Finlay Carson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Finlay Carson
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: finlaycarson.co.uk
Twitter: @fincarson
Facebook: Finlay's facebook
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 14 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 Ireland
Deputy Convener
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 Sustainable Uplands Management
Member
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: 8 February 2023
National Health Service Dentistry
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "The minister has mentioned improvements. Could she point to the improvements in Dumfries and Galloway? Dentists are not leaving the region but leaving the NHS—we are seeing a huge increase in private dental care."
Chamber meeting date: 2 February 2023
ME Services
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "First, I congratulate my colleague Sue Webber on bringing this member’s debate to the chamber today. As we have already heard, myalgic—I will not even try to pronounce it; we all know what I am talking about…
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee meeting date: 1 February 2023
Approved Country Lists (Animals and Animal Products) (Amendment) Regulations 2023
The Convener: "Our second item of business is consideration of a consent notification relating to a United Kingdom SI…
Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee meeting date: 1 February 2023
Food and Feed (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2022 (SSI 2022/373)
The Convener (Finlay Carson): "Good morning, and welcome to the third meeting in 2023 of the Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee. I remind members who are using electronic devices to switch them to silent…
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
Strategic Transport Projects Review 2
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "The cabinet secretary really has a nerve to stand up and regurgitate the same old lines—the same empty rhetoric—that we heard when he visited Stranraer more than four years ago…
Votes
How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 53 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Maree Todd, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Humza Yousaf
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 67 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Investing in the Future of Social Care
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 21 for, 95 against, 4 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Investing in the Future of Social Care
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, February 6, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 67 for, 53 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Addressing the Crisis in NHS Dentistry
Submitted by: Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, February 6, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 8, 2023
Result 65 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
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: 18 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what additional support it can offer to local authorities to help them to deal with consumer-related complaints within caravan parks."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 February 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12331 by Lorna Slater on 5 December 2022, for what reason it does not hold information on the number of successful hen harrier nests on RSPB and non-RSPB nature reserves in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, and whether it will take steps to obtain this information prior to introducing…
Answered by Lorna Slater on 16 January 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has had any discussions with Police Scotland which have resulted in a delay in implementing the short-term lets legislation."
Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with Police Scotland regarding the capacity of the police to process short-term lets applications."
Answered by Shona Robison on 12 January 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S5W-20621 and S5W-26208 by Roseanna Cunningham on 8 January and 22 November 2019, whether it will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the reported greater success rate of hen harrier nests on non-RSPB nature reserves compared to RSPB nature reserves."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 10 January 2023
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of reports that the heaviest 5% of drinkers are consuming 10% more since the introduction of minimum unit pricing."
Answered by Maree Todd on 15 December 2022
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether minimum unit pricing has achieved its aims, in light of reports that 2021 saw the highest number of alcohol-specific deaths in Scotland since 2008."
Answered by Maree Todd on 15 December 2022
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in light of reported evidence that shows some people dependent on alcohol reduce other expenditure, such as on food and utilities."
Answered by Maree Todd on 15 December 2022
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is providing to alcohol-dependent people with mental health problems."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 13 December 2022
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 November 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether there is a date set for the publication of the Strategic Transport Projects Review 2 (STPR2)."
Answered by Michael Matheson on 8 December 2022
See all of Finlay Carson's questions submitted in Parliament