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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Michael Matheson

Scottish National Party

MSP for Falkirk West (Constituency) 2007 - present day

Former MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 1999 - 2007

About Michael Matheson

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 01324 629271
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Suite 5, Brightstone Spaces
Williamson Street
Falkirk
FK1 1PR

Phone: 01324 629271
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Michael is a member of 2 committees

Cross-party groups

Michael is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Michael does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Michael does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Michael has had 30 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

11 September 2024 - 17 September 2024

Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee

Member

29 March 2023 - 08 February 2024

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Scottish Government

19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport

Scottish Government

26 June 2018 - 19 May 2021

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity

Scottish Government

18 May 2016 - 26 June 2018

Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Scottish Government

25 November 2014 - 18 May 2016

Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Scottish Government

25 May 2011 - 25 November 2014

Minister for Public Health

Scottish Government

23 December 2010 - 22 March 2011

Scotland Bill Committee

Substitute Member

13 June 2007 - 22 March 2011

Health and Sport Committee

Member

11 February 2010 - 02 December 2010

End of Life Assistance Scotland Bill Committee

Member

03 March 2009 - 01 July 2010

European and External Relations Committee

Deputy Convener

26 February 2009 - 03 March 2009

European and External Relations Committee

Member

01 November 2006 - 02 April 2007

Justice 2 Committee

Member

01 March 2006 - 02 April 2007

Glasgow Airport Rail Link Bill Committee

Member

23 September 2004 - 31 October 2006

Enterprise and Culture Committee

Member

13 September 2004 - 11 September 2006

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish National Party

13 September 2004 - 11 September 2006

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish National Party

30 September 2004 - 21 February 2006

Education Committee

Substitute Member

16 June 2004 - 30 September 2004

Edinburgh Tram Line One Bill Committee

Member

03 September 2003 - 29 September 2004

Justice 2 Committee

Substitute Member

04 June 2003 - 21 September 2004

Justice 1 Committee

Member

01 May 2003 - 13 September 2004

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish National Party

01 May 2003 - 13 September 2004

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish National Party

09 October 2001 - 31 March 2003

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish National Party

13 January 2000 - 31 March 2003

Party Spokesperson on Equal Opportunities

Scottish National Party

13 July 1999 - 31 March 2003

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish National Party

16 May 2002 - 31 March 2003

Equal Opportunities Committee

Substitute Member

08 January 2001 - 31 March 2003

Justice 1 Committee

Member

13 January 2000 - 07 January 2001

Justice and Home Affairs Committee

Member

17 June 1999 - 13 January 2000

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Michael'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 Michael Matheson. The date of their initial statement was 24 May 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

No registrable interests

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

I own, jointly with my wife, a house in the Highland Council local authority area, with a market value of between £250,001 and £300,000. The property generates an income of between £15,001 to £20,000 per annum. [Amended interest 29 May 2024, Amended interest 5 August 2024]

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am an Ambassador for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. [Registered 17 September 2024]

I am an Ambassador for Highland Renewables. This is an unpaid role. [Registered 21 October 2025]

On 12 August 2023 I and my wife attended a football game as guests of the board of Queen’s Park Football Club (of Lesser Hampden Park, Letherby Drive, Glasgow G42 9BA). I was invited on an individual basis. The value of the tickets was approximately £200. [Registered 30 November 2023]

I have an Honorary Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation. [Registered 5 August 2024]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Michael Matheson 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.

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2026

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "I am grateful to the members who have lodged amendments in this group on coercion, which is one of the key risks that are associated with the bill…

Environmental Standards Scotland Strategy 2026-2031 (ESS/2026/01)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 10 March 2026

Michael Matheson: "Let us turn to your enforcement role. Given your experience to date, it would be helpful to get a sense of how you are finding the approach that you are taking to enforcement…

MV Glen Sannox (Hull 801) and MV Glen Rosa (Hull 802)

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 10 March 2026

Michael Matheson: "Good morning. I turn to the issues with the Glen Sannox. It has now had to have emergency repairs associated with cracks in its hull carried out on two occasions…

Railways Bill

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 10 March 2026

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "Good morning. A key part of making the new arrangements work effectively is the memorandum of understanding that will be developed between the Scottish Government and the UK Government…

Draft Climate Change Plan

Chamber meeting date: 5 March 2026

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "To begin, I apologise for being slightly late for the start of the debate.I will seek to draw the debate together in a consensual fashion, given the importance of the issue…

Votes

How Michael Matheson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Michael Matheson has voted recently.

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-21035.1

Submitted by: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Result 31 for, 89 against, 1 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-21077

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Result 101 for, 19 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 168

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Result 68 for, 51 against, 4 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 165

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Result 102 for, 19 against, 3 abstained, 5 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 46 Amendment 164

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Result 67 for, 53 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Michael Matheson has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6O-05661

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 11 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support local authorities, including Falkirk Council, to deliver vital services, including those aimed at reducing child poverty."

Question reference: S6W-43977

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported marine energy sector calls for it and the UK Government to work together in delivering policies that are required to support commercialisation."

Question reference: S6W-43978

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland’s marine energy sector to protect its home-grown, innovative skills and knowledge base, and how it is working with partners, including the UK Government, to develop policy to achieve this."

Question reference: S6W-43980

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research suggesting that Scotland’s marine energy sector could generate over £8 billion for Scotland’s economy, creating over 60,000 jobs, by 2050, and what it is doing to support the sector to deliver this."

Question reference: S6W-43165

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 16 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what role integration joint boards have in monitoring funding allocated by the Scottish Government to hospices."

Question reference: S6W-43032

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to increase awareness of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, in NHS Scotland, in both primary and secondary care settings."

Question reference: S6W-43035

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026."

Question reference: S6W-43031

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further its understanding of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, and support diagnosis and treatment of patients."

Question reference: S6W-43033

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, and whether it has observed any changes in the level of prevalence over the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-43034

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support research and clinical trials for the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis."