Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Sharon Dowey
Contact details
Contact online
Post-d: Sharon.Dowey.msp@parliament.scot
X (previously known as Twitter): @SharonDowey_
Facebook: Sharon's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6980
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
18 Wellington Square
Ayr
KA7 1EZ
Phone: 01292 839130
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Cross-party groups
Sharon is a member of 14 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gardening and Horticulture
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Mental Health
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Music
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Towns and Town Centres
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Sharon has 1 parliamentary and government role
Scottish Commission For Public Audit
Deputy Chair
Party Roles
Sharon has 1 party role
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Sharon has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
23 June 2021 - 08 February 2024
Public Audit Committee
Deputy Convener
08 September 2021 - 29 June 2023
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Substitute Member
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
24 June 2021 - 01 September 2021
Scottish Commission for Public Audit
Member
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Public Audit Committee
Member
Register of interests
Sharon'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 Sharon Dowey 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: 24 April 2024
Scottish Prison Service (Workforce)
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "HMP Kilmarnock recently transitioned into public ownership, but the process of harmonising staff contracts with public sector terms and conditions is taking longer than expected…
Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 24 April 2024
Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "Good morning. Earlier, you said that the police were less prepared to investigate complaints involving discrimination. Is there an issue because they do not want to investigate the complaints, or is it a problem with their procedures?"
Chamber meeting date: 23 April 2024
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "It is tough to sum up today’s debate in the time that is available…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Prison Officers Association (68 Is Too Late Campaign)
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "I thank Pauline McNeill for bringing the debate to the chamber and for bringing the Prison Officers Association to Holyrood at the end of March, when we heard from it directly about its campaign…
Chamber meeting date: 17 April 2024
Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "Thank you, Presiding Officer. The hate—"
Votes
How Sharon Dowey has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sharon Dowey has voted recently.
Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Natalie Don, Renfrewshire North and West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Supported by: Angela Constance, Graeme Dey, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, April 25, 2024
Result 71 for, 49 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 44 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 44 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 64 for, 46 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Result 47 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Sharon Dowey in Parliament
Find out what motions Sharon Dowey has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Sharon Dowey has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the baseline funding for the drug and alcohol rehabilitation programme in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire beyond the current allocations, in light of reports of a projected increase to 40 referrals for 2024-25."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is collaborating with (a) other governments across the UK, (b) law enforcement agencies and (c) technology platforms to address the reported proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes, and what resources are being allocated for (i) education and (ii) prevention of any associated crimes."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to (a) track and (b) prosecute cases involving the distribution, publication, or sale of sexually explicit deepfake images, particularly in cases where the depicted individuals did not consent to such depictions."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has allocated to the Alcohol and Drugs Partnership (ADP) in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire for the 2024-25 financial year."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed, or plans to review, any current legislation in light of the UK Government's proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill regarding sexually explicit deepfakes, and what its position is on whether there are any gaps in Scots law in relation to deepfake technology."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect women and other vulnerable groups from the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure equitable access to alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire, in light of reports that the 12-week programme costs between £15,000 and £20,000 per person."
Answer expected on 9 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of not meeting its target of creating 18,000 hectares of new woodland in 2024-25."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 24 April 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to ensure that the 62-day cancer treatment standard is met in NHS Ayrshire and Arran."
Answered by Neil Gray on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on Police Scotland's pilot to no longer investigate some minor crimes in the north east, and whether there are any plans to roll this out across Scotland."
Answer expected on 1 May 2024