Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Sharon Dowey
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6980
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
18 Wellington Square
Ayr
KA7 1EZ
Phone: 01292 839130
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Sharon is a member of 2 committees
Criminal Justice Committee
Member
Public Audit Committee
Deputy Convener
Cross-party groups
Sharon is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gardening and Horticulture
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Mental Health
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Towns and Town Centres
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Sharon has 1 parliamentary and government role
Scottish Commission For Public Audit
Deputy Chair
Party Roles
Sharon has 1 party role
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Sharon has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
08 September 2021 - 29 June 2023
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee
Substitute Member
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
24 June 2021 - 01 September 2021
Scottish Commission for Public Audit
Member
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Public Audit Committee
Member
Register of interests
Sharon'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 Sharon Dowey. The date of their initial statement was 26 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until the election I was employed by William Morrison Supermarkets plc (a retailer of Kilwinning Road, Stevenston, KA20 3DE). I worked full time and received remuneration of between £45,001 and £50,000 a year. I handed in my notice on my election and am no longer employed by the company.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 7 October to 13 October 2023 I visited Delhi, India, as part of a delegation of the Cross Party Group on India. The purpose of the visit was to engage with FinTech and Culture organisations and senior politicians within the Indian government. The total costs of the visit, including flights, hotel accommodation, food and transport, amounted to £2,402.16 and were paid by Amit Shah, Director of Flight Path Travel (a tour and travel agency which sells, flights, hotels and tour packages; Office No. 1, Jubilee Business Centre, 211 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London, NW9 8AQ). [Registered 3 November 2023]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
I own a house in South Ayrshire with a market value of between £250,001 and £300,000. [Amended interest 5 April 2023]
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Sharon Dowey 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: 29 November 2023
Gender-based Violence
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "I am pleased to open this debate for my party, and I welcome the Parliament taking the chance to discuss this crucial issue during the international 16 days of activism against gender-based violence campaign…
Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 29 November 2023
Victims, Witnesses, and Justice Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "This certainly is confusing. We have majority, supermajority, simple majority and unanimity systems. From what you have said, I think that you are in favour of unanimity—no?"
Chamber meeting date: 23 November 2023
Road Safety (A77)
3. Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to reduce accidents and improve overall safety on the A77. (S6O-02767)"
Public Audit Committee meeting date: 23 November 2023
Section 23 Report: “Adult mental health”
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "I will ask about partnership working to address poor mental health. This question is for Fiona Davies and then Hannah Axon…
Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 22 November 2023
Deaths in Prison Custody
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "My colleague Russell Findlay has made most of the points that I was going to make…
Votes
How Sharon Dowey has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sharon Dowey has voted recently.
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 30, 2023
Result 82 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 23, 2023
Result 19 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 52 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 87 for, 3 against, 25 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Sharon Dowey in Parliament
Find out what motions Sharon Dowey has submitted recently.
Tarbolton Sergeant Rhianna Skipsey Awarded Cadet Adult Recognition Awards Honour
The National Lottery’s Community Fund to Offer Funds for Ayr and Prestwick Men’s Shed
Questions
Questions Sharon Dowey has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what grant support is available for horticultural growers that are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to implement water retention innovations, such as reservoirs and water tanks, to encourage recycling rather than mains water use."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent assessment has been made of the presence of the range of horticultural opportunities that are featured in careers guidance, including in the areas of (a) science, (b) technical, (c) retail, (d) tourism, (e) planning and (f) health."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to ensure that environmental horticulture is utilised as a policy solution in relation to climate change, the economy, health, and the planning system, as outlined in the Horticultural Trades Association's Scottish Environmental Horticulture Growth Strategy."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken in light of the report of the review of the Victim Notification Scheme, which was published in May 2023."
Answered by Angela Constance on 27 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to introduce legislation to make changes to the Victim Notification Scheme, in light of the publication of the report of the review of the scheme in May 2023."
Answered by Angela Constance on 27 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what support will be provided for tree and plant growers to trial and develop new peat-free growing media mixes."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 24 November 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to address any misuse of cards issued through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme by young people committing acts of antisocial behaviour in communities."
Answer expected on 8 December 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government to what extent it is monitoring and analysing data on any increase in antisocial behaviour in (a) general and (b) relation to the implementation of the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme."
Answer expected on 8 December 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what mechanisms are in place to revoke or suspend cards issued through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme in cases where young people have been found to be using them while committing acts of antisocial behaviour."
Answer expected on 8 December 2023
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what data it has on any incidents of (a) damage to vehicles, (b) abuse of bus drivers and (c) other antisocial behaviour by young people while using a card issued through the Young Persons’ (Under 22s) Free Bus Travel scheme."
Answer expected on 8 December 2023