Brian Whittle
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Brian Whittle
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: brianwhittle.org.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @BrianWhittle
Facebook: Brian's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5623
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Brian is a member of 2 committees
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Brian is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Brian does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Brian has 3 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Business
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Economic Growth
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Brian has had 16 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
08 September 2021 - 08 February 2024
Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee
Substitute Member
17 June 2021 - 14 July 2023
COVID19 Recovery Committee
Member
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
Substitute Member
26 May 2016 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 25 February 2020
Public Petitions Committee
Member
26 May 2016 - 18 February 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health Education
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
17 November 2016 - 29 June 2017
Health and Sport Committee
Substitute Member
28 June 2016 - 29 June 2017
Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Brian'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 Brian Whittle. The date of their initial statement was 14 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
On 22 March 2022, I became Director of Trackside Consultancy, a business advice consultancy of Regent Court, 70 West Regent Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G2 2QZ. I do not undertake any work within parliamentary time and work a maximum of 12 hours per month. I received remuneration of £1,000 on 16th May 2022 and £1,000 on 19th May 2022. I received remuneration of £1,000 on 29 June 2022 and £1,000 on 7 July 2022. I received remuneration of £1,200 on 13 January 2023. I received remuneration of £1,200 on 9 November 2023 and £2,400 on 10 November 2023. I received remuneration of £2,000 on 9 February 2024. I received remuneration of £2,000 on 24 March 2024. [Registered 19 April 2022; Amended interest 26 July 2022, Amended interest 1 February 2023, Amended interest 23 November 2023, Amended interest 29 February 2024, Amended interest 24 April 2024]
Gifts
On 10 February 2024 I was a guest of the renewable energy department at Scottish Gas (of One Waterfront Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1SG) at the Scotland vs France Rugby International. I would estimate the value of the hospitality at £500. [Registered 29 February 2024]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
On 22nd March 2022, I acquired 95 ordinary shares, with a nominal value of £1 per share, representing 95% of the issued share capital in Trackside Consultancy, a business advice consultancy of Regent Court, 70 West Regent Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G2 2QZ. [Registered 19 April 2022]
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Brian Whittle 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: 16 May 2024
Free School Meals (Income Threshold)
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "While we are discussing free school meals, will the cabinet secretary consider providing morning activities with breakfast as a worthwhile investment against the costs of issues such as poor physical and mental health, attainment and behaviour, and hunger? Might she even consider a pilot scheme on that subject?"
Chamber meeting date: 16 May 2024
Prison Population
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "As always, Deputy Presiding Officer. The cabinet secretary has stated that the cause of the sudden increase is unclear and that the Scottish Prison Service’s ability to deliver rehabilitative regimes has been severely curtailed…
Chamber meeting date: 14 May 2024
Action to Tackle Climate Change
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I will try to bring the chamber back to reality. I thank my friend and colleague Maurice Golden for securing the debate. In my view, climate change has been sliding down the agenda for some time, not just globally but specifically in Scotland…
Chamber meeting date: 8 May 2024
Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People (Cass Review)
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "It is fair to say that the gender rights debate and legislation have been the most contentious that the Parliament has had to deal with during my time as an MSP…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 8 May 2024
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I have lodged amendment 44 because I believe that it would be a missed opportunity if we did not consider how the provisions of the bill would support the objectives of the forthcoming good food nation plan…
Votes
How Brian Whittle has voted in Parliament
Find out how Brian Whittle has voted recently.
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Roz McCall
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 29 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 13, 2024
Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 95 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 62 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 13, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 62 for, 61 against, 1 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 69 for, 33 against, 22 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Brian Whittle in Parliament
Find out what motions Brian Whittle has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Brian Whittle has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the transport secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential impact on Scotland’s aviation industry of any proposals to levy an air departure tax on short-haul flights in Scotland."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26130 by Gillian Martin on 19 March 2024, as part of its work to explore other avenues with the onshore renewables industry to maximise benefits flowing into communities, whether it has specifically considered maintaining community benefit schemes and community shared ownership…
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 April 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) how many meeting room bookings within the Scottish Parliament estate have been made in each of the last two years, broken down by those that were made by (a) ministers or ministerial staff, (b) SPCB staff, (c) non-ministerial MSPs or MSP staff and (d) anyone else."
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 25 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many gigawatts worth of battery storage developments have secured planning permission to date."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers non-domestic battery energy storage to be a "small scale renewable" under the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the development of a national strategy for energy storage developments in the context of planning."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the spatial principles in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in order of priority."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on land value in rural areas of its reported decision to consider battery storage developments as generating stations in relation to planning consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for battery storage sites were granted by the Energy Consents Unit between 2013 and 2023."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the former chairman of Prestwick Airport resigned his post to lead a bid to purchase the airport."
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
See all of Brian Whittle's questions submitted in Parliament