Scottish National Party
MSP for Perthshire North (Constituency) 2011 - present day
Former MSP for North Tayside (Constituency) 1999 - 2011
Post-d: John.Swinney.msp@parliament.scot
Website: johnswinney.scot
X (previously known as Twitter): @johnswinney
Facebook: John's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5717
Text relay calls welcome.
17-19 Leslie Street
Blairgowrie
PH10 6AH
Phone: 01250 876576
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Scottish National Party
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
29 June 2023 - 07 May 2024
Member
19 May 2021 - 28 March 2023
Scottish Government
18 May 2016 - 18 May 2021
Scottish Government
21 November 2014 - 18 May 2016
Scottish Government
21 November 2014 - 18 May 2016
Scottish Government
25 May 2011 - 21 November 2014
Scottish Government
17 May 2007 - 25 May 2011
Scottish Government
05 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Scottish National Party
05 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Scottish National Party
30 October 2004 - 02 April 2007
Substitute Member
20 September 2005 - 02 April 2007
Deputy Convener
15 September 2005 - 20 September 2005
Member
28 September 2004 - 14 September 2005
Convener
28 September 2004 - 14 September 2005
Member
15 September 2004 - 28 September 2004
Member
01 May 2003 - 03 September 2004
Scottish National Party
26 September 2000 - 31 March 2003
Scottish National Party
17 June 1999 - 01 November 2000
Member
06 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Scottish National Party
25 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Scottish National Party
25 May 1999 - 26 September 2000
Scottish National Party
17 June 1999 - 26 September 2000
Convener
24 August 1999 - 26 September 2000
Member
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.
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: 29 January 2026
The First Minister (John Swinney): "I think that the approach that the Scottish Government takes to benefits is based on the principles of fairness and dignity that this Parliament legislated for. I am proud to associate my Government with those values, which are enshrined in statute…
Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026
The First Minister (John Swinney): "Transparency and accountability in our national health service is essential to maintaining public trust. We have strengthened expectations around leadership, information governance, record keeping and decision making across NHS boards…
Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026
The First Minister (John Swinney): "That was not the case, and the reference for that is what counsel to the inquiry said on 23 January. They said:“There is no evidence of external pressure on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to open the hospital early or before it was ready to be opened…
Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026
The First Minister: "In addressing the issues around social care, it is vital that we provide the care that people require. We are investing £2 billion in social care integration, and that investment has increased over the lifetime of the Government…
Chamber meeting date: 29 January 2026
The First Minister (John Swinney): "I think that the approach that the Scottish Government takes to benefits is based on the principles of fairness and dignity that this Parliament legislated for. I am proud to associate my Government with those values, which are enshrined in statute…
Find out how John Swinney has voted recently.
Motion ref. S6M-20611.1
Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Independent. Date lodged: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Sharon Dowey, Fergus Ewing, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Michelle Thomson, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026
Result 28 for, 83 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted against
Disagreed
Motion ref. S6M-20549
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 26, 2026
Supported by: Jim Fairlie, Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026
Result 90 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Motion ref. S6M-20527
Submitted by: Mark Ruskell, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 29, 2026
Result 69 for, 27 against, 19 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted for
Agreed
Find out what motions John Swinney has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously employed by (a) Police Scotland, (b) any other police service and (c) the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of staff currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner were previously serving police officers."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 18 April 2024
Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 29 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many staff are currently employed by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, and in what roles."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 16 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government on how many occasions the treatment Olaparib has been prescribed in each NHS board area since it was approved for use by the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) in 2021."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to any implications of recent flooding events for wild salmon populations."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to measures to increase the wild salmon population through stocking initiatives."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 20 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 9 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Scottish Wild Salmon Strategy."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether consideration is being given, as part of the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer, to risk factors such as family history and ethnicity in improving the early detection of prostate cancer."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 5 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when the review of the Scottish Referral Guidelines for Suspected Cancer will be completed."
Asked by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party
Date lodged: 21 March 2024
Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the necessary genetic tests are available in all NHS board areas to enable the prescribing of Olaparib to treat prostate cancer."