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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

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

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

Cross-party groups

Colin is a member of 19 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 Older People, Age and Ageing

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 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

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.

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.

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: 28 November 2024

Older People’s Energy Costs

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "More than half of older people in Scotland live in homes that have poor levels of energy efficiency, with an energy performance certificate rating of D or below, at a time when, under this Government, fuel poverty among those in later life is at a record level. Why is there such low awareness of the Government’s energy efficiency schemes? According…

Chamber meeting date: 27 November 2024

Social Care

Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "At the height of Covid, a day rarely passed when I was not contacted by a constituent who raised a heartbreaking story. Families did not have access to loved ones in care homes because we could not get our act together on testing…

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 27 November 2024

Decisions on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Colin Smyth): "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 31st meeting in 2024 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee…

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 27 November 2024

Diligence against Earnings (Variation) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (SSI 2024/293)

The Convener: "Our next agenda item is?further consideration of? a negative instrument. We discussed the instrument at last week’s meeting and agreed to invite the Minister for Public Finance to attend the committee to answer questions…

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 27 November 2024

City Region and Regional Growth Deals

The Convener: "Our next item of business is the first evidence session in our inquiry into city region and regional growth deals…

Votes

How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament

Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 23

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 55 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 1

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 89 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15683

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 2, 2024

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 117 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 5

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 27 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 21

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 51 for, 60 against, 7 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

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. S6O-04076

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to Public Health Scotland’s recent NHS dental monitoring report, which indicates that almost 40% of adults in Dumfries and Galloway are not registered with an NHS dentist."

Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-30862

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reported calls from community groups for a pause on processing planning applications for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), in light of reports that there is currently 100GW of energy storage in the National Grid connection "queue" but the Electricity Systems Operator's Future Energy…

Answered by Gillian Martin on 20 November 2024

Question ref. S6F-03553

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 November 2024

"To ask the First Minister what the Scottish Government's response is to reported calls to widen access to Scotland’s Redress Scheme to allow survivors of abuse at Fornethy House to seek redress."

Taken in the Chamber on 21 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-30749

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with rail companies whose trains pass through Carstairs railway station but do not stop there about increasing the frequency of rail services from Carstairs."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 14 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-30750

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to calls for improved regulation of non-healthcare professionals who carry out medical aesthetic treatments, such as Botox and dermal fillers."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-30748

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether there are plans to increase rail services from Carstairs railway station."

Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 4 November 2024

Question ref. S6O-03889

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 30 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported decision by members of the Integration Joint Board of Dumfries and Galloway Health and Social Care Partnership to reject the recommendations of an independent review to re-open the Clenoch Birthing Centre at the Galloway Community Hospital in Stranraer for in-hospital births."

Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2024

Question ref. S6O-03866

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to fully implement the recommendations of the second Strategic Transport Projects Review in relation to the A77."

Taken in the Chamber on 31 October 2024

Question ref. S6W-30495

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what planning guidance it issues in relation to the proximity of large-scale solar farms to housing."

Answered by Ivan McKee on 22 October 2024

Question ref. S6W-30078

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 September 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it was aware that workers at companies referred to in the BBC’s recent reporting on slavery in the Scottish fishing sector had been recognised by the Home Office as victims of trafficking when it awarded any funding to those companies."

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 7 October 2024

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