Finlay Carson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Finlay Carson
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: finlaycarson.co.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @fincarson
Facebook: Finlay's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5890
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.
Committees
Cross-party groups
Finlay is a member of 12 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Circular Economy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Civil Nuclear Industry
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ice Sports
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Nature and Climate
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rugby Development in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Finlay has 1 parliamentary and government role
Conveners Group
Member
Party Roles
Finlay does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Finlay has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
22 June 2021 - 01 February 2023
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Convener
17 June 2021 - 22 June 2021
Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee
Member
17 September 2019 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Deputy Convener
29 June 2017 - 25 February 2020
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Substitute Member
18 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 17 September 2019
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
Register of interests
Finlay'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 09 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 30 April 2023, when I resigned, I was a Director of Conchieton Solutions, an IT consultancy firm (of Conchieton Business Centre, Conchieton, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4TA). I received dividends of £2,000 on 1 June 2020 and £2,000 in June 2021. I estimated that, over the session, I would spend 5 hours per annum on this role. [Amended interest 28 June 2023]
Until 30 April 2023, when I resigned, I was a partner in J and F Carson, a farming and property letting partnership (of Conchieton Business Centre, Conchieton, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4TA). I received £13,000 in drawings from the partnership in 2020. In 2021 I was remunerated by way of profit share and I estimated I would spend up to 14 hours per annum on this role. [Amended interest 28 June 2023]
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
On 23 February 2018 I and my daughter attended the Scotland v France rugby match at Murrayfield as guests of BT Openreach. In addition to tickets for the match the hospitality included food and drink. I understand that the cost of this hospitality was approximately £1000. I do not consider that this meets the prejudice test but wish it to be registered in the voluntary section of my register.
From 14 to 16 August 2018 I travelled to Norway on a study visit to explore Deposit Return Schemes. The costs of the visit were approximately £689, £220 for hotel, £319 for flights and around £150 for meals, which were met by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation (a registered charity that funds the charitable work of organisations that are building an inclusive, creative and sustainable society of Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9AG). I believe that the interest does not meet the prejudice test.
On 9 March 2019 I attended the Scotland v Wales rugby match at Murrayfield as guests of BT Scotland. In addition to the ticket for the match, the hospitality included food and drink. I understand that the cost of this hospitality was approximately £500. I believe that the interest does not meet the prejudice test.
Recent Activity
What was said
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.
Chamber meeting date: 29 May 2024
Wood-burning Stoves and Direct Emission Heating (Rural and Island Communities)
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "I thank my colleague Jamie Halcro Johnston for bringing this debate to the chamber. As we have heard, the stove industry in the UK and here in Scotland makes a valuable contribution to our economy, financially and in employment terms…
Chamber meeting date: 28 May 2024
Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Will the member take an intervention?"
Chamber meeting date: 22 May 2024
National Lyme Disease Awareness Month
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "Does my colleague recognise that ticks are now far more common? Just this afternoon, my daughter came home from nursery with a tick under her eye. That is the second tick that she has had in a matter of weeks…
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 22 May 2024
Decisions on Taking Business in Private
The Convener: "We now need to decide whether to take our final agenda item, on considering the evidence heard earlier in the meeting on PE1758, in private. Are members content to take that item in private? Members indicated agreement."
Rural Affairs and Islands Committee meeting date: 22 May 2024
End Greyhound Racing in Scotland (PE1758)
The Convener: "Our next item of business is consideration of petition PE1758, which calls on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to end greyhound racing in Scotland…
Votes
How Finlay Carson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.
Post Office (Horizon System) Offences (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 28, 2024
Supported by: Siobhian Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 30, 2024
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 30, 2024
Result 18 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 30, 2024
Result 29 for, 97 against, 0 abstained, 3 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 30, 2024
Result 19 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 30, 2024
Result 20 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
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.
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many approved providers are available to provide superfast service via the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme in the Mid Galloway and Wigtown West council ward in Dumfries and Galloway."
Answer expected on 12 June 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for the R100 Scottish Broadband Voucher Scheme have been (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful across Dumfries and Galloway."
Answer expected on 12 June 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many properties are still to be connected in Dumfries and Galloway under the R100 programme."
Answer expected on 11 June 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the R100 programme in Dumfries and Galloway."
Answer expected on 11 June 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, following the Parliament's agreement of the Scottish Budget in each of the last five years, on what date NHS boards (a) were advised of their individual budget allocations and (b) received their settlement for the next year."
Answered by Neil Gray on 28 May 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the increase in the National Living Wage from 1 April 2024 will result in an uplift for the Community Pharmacy Scotland financial settlement from the same date."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 28 May 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been diagnosed with myeloma through the Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service."
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what plans it has to clarify additional measurements for monitoring improvements in (a) blood and (b) neurological cancer pathways."
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to reduce the number of people with myeloma diagnosed through an emergency route."
Answered by Neil Gray on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 2 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether NHS boards have been advised of their individual financial settlements for 2024-25, and, if so, when they received this funding."
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 May 2024
See all of Finlay Carson's questions submitted in Parliament