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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 not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Finlay Carson is not a member of any cross-party groups

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.

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.

National Health Service

Chamber meeting date: 3 June 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I join other members in thanking NHS staff, including maternity services across rural communities, particularly in Galloway, where they are under pressure…

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

Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I had no intention of speaking in this debate. However, the idea that coercion does not exist is very naive. I will give an example…

Justice Services (Rural Areas)

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

Finlay Carson: "Even before Covid, Rape Crisis Scotland warned that survivors in Wigtownshire were waiting more than two years for justice. In Stranraer, things are only getting worse, with just one sheriff and no local jury trials…

Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Chamber meeting date: 28 January 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I will address amendment 153, which was lodged by Emma Harper, and set out why a guidance-only approach cannot deliver the practical change that stakeholders, particularly processors, need…

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness

Chamber meeting date: 20 November 2025

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I am grateful to Clare Adamson for securing this important debate, which marks world pancreatic cancer day during pancreatic cancer awareness month. It is not the first time that I have spoken on this subject in the chamber…

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Wealth Taxation for Public Services

Motion ref. S7M-00249

Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Supported by: Hannah Mary Goodlad
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026

Result 84 for, 28 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Wealth Taxation for Public Services

Motion ref. S7M-00249.5

Submitted by: Willie Rennie, Fife North East, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026

Result 52 for, 69 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Wealth Taxation for Public Services

Motion ref. S7M-00249.3

Submitted by: Craig Hoy, Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026

Result 28 for, 94 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Wealth Taxation for Public Services

Motion ref. S7M-00249.1

Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026

Result 30 for, 37 against, 55 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Wealth Taxation for Public Services

Motion ref. S7M-00249.4

Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 4, 2026

Result 95 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

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-00841

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

Date lodged: 5 June 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 19 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential of geothermal energy to heat homes in Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-00834

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

Date lodged: 5 June 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 19 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential for geothermal energy in Scotland."

Question reference: S7W-00835

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

Date lodged: 5 June 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 19 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to encourage private investment in geothermal energy."

Question reference: S7W-00842

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

Date lodged: 5 June 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 19 June 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of the potential of geothermal energy for job creation in Scotland."

Question reference: S6O-05636

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

Date lodged: 4 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to protect and strengthen schools in rural areas."

Question reference: S6W-43812

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

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 2 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has had with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology regarding the potential for a respiratory Modern Service Framework to strengthen the UK's life sciences ecosystem by scaling up the adoption of new medicines and innovations for lung…

Question reference: S6W-43815

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

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care’s timeframe is for deciding on the second wave of the Modern Service Frameworks, and whether respiratory conditions will be considered."

Question reference: S6W-43814

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

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 26 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has given to the role of a respiratory Modern Service Framework in reducing winter pressures on the NHS by simultaneously improving outcomes for long-term respiratory conditions and short-term respiratory illness such as flu."

Question reference: S6W-43813

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

Date lodged: 18 February 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has made of the (a) prevalence of respiratory disease and (b) number of emergency hospital admissions for respiratory conditions in Galloway and West Dumfries compared with national averages in each of the last three years, and what steps he is taking to…

Question reference: S6O-05536

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

Date lodged: 11 February 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 19 February 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how its draft Budget 2026-27 will ensure meaningful infrastructure improvements in the south of Scotland."