Graham Simpson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Graham Simpson
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6983
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Room 35-36, Airdrie Business Centre
1 Chapel Lane
Airdrie
ML6 6GX
Committees
Graham is a member of 2 committees
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Graham is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Credit Unions
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Germany
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Life Sciences
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Maritime and Shipbuilding
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport
Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Graham does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Graham has 1 party role
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Graham has had 10 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 22 September 2022
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
27 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Deputy Convener
16 December 2020 - 04 May 2021
Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee
Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
20 August 2020 - 27 August 2020
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Social Security Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 20 August 2020
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Convener
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Conveners Group
Member
29 June 2017 - 05 September 2017
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
Register of interests
Graham'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 Graham Simpson. The date of their initial statement was 14 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1460 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 1 August 2022]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Graham Simpson 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
South Lanarkshire College (Dismissal of Principal)
3. Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received that the correct procedures were used by the board of South Lanarkshire College when it took the decision to dismiss its principal. (S6O-01854)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
Swimming Pool Closures (Falkirk Council)
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "Falkirk Council is considering closing four school swimming pools and one public pool in order to make ends meet. I have had numerous emails about that; it boils down to council funding cuts from the Scottish Government…
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
Rent Freeze (Effect on Availability)
5. Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted on the effect of the rent cap on the number of homes available for rent in the private sector. (S6O-01824)"
Chamber meeting date: 26 January 2023
Strategic Transport Projects Review 2
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of his statement, which should have been delivered when STPR2 was released at the end of last year…
Chamber meeting date: 25 January 2023
Homelessness
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "Will the member take an intervention?"
Votes
How Graham Simpson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Graham Simpson 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 against
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 against
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 not voted
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Graham Simpson in Parliament
Find out what motions Graham Simpson has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Graham Simpson has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12954 by Jamie Hepburn on 20 December 2022, which of the Good Governance Task Group’s recommendations on college governance that were made in 2016 (a) have been and (b) are still to be implemented."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 26 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 25 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what assurances it has received that the correct procedures were used by the board of South Lanarkshire College when it took the decision to dismiss its Principal."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted on the effect of the rent cap on the number of homes available for rent in the private sector."
Taken in the Chamber on 26 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S6W-12054 and S6W-12392 by Jenny Gilruth on 17 November 2022 and 6 December 2022, whether it has the power to extend the Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service contract after its conclusion in September 2024, and for what reason it has not provided this information in its answers."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 9 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects the National Records of Scotland will start publishing the Migration Statistics Quarterly Summary for Scotland again."
Answered by Angus Robertson on 5 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the St Andrew's Award for exceptional acts of bravery can be awarded posthumously."
Answered by Keith Brown on 5 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what the qualifying criteria are for recipients of the St Andrew's Award for exceptional acts of bravery."
Answered by Keith Brown on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its progress in closing the attainment gap."
Taken in the Chamber on 12 January 2023
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider recognising emergency workers who have been killed in the line of duty through the St Andrew's Award for exceptional acts of bravery."
Answered by Keith Brown on 21 December 2022
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the 2016 report, Good College Governance, what consideration it has given to the recommendation that appointing bodies should provide comprehensive information for prospective college board members."
Answered by Jamie Hepburn on 20 December 2022
See all of Graham Simpson's questions submitted in Parliament