Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries (Constituency) 2016 - present day
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 .
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
29 June 2017 - 25 February 2020
Substitute Member
18 September 2019 - 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
³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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.
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]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
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.
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: 12 June 2025
1. Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what support it will provide to ensure that rural communities have access to public transport. (S6O-04792)"
Chamber meeting date: 12 June 2025
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "The Scottish Government committed £80 million to the Acorn carbon capture project in January 2022 and said that that was contingent on UK Government funding being committed…
Chamber meeting date: 11 June 2025
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "How many times have we sat in this chamber and listened to successive health secretaries assure us that Scotland’s NHS is safe in their hands…
Chamber meeting date: 11 June 2025
Finlay Carson: "Will the member give way?"
Chamber meeting date: 11 June 2025
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con): "It is important to understand that my colleagues and I believe that we need to push some fish farms further offshore to reduce their impact, but does the cabinet secretary appreciate that we want the industry to learn not from mistakes but from good practice? Putting the SSI in place is effectively putting the cart before the horse, and the…
Find out how Finlay Carson has voted recently.
Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025
Result 24 for, 84 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025
Result 19 for, 62 against, 27 abstained, 21 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Paul McLennan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025
Result 67 for, 42 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Result 85 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, June 9, 2025
Supported by: Foysol Choudhury, Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025
Result 91 for, 1 against, 21 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted for
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: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Climate Change Committee's projection of a 36% reduction in cattle and sheep numbers by 2045, how it will assess the impact of any reduction in the beef herd on the abattoir and meat processing industry…
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will support land managers to integrate agroforestry and hedgerows into productive farmland."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Climate Change Committee's projection of a 36% reduction in cattle and sheep numbers by 2045, how it will assess the impact of any reduction in the beef herd on rural communities."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 11 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to double woodland planting rates, in light of the Climate Change Committee's projection that the proportion of woodland cover will need to rise to 23% by 2045."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that agricultural emissions reductions are achieved without compromising food security."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to incentivise farmers to diversify into (a) renewable energy, (b) agroforestry and (c) nature restoration."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that (a) woodland creation and (b) peatland restoration projects deliver biodiversity benefits alongside carbon sequestration."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Climate Change Committee's projection of a required 67% increase in the rewetting and restoration of degraded peatlands by 2045, what progress has been made toward meeting this target."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to engage with the public on the benefits of land use change and sustainable agriculture."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 10 June 2025
Asked by: Carson, Finlay, Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that any land use changes align with its (a) biodiversity and (b) water quality goals."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 June 2025
See all of Finlay Carson's questions submitted in Parliament