Colin Smyth
Scottish Labour
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Colin Smyth
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: colinsmythmsp.com
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
17 Buccleuch Street
Dumfries
DG1 2AT
Phone: 01387 279205
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Colin is a member of 3 committees
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
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 Future of Football in Scotland
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 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 does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Colin does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Colin has had 22 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
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.
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.
I am a member of GMB Union.
I am Chairperson of the Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade Steering Group.
I am a member of Unite the Union.
I am a member of the League Against Cruel Sports.
I am Chairperson of the Eastriggs Railway Station Action Group (ERSAG).
I am member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.
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: 18 June 2024
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is eight years since the vote to leave the EU, and it is four years since the Parliament passed the Agriculture (Retained EU Law and Data) (Scotland) Act 2020…
Chamber meeting date: 6 June 2024
Publicly Owned Care Homes (Moratorium on Closure)
6. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported calls for a moratorium on the closure of publicly owned care homes. (S6O-03545)"
Chamber meeting date: 6 June 2024
Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "The purpose of my amendments in this group is to ensure that bank and earnings arrestments are served in person only where it is impossible or impracticable to do so by post or electronically…
Chamber meeting date: 6 June 2024
Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "When the Bankruptcy and Diligence (Scotland) Bill was first published, stakeholders raised concerns that it did not go far enough and that it did not deliver the protections that we need for the most vulnerable at a time when families are facing a real cost of living crisis. There has been some progress since. On the mental health moratorium, I…
Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 5 June 2024
Tied Pubs (Scottish Arbitration Rules) Amendment Order 2024 [Draft]
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "It is important to recognise that the bill was passed by Parliament unanimously and that it stipulated that the regulations should come before us within two years…
Votes
How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament
Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 50 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 24, 2024
Supported by: Màiri McAllan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Supported by: Mark Ruskell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 8 for, 108 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 58 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 68 for, 0 against, 46 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Colin Smyth in Parliament
Find out what motions Colin Smyth has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what the reasons are for the reported delays in awarding funding to organisations from the Strengthening Communities Programme for 2024-25."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 June 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will allocate funding to organisations from the Strengthening Communities Programme for 2024-25."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 24 June 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported calls for a moratorium on the closure of publicly owned care homes."
Taken in the Chamber on 6 June 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that police officer numbers have fallen to their lowest level since the establishment of Police Scotland."
Taken in the Chamber on 15 May 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 7 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that a large volume of data has been published onto the dark web, following the recent cyber attack on NHS Dumfries and Galloway."
Taken in the Chamber on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to prevent the closure of care homes in South Lanarkshire."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 May 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding Port of Cairnryan Ltd’s submission of company accounts for the year to 31 December 2022."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 19 April 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support festivals in Dumfries and Galloway."
Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government in what month it will publish (a) its annual report in relation to the incentivisation of selective fishing gear and low impact techniques and (b) its response to the consultation on additional quota that closed on 11 January 2024."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 11 April 2024
Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the South West Scotland Regional Transport Partnership regarding P&O Ferries’ (a) passenger and (b) freight operations from Cairnryan Port since March 2022."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 11 April 2024