³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ

Skip to main content

Language: English /

Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ)

Image description

Colin Smyth

Scottish Labour

MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day

About Colin Smyth

Contact details

Contact online

Website:

X (previously known as Twitter):

Facebook:

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6986
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

1 Church Crescent
Dumfries
DG1 1DF

Phone: 01387 279205
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are .

Committees

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 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

Deputy Convener

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

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 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 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ, 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

I am member of the Scottish Wildlife Trust.

I am Chairperson of the Dumfries and Galloway Fairtrade Steering Group.

I am a member of Unite the Union.

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.

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.

I am a member of the League Against Cruel Sports.

I am Chairperson of the Eastriggs Railway Station Action Group (ERSAG).

I am a member of GMB Union.

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: 2 April 2025

Heart Disease Action Plan

3. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to renewing the heart disease action plan. (S6O-04522)"

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 2 April 2025

Decision on Taking Business in Private

The Convener (Colin Smyth): "Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the 11th meeting in 2025 of the Economy and Fair Work Committee. Our first item of business is a decision on taking item 5 in private. Does the committee agree to take that item in private…

Economy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 2 April 2025

Skills Delivery

The Convener: "Our next item of business is the second of a series of evidence sessions on the skills delivery landscape…

Chamber meeting date: 1 April 2025

Fuel Poverty

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 EPC rating of D or below. Why is awareness of the Scottish Government’s energy efficiency schemes so utterly woeful…

Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2025

House Coal (Ban)

5. Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to ban house coal, as set out in its strategy, cleaner air for Scotland 2. (S6O-04508)"

Votes

How Colin Smyth has voted in Parliament

Find out how Colin Smyth has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17242

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 73 for, 40 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17242.1

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 14 for, 100 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17242.3

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Supported by: Roz McCall
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 27 for, 82 against, 5 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17267

Substitution on Committees

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Result 108 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17266

Committee Membership

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Result 109 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

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-04599

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that one in three diagnoses of prostate cancer in Scotland are at stage 4, which is a higher proportion compared with the rest of the UK."

Taken in the Chamber on 1 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37069

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 22 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it provides to Scottish Borders council to reflect any additional costs directly associated with providing nursery education in a rural setting."

Answer expected on 6 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36538

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that muirburn does not create smoke levels that damage human health or cause a nuisance, in light of reports of significant smoke drift affecting communities in the Scottish Borders, including Peebles and Stobo."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36537

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what enforcement measures are in place to address any breaches of muirburn regulations, and whether it will review the existing guidance in order to improve the protection of public health."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6O-04522

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to renewing the Heart Disease Action Plan."

Taken in the Chamber on 2 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35646

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-34926 by Jenni Minto on 4 March 2025, what discussions it has had with the Respiratory Specialty Delivery Group within NHS Golden Jubilee to develop a pathway for (a) idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and (b) interstitial lung disease."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 21 March 2025

Question ref. S6O-04508

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its commitment to ban house coal, as set out in its strategy, Cleaner Air for Scotland 2."

Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35295

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment to reduce the full-time working week for NHS Scotland staff to 36 hours by April 2026, with the first half hour of this reduction taking effect from 1 April 2024, for what reason there are no proposals to reduce the working week in 2025, and whether it remains committed to fulfilling the…

Answered by Neil Gray on 11 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34858

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves the educational opportunities available to prisoners at HMP Dumfries by increasing the range of subjects on offer and improving attendance rates and the number of qualifications offered or taken up, in light of the recent report, HMP Dumfries, Full…

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34855

Asked by: Smyth, Colin, South Scotland, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 25 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to ensure that the Scottish Prison Service improves CCTV coverage in D and E Hall and creates Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for monitoring all exercise yards, in light of the recent report, HMP Dumfries, Full Inspection, 26 to 30 August 2024, by HM Inspectorate of Prisons."

Answered by Angela Constance on 10 March 2025

Share this page