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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 2 cross-party groups

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ireland

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

18 September 2019 to 25 February 2020

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Substitute Member

29 June 2017 to 25 February 2020

Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny 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-01517.1

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

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-01517.2

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

Supporting Scotland's Fishing Industry

Motion ref. S7M-01460.5

Submitted by: Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 6, 2026

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

Result 21 for, 78 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP not voted

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-04234

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

Date lodged: 12 October 2026

Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, (a) how much has been spent, (b) how many homes have been provided for key workers, and (c) in which local authorities homes have been provided, since 2023, and (d) whether the Fund will be continued beyond 2028."

Question reference: S7W-04233

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

Date lodged: 12 October 2026

Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 22 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund, (a) how much of the total fund has been spent, (b) how many homes have been provided, and (c) in which local authorities homes have been provided, (i) in 2025-26 and (ii) since April 2026."

Question reference: S7W-03736

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

Date lodged: 28 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 22 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many businesses applied to the Cairngorms Fire Recovery Fund, broken down by how many applications from tier (a) 1 and (b) 2 businesses were (i) approved and (ii) not approved."

Question reference: S7W-04390

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

Date lodged: 21 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will begin work on the National Deer Management and Venison Plan following the commencement of the relevant sections of the Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2026."

Question reference: S7W-04389

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

Date lodged: 21 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to publish its first National Deer Management and Venison Plan."

Question reference: S7O-00384

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

Date lodged: 21 October 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 27 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address concerns raised in the Scottish Human Rights Commission's October 2026 report, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the South of Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-03959

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

Date lodged: 2 October 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the joint government and industry communications group established in relation to the bluetongue virus, whether it will provide information on (a) which industry representatives will be members, (b) when the first meeting will take place and (c) how long it expects the group to exist."

Question reference: S7W-03960

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

Date lodged: 2 October 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 20 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recently announced urban deer management pilot scheme in the Central Belt, whether it plans to support future proposed deer management and venison supply scheme in other parts of Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-04351

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

Date lodged: 19 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what further action it will take to understand and address the factors contributing to the reported rise in the cost of farm fires in Scotland, in light of the findings of NFU Mutual's latest farm fires report."

Question reference: S7W-04352

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

Date lodged: 19 October 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 16 November 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that rural areas have sufficient fire resources, in light of NFU Mutual's latest farm fires report, which reported a 22% increase in the cost of farm fires between 2024 and 2025."