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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.

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…

Rural Support Plan

Chamber meeting date: 23 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "He could change it!"

Flood Resilience

Chamber meeting date: 23 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "According to SEPA, flooding remains Scotland’s most serious climate-related threat and, sadly, it is becoming more frequent, more intense and more damaging. The impact is felt across Scotland, including in Dumfries and Galloway…

Family Farm Tax

Chamber meeting date: 22 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "What discussions has the Scottish Government had with the United Kingdom Government on reversing the cruel family farm tax in the upcoming autumn budget?"

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.2

Submitted by: Q Manivannan, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 99 for, 16 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.4

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 40 for, 65 against, 7 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304

Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Martyn Day, Alyn Smith
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 89 for, 22 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.3

Submitted by: Katherine Sangster, Edinburgh and Lothians East, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 46 for, 53 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Growing Scotland’s Creative Economy

Motion ref. S7M-01304.1

Submitted by: David Kirkwood, South Scotland, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 24, 2026

Result 15 for, 93 against, 7 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

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-03698

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

Date lodged: 25 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 9 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: Answer expected on 9 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."

Question reference: S7W-03695

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

Date lodged: 25 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 9 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-03570

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

Date lodged: 23 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 7 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-03249

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) begin and (b) complete consultation on its Rural Renewal Bill."

Question reference: S7W-03270

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to the maintenance, repair and development of the 7Stanes trail network in each of the last 10 years, and what its position is on whether current funding levels are sufficient to maintain the 7Stanes network to an appropriate standard."

Question reference: S7W-03272

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has assessed the impact of trail closures, downgraded routes or maintenance backlogs on tourism and visitor numbers at 7Stanes centres, and what its long-term strategy is for the 7Stanes network and mountain biking tourism in south-west Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-03268

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 23 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what estimate it has made of the potential economic impact of the 7Stanes network on Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders."

Question reference: S7W-03218

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for regulations to be updated to protect dogs from poor breeding practices, particularly those that can result in heritable health conditions."

Question reference: S7W-03219

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

Date lodged: 14 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to review the impact of the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2025 in reducing illegal puppy trading."