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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.

High Court Trials (Waiting Times)

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

7. Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that waiting times for High Court trials are expected to almost triple by 2028. (S7O-00226)"

Type 1 Diabetes Services

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Around 35 per cent of adults with type 1 diabetes in Dumfries and Galloway are currently using insulin pumps, and a further 251 patients are clinically suitable for the therapy…

Hyperscale Data Centres

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "The member is being a bit hypocritical…

Hyperscale AI Data Centres

Chamber meeting date: 16 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "The member is being a bit hypocritical…

Rural Support Plan

Rural Affairs Committee meeting date: 16 September 2026

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I believe that we were told that the framework bill did not have any meat on its bones simply because it was a framework bill. Then the legislation said something about a rural support plan, but all that we are seeing now is a tick-the-box exercise…

Votes

How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.

Addressing the Harms of Health Misinformation

Motion ref. S7M-01200

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Supported by: Martyn Day, Alison Thewliss, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 17, 2026

Result 109 for, 2 against, 1 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Addressing the Harms of Health Misinformation

Motion ref. S7M-01200.1

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Supported by: Irshad Ahmed, Joe Long, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 17, 2026

Result 96 for, 17 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Addressing the Harms of Health Misinformation

Motion ref. S7M-01200.3

Submitted by: Helen McDade, Mid Scotland and Fife, Reform UK . Date lodged: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 17, 2026

Result 18 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Middle East: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Motion ref. S7M-01178.1

Submitted by: David Green, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Result 95 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Middle East: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

Motion ref. S7M-01178.4

Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

Supported by: James Adams
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Result 25 for, 85 against, 10 abstained, 9 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-03459

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring that as many people as possible will be able to respond to its Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas consultation."

Question reference: S7W-03458

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to monitor the socio-economic impacts of its proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas once they are in place and, if so, how."

Question reference: S7W-03463

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the feasibility of ensuring compliance with its proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas…

Question reference: S7W-03461

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what socio-economic factors it will (a) consider and (b) exclude when assessing proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas."

Question reference: S7W-03460

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that individuals and groups affected by the proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas are able to engage with the consultation process in locations where no drop-in consultation event is being held or…

Question reference: S7W-03462

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

Date lodged: 21 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to compensate any fishermen adversely affected by its proposed fisheries management measures for inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas."

Question reference: S7W-03010

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

Date lodged: 7 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 18 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how many helicopters it plans to have on standby in advance of the next wildfire season."

Question reference: S7W-03395

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

Date lodged: 17 September 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 1 October 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to consider the development of policy aimed at reducing herd or livestock numbers in order to achieve climate targets, should other policy approaches prove unsuccessful."

Question reference: S7O-00284

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

Date lodged: 16 September 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 24 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will increase support for research into brain tumour diagnostics and treatment."

Question reference: S7W-03009

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

Date lodged: 7 September 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jim Fairlie on 15 September 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether its new Public Procurement Taskforce will include consideration of how to reduce barriers to venison being used more widely in public sector catering menus."