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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
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Finlay Carson

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency)

About Finlay Carson

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @fincarson

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 01556 504991
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.

Career as MSP

Career as MSP

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency)
05 May 2016 to present

Committees

Finlay Carson is a member of 2 committees

Climate Action Committee

Substitute Member

Rural Affairs Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Finlay Carson is a member of 1 cross-party group

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Finlay Carson does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Finlay Carson has 1 party role

Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural & Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Finlay Carson has had the following roles in Parliament

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

01 February 2023 to 08 April 2026

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Convener

22 June 2021 to 08 April 2026

Conveners Group

Member

22 June 2021 to 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Convener

17 June 2021 to 22 June 2021

Rural Affairs, Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

11 August 2020 to 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Natural Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 to 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

17 September 2019 to 04 May 2021

Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Deputy Convener

18 February 2020 to 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 to 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 to 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Climate Change

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 June 2017 to 25 February 2020

Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee

Substitute Member

18 September 2019 to 25 February 2020

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

28 June 2017 to 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2017 to 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Animal Welfare

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2017 to 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Digital Economy

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 June 2016 to 17 September 2019

Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

26 May 2016 to 28 June 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Fisheries

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

26 May 2016 to 28 June 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Register of interests

Finlay Carson'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 03 June 2026.

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

No registrable interests.

Recent Activity

Official Report

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.

Town of Culture 2028 (South Scotland)

Chamber meeting date: 1 October 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Culture can play a powerful role in telling the story of our communities…

Marine and Fisheries

Rural Affairs Committee meeting date: 30 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "It is lovely to see you all again, but there is a bit of déjà vu. I have been an MSP for 10 years, and reform of inshore fisheries has been on the agenda for every one of those years but we still have not seen any progress…

Springholm and Crocketford Bypass

Chamber meeting date: 29 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Local communities and businesses from across Dumfries and Galloway, and the United Kingdom, have waited many decades for the Springholm and Crocketford bypass, but progress is now being made…

Brain Tumour Diagnostics and Treatment (Research)

Chamber meeting date: 24 September 2026

6. Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase support for research into brain tumour diagnostics and treatment. (S7O-00284)"

Bluetongue Outbreak (Vaccine Procurement)

Chamber meeting date: 23 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Given that achieving high vaccination rates before next year’s mid-season will be critical in protecting Scotland’s livestock sector, will the Scottish Government commit to funding the sector and running a national awareness campaign to encourage vaccine uptake, providing clear and consistent guidance to farmers to give them confidence that they…

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Strengthening Scotland’s Cyber Resilience

Motion ref. S7M-01517.2

Submitted by: Maggie Chapman, North East Scotland, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Supported by: Patrick Harvie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 8, 2026

Result 65 for, 42 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Cyber Resilience

Motion ref. S7M-01517

Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Supported by: Kirsten Oswald
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 8, 2026

Result 70 for, 37 against, 0 abstained, 22 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Cyber Resilience

Motion ref. S7M-01517.1

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 8, 2026

Result 96 for, 13 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Strengthening Scotland’s Cyber Resilience

Motion ref. S7M-01517.3

Submitted by: Amanda Bland, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 8, 2026

Result 35 for, 74 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP not voted

Disagreed

Supporting Scotland's Fishing Industry

Motion ref. S7M-01460.3

Submitted by: James Adams, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Result 102 for, 15 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP not voted

Agreed

Motions

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.

Question reference: S7W-04189

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 9 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 6 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to increase (a) the number of nursing posts available and (b) the number of nurses employed in (i) Dumfries and Galloway and (ii) other rural areas of Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-03804

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 30 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to ensure that proposed statutory food price caps do not lead to food shortages and reliance on cheaper imports."

Question reference: S7W-03803

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 30 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will consider investment in food production as an alternative to its proposed food price caps."

Question reference: S7W-03735

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 28 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 8 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W-00155 by Tom Arthur on 3 June 2026, by what date it will complete the rollout of its R100 programme."

Question reference: S7W-04100

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 7 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact of its Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy on rural communities."

Question reference: S7W-04101

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 7 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 4 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will outline how it is supporting the expansion of walk-in mental health hubs across Scotland, particularly in rural, remote and island communities."

Question reference: S7W-03570

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Gethins on 6 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported calls by the Scottish Fishermen's Federation that people affected by major energy infrastructure projects "should be properly compensated"."

Question reference: S7W-03695

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 25 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 6 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the number of Scottish Basic Payment Scheme claims that remain unresolved as a result of outstanding verification requirements associated with the Future Farming Investment Scheme."

Question reference: S7W-03698

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 25 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many people from the 2025-26 Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine pathway cohort have taken up roles within the NHS in Scotland, broken down by NHS board."

Question reference: S7W-03697

Asked by: Finlay Carson, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged: 25 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Angela Constance on 6 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many students there were in the 2025-26 final year cohort of the Scottish Graduate Entry Medicine pathway."