Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day
Website: finlaycarson.co.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @fincarson
Facebook: Finlay's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
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.
Member
Deputy Convener
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Member
Deputy Convener
Member
Member
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
22 June 2021 - 01 February 2023
Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Member
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
17 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Convener
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Substitute Member
29 June 2017 - 25 February 2020
Substitute Member
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 17 September 2019
Member
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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.
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: 2 April 2025
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Genetically modified crops play a critical role in sustainable and regenerative agriculture by enhancing crop resilience to pests, diseases and environmental stresses…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 2 April 2025
The Convener: "Agenda item 2 is an evidence session on the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill with stakeholders representing national park authorities and local authorities that cover part of a national park…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 2 April 2025
The Convener (Finlay Carson): "Good morning, and welcome to the 12th meeting in 2025 of the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee. Before we begin, please ensure that all electronic devices are switched to silent—that includes mine, which is pinging away…
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2025
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I will start my contribution in the same vein as Michael Matheson. I remember our late Presiding Officer, Sir Alex Ferguson, warning me when I first took up my post as an MSP to avoid land reform and deer management…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 26 March 2025
The Convener: "The next item on our agenda is our first evidence session on the Dog Theft (Scotland) Bill. I welcome our panel of representatives from stakeholder organisations…
Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Result 31 for, 60 against, 26 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 27, 2025
Result 64 for, 1 against, 53 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Result 70 for, 0 against, 50 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Find out what motions Finlay Carson has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-30074 by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2024, and in light of recent media coverage, including a video showing discarded fish on the seabed, how the suite of measures in place to manage fisheries and safeguard fish stocks are tackling illegal discarding."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 8 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the farmed fish sector has a non-binding industry code of good practice regarding the legal obligations for keepers and industry stakeholders under the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and the Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (Scotland) Regulations 2012, and whether it will…
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place or planned to ensure that enforcement bodies and the fish farming industry fully understand and comply with legal welfare requirements for farmed fish across their entire lifecycle."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to review or update the current farmed fish industry-developed code of good practice by replacing or supplementing it with official guidance that provides prescriptive detail on meeting welfare obligations, and, if so, what consultation process will be carried out with stakeholders."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on the maintenance of all rural payment systems in each of the last four years."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how much was spent on IT staff in relation to all rural payment systems in each of the last four years."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 2 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how much will be spent on (a) the maintenance of and (b) staffing for the rural payments IT system in each of the next two years."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 1 April 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to its freedom of information (FOI) release FOI/202400430534, which states that it was "working towards a launch date for the Changing Places Toilets fund and we will provide an update in due course", whether it will confirm what progress has been made towards reopening the fund, and by what date it will…
Answered by Maree Todd on 20 March 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 February 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support single young people experiencing financial difficulties in (a) general and (b) rural areas."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 14 March 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle rural crime."
Taken in the Chamber on 19 March 2025
See all of Finlay Carson's questions submitted in Parliament