Liz Smith
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2007 - present day
About Liz Smith
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @mspliz
Facebook: Liz's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6762
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
The Control Tower
Perth Airport
Scone
Perth
PH2 6PL
Phone: 01738 553990
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Liz is a member of 2 committees
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Liz is a member of 3 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Colleges and Universities
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liz does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Liz has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Liz has had 29 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Party Spokesperson on Economy
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
20 February 2020 - 14 August 2020
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Chief Whip
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 25 February 2020
Education and Skills Committee
Member
19 May 2016 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Education
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Substitute Member
28 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
19 March 2014 - 19 May 2016
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
27 February 2014 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
07 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Devolution Further Powers Committee
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 27 February 2014
Education and Culture Committee
Member
23 June 2011 - 10 September 2013
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
12 May 2011 - 06 September 2013
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
12 May 2011 - 06 September 2013
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2010 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2010 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
13 June 2007 - 22 March 2011
Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee
Member
03 October 2007 - 22 March 2011
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
17 May 2007 - 20 May 2010
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
27 June 2007 - 28 September 2007
Procedures Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Liz'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 Liz Smith. The date of their initial statement was 15 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1030 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 2 August 2022]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of the John Muir Trust.
I am a member of the Munro Society.
I am a member of the National Trust for Scotland.
I am a member of Friends of the Black Watch.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Liz Smith 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: 8 May 2024
Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund
1. Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the rural affordable homes for key workers fund. (S6O-03404)"
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 7 May 2024
Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum
Liz Smith: "When the bill team gave evidence to the committee on 26 March, they indicated that it was their intention to publish the updated financial memorandum after stage 2 of the bill. Is that effective procedure, given the need for parliamentary scrutiny?"
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 7 May 2024
Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "I have two questions, Mr Stachura. You rightly said that the older demographic is a very high proportion—40 per cent—of the population. That group has multiple interests and concerns…
Chamber meeting date: 1 May 2024
Local Government Funding
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "Last year, the Scottish Government made a commitment, via the Verity house agreement, that it would introduce multiyear funding for council budgets, and, in November, Shirley-Anne Somerville made that commitment for the voluntary sector…
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 30 April 2024
Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "Good morning. This is a difficult question but, nonetheless, it is an important one. Mr Hamilton, it picks up on your comment that the development of the commissioner landscape has been organic over time…
Votes
How Liz Smith has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liz Smith has voted recently.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 49 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Appointment of Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 57 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 52 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Implementing the Cass Review in Scotland
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 71 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Supporting Scotland’s Colleges
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 60 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Liz Smith in Parliament
Find out what motions Liz Smith has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Liz Smith has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what events it has planned to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings on 6 June."
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Rural Affordable Homes for Key Workers Fund."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 May 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what provision it is making to ensure that all school pupils have access to music tuition."
Taken in the Chamber on 25 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make eligibility for business rate reliefs conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which rate reliefs it anticipates will be in scope."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its recent consultations with local authorities about community access to the school estate, including sports facilities."
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make the granting of licence permissions conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which types of licences it anticipates will be in scope."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to measure the extent of economic inactivity in Scotland post-COVID-19 pandemic."
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would have been in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 18 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which states that the 2024-25 Budget implied a real-terms reduction to health spending."
Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2024-25 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024