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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.

House Building (Rural Areas)

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what further action it will take to increase house building, particularly in rural areas. (S7O-00153)"

House Building (Rural Areas)

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what further action it will take to increase house building, particularly in rural areas. (S7O-00153)"

House Building (Rural Areas)

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what further action it will take to increase house building, particularly in rural areas. (S7O-00153)"

Driving Test Delays

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I congratulate Keith Brown on gaining cross-party support for this motion, losing it, then gaining it once again…

Driving Test Delays

Chamber meeting date: 2 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I congratulate Keith Brown on gaining cross-party support for this motion, losing it, then gaining it once again…

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Eradicating Child Poverty, the Scottish Government’s Defining Mission

Motion ref. S7M-01022

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Supported by: Siobhian Brown, Simita Kumar, Màiri McAllan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 3, 2026

Result 36 for, 63 against, 15 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Eradicating Child Poverty, the Scottish Government’s Defining Mission

Motion ref. S7M-01022.4

Submitted by: Morven-May MacCallum, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 3, 2026

Result 59 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Eradicating Child Poverty, the Scottish Government’s Defining Mission

Motion ref. S7M-01022.1

Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scot and Lothians West, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 3, 2026

Result 35 for, 68 against, 9 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Eradicating Child Poverty, the Scottish Government’s Defining Mission

Motion ref. S7M-01022.2

Submitted by: Holly Bruce, Glasgow Southside, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 3, 2026

Result 15 for, 83 against, 13 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Eradicating Child Poverty, the Scottish Government’s Defining Mission

Motion ref. S7M-01022.5

Submitted by: Julie MacDougall, Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 3, 2026

Result 21 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motions

Motions made by Finlay Carson in Parliament

Find out what motions Finlay Carson has submitted recently.

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-02895

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

Date lodged: 3 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the comment at the Rural Affairs Committee on 2 September 2026 that the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board had ceased to exist, whether it will confirm (a) on what date the board was discontinued, (b) for what reason this decision was taken and (c) how its role will be replaced."

Question reference: S7W-02894

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

Date lodged: 3 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 18 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when the Agriculture Reform Implementation Oversight Board last met."

Question reference: S7W-02522

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has identified any priority schemes on the A75 and A77 that could be progressed before completion of the Corridor Action Plans."

Question reference: S7W-02521

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assurance it can provide that the Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77 will result in capital investment projects being progressed, rather than further review and assessment work."

Question reference: S7W-02516

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects consultants to be appointed to develop Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77, and what timescale has been set for the completion of this work."

Question reference: S7W-02517

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what funding has been allocated for the commissioning and delivery of Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77, and from which budget line this expenditure will be met."

Question reference: S7W-02520

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to publishing a timetable for investment in, and delivery of, any recommended improvements identified in the A75 and A77 Corridor Action Plans, and, if so, when it anticipates publishing such a timetable."

Question reference: S7W-02518

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what criteria will be used by the consultants developing the Corridor Action Plans to assess potential upgrades to the A75 and A77, including improvements to road safety, journey reliability, resilience and economic connectivity."

Question reference: S7W-02519

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

Date lodged: 18 August 2026

Current Status: Answered by Stephen Flynn on 3 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with local communities, businesses, freight operators, ferry operators, elected representatives and other stakeholders in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire during the development of the Corridor Action Plans for the A75 and A77."

Question reference: S7O-00188

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

Date lodged: 2 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 9 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that local authorities have sufficient resources to support town centres."