to the Scottish SPCA for investigating wildlife crimes was based."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 5 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish the results of the Scottish Agricultural Census for 2022."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 3 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what obligations NHS boards have to provide attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) screening and assessment for adults, and what the criteria are for patients to access such screening and assessment."
Answered by Maree Todd on 2 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has received any requests from Dumfries and Galloway Council regarding improvements to the A75."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland last met (a) members and (b) officials from Dumfries and Galloway Council in relation to upgrading the A75."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it anticipates the business plan on investment in the A75 that Transport Scotland and the Department for Transport are working on will be completed."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 2 May 2023
See all of Finlay Carson's questions submitted in Parliament