Colin Smyth
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Colin Smyth
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: colinsmythmsp.com
Twitter: @colinsmythmsp
Facebook: Colin's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6986
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
17 Buccleuch Street
Dumfries
DG1 2AT
Phone: 01387 279205
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Colin is a member of 3 committees
Finance and Public Administration Committee
Substitute Member
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Colin is a member of 17 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on China
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Future of Football in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Heart and Circulatory Diseases
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Uplands Management
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Colin does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Colin has 5 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Economic Development
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Energy
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Net Zero
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Scottish Labour
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Colin has had 4 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
29 September 2021 - 01 February 2023
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Substitute Member
09 January 2018 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Member
28 June 2016 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 09 January 2018
Health and Sport Committee
Member
Register of interests
Colin'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 Colin Smyth. The date of their initial statement was 05 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
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
I am a member of the League Against Cruel Sports.
I am member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
Until 31 May 2016 I was a volunteer coordinator at Parkinson’s UK, a charity organisation (of 215 Vauxhaull Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EJ). I received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum and worked 35 hours per week. I do not believe this meets the prejudice test.
I am a member of Unite the Union.
I am Chairperson of the Eastriggs Railway Station Action Group (ERSAG).
I am Chairperson of the Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade Steering Group.
Until 4 May 2017, when I stood down, I was a senior councillor for Dumfries and Galloway Council (of English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DD). I worked approximately 20 hours per week and I received remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 per annum. I donated my salary to local and national good causes/charities. I do not believe this meets the prejudice test.
I am a member of GMB Union.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Colin Smyth 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: 2 February 2023
Budget (Scotland) (No 2) Bill: Stage 1
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "This is another budget where the reality has fallen way short of the Government’s rhetoric…
Chamber meeting date: 31 January 2023
Youth Vaping
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "Thank you to Siobhian Brown for lodging her motion for debate, providing a timely opportunity to discuss the phenomenal growth in vaping that has left behind both our understanding and regulation of e-cigarettes…
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
Strategic Transport Projects Review 2
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement. The track record of this Government and cabinet secretary on transport projects is one of overpromising and underdelivering…
Chamber meeting date: 25 January 2023
Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "The minister is correct to say that the legislative consent memorandum asks us to consider only one discrete aspect of the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill that is currently before the UK Parliament…
Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 25 January 2023
Disability Employment Gap
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "I want to follow up on that point with Emma Congreve. Is the challenge the fact that there is such a cocktail of different funding pots that all have their own criteria and evaluation…
Votes
How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament
Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: George Adam, Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Ivan McKee, Lorna Slater, Nicola Sturgeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Result 68 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 24 for, 96 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Ivan McKee, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Roz McCall, Liz Smith, Sue Webber
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 54 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Alexander Burnett, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Sue Webber, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Colin Smyth in Parliament
Find out what motions Colin Smyth has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Colin Smyth has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 30 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed reduction in the Major Public Transport Projects budget for 2023-24 will have any impact on the delivery of the rail projects outlined in Transport Scotland’s Control Period 6 plans."
Answer expected on 27 February 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 30 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the proposed reduction in the Major Public Transport Projects budget for 2023-24 will have any impact on jobs and staffing across Network Rail Scotland, contractors and the wider supply chain."
Answer expected on 27 February 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to promote the uptake of social security benefits by older people, including those who do not use the internet."
Answered by Ben Macpherson on 19 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is promoting the support available to help with the rising cost of living to people without access to the internet."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 19 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Transform Scotland’s report, Fair Fares – Rebuilding Scotland’s Public Transport through Accessible and Affordable Ticketing."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to increasing the quantity of environmental bathing water sampling from six months a year to 12, in light of the increase in wild swimming as a hobby across Scotland, and the reported increased risk of sewage overflows in winter weather, and what its position is on whether checking for…
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 9 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with SEPA regarding any increased risk to bathing waters being below sufficient classifications for swimming in, during winter weather."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 5 January 2023
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many active working groups there are that fall under the remit of (a) just transition, (b) net zero and (c) energy, and whether it will provide a list of these groups."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to close the autism spectrum employment gap."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any impact on Scotland, what its position is on whether the UK Government should leave the Energy Charter Treaty."
Answered by Ivan McKee on 5 December 2022