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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Colin Smyth

Scottish Labour

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day

About Colin Smyth

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @colinsmythmsp

Facebook: Colin's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6986
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

1 Church Crescent
Dumfries
DG1 1DF

Phone: 01387 279205
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Colin is a member of 18 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Animal Welfare

Deputy Convener

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on China

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Civil Nuclear Industry

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Heart and Circulatory Diseases

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Japan

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Malawi

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry

Deputy Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Colin has 1 parliamentary and government role

Conveners Group

Member

Party Roles

Colin does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Colin has had 23 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

17 June 2021 - 13 November 2024

Economy and Fair Work Committee

Member

16 November 2023 - 31 January 2024

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

01 February 2023 - 25 April 2023

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Substitute Member

22 September 2021 - 25 April 2023

Finance and Public Administration Committee

Substitute Member

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Economic Development

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

Scottish Labour

30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Net Zero

Scottish Labour

30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Energy

Scottish Labour

30 November 2021 - 10 April 2023

Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Labour

29 September 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Substitute Member

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on External Affairs

Scottish Labour

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Constitution

Scottish Labour

01 March 2021 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Europe

Scottish Labour

28 June 2016 - 04 May 2021

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Substitute Member

09 January 2018 - 04 May 2021

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Member

19 December 2017 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Telecommunications

Scottish Labour

04 October 2018 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Infrastructure

Scottish Labour

04 October 2018 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Transport

Scottish Labour

02 September 2019 - 01 March 2021

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Labour

19 December 2017 - 04 October 2018

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Labour

08 June 2016 - 09 January 2018

Health and Sport Committee

Member

25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health

Scottish Labour

25 May 2016 - 19 December 2017

Chief Whip

Scottish Labour

Register of interests

Colin'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 Colin Smyth. The date of their initial statement was 05 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

No registrable interests

Overseas visits

From 9 February to 13 February 2024 I visited California, USA, as part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs, meeting health professionals, family members of individuals who had used the state’s End of Life Options Act, Senators and representatives of organisations who provide information about the provisions of the Act. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation and meals amounted to £2,694 and were paid by the permissible donor Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). [Registered 8 March 2024]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

I am Chairperson of the Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade Steering Group.

I am a member of Unite the Union.

Until 4 May 2017, when I stood down, I was a senior councillor for Dumfries and Galloway Council (of English Street, Dumfries, DG1 2DD). I worked approximately 20 hours per week and I received remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 per annum. I donated my salary to local and national good causes/charities. I do not believe this meets the prejudice test.

Until 31 May 2016 I was a volunteer coordinator at Parkinson’s UK, a charity organisation (of 215 Vauxhaull Bridge Road, London, SW1V 1EJ). I received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum and worked 35 hours per week. I do not believe this meets the prejudice test.

I am a member of the League Against Cruel Sports.

I am Chairperson of the Eastriggs Railway Station Action Group (ERSAG).

I am a member of GMB Union.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Colin Smyth 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.

Chamber meeting date: 20 May 2025

Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no."

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 14 May 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Colin Smyth): "Good morning, and welcome to the 15th meeting in 2025 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Are members content to take that item in private…

Chamber meeting date: 13 May 2025

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "When a constituent looks you in the eye and says, “I am dying. When my time comes, I want the right to choose how I pass in my final days with dignity,” it is hard to respond, “That is not your decision—it is mine…

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 7 May 2025

Skills Delivery

The Convener (Colin Smyth): "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 14th meeting in 2025 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. The first item of business is an evidence session on the skills delivery landscape…

Chamber meeting date: 30 April 2025

Fishing Industry

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is appropriate that the Conservative Party has brought forward a debate on the damage that can be caused if you have a botched deal with the EU, because, frankly, it is well qualified in delivering such bad deals…

Votes

How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament

Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17584

Regulation of Legal Services (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, May 19, 2025

Supported by: Angela Constance
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 88 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 91

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 28 for, 87 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 135

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 48 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 34

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 59 for, 58 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 25 Amendment 38

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Result 59 for, 55 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Colin Smyth has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-37337

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will review and update its social security uptake strategy."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37608

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether the Programme for Government 2025-26 announcement of 20,000 additional orthopaedic, ophthalmology and general surgery procedures is in addition to the announcement of 30,000 procedures contained within the NHS Operational Improvement Plan, which was published in March 2025."

Answer expected on 28 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37232

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it will (a) complete and (b) publish the outcome of its review of the guidance on the mothballing of rural schools and nurseries."

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 14 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37069

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to Scottish Borders council to reflect any additional costs directly associated with providing nursery education in a rural setting."

Answered by Shona Robison on 6 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04599

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that one in three diagnoses of prostate cancer in Scotland are at stage 4, which is a higher proportion compared with the rest of the UK."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 1 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36538

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that muirburn does not create smoke levels that damage human health or cause a nuisance, in light of reports of significant smoke drift affecting communities in the Scottish Borders, including Peebles and Stobo."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36537

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement measures are in place to address any breaches of muirburn regulations, and whether it will review the existing guidance in order to improve the protection of public health."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6O-04522

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to renewing the Heart Disease Action Plan."

Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35646

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34926 by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025, what discussions it has had with the Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group within NHS Golden Jubilee to develop a pathway for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 March 2025

Question ref. S6O-04508

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to ban house coal, as set out in its strategy, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2."

Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2025

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