Brian Whittle
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Brian Whittle
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: brianwhittle.org.uk
X (previously known as Twitter): @BrianWhittle
Facebook: Brian's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5623
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Brian is a member of 2 committees
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Brian is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Adult Survivors of Childhood Sexual Abuse
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Food
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rural Policy
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Science and Technology
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sustainable Transport
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Brian does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Brian has 3 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Business
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Economic Growth
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Brian has had 16 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
08 September 2021 - 08 February 2024
Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee
Substitute Member
17 June 2021 - 14 July 2023
COVID19 Recovery Committee
Member
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on the Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Biodiversity
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Mental Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
Substitute Member
26 May 2016 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 25 February 2020
Public Petitions Committee
Member
26 May 2016 - 18 February 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health Education
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
17 November 2016 - 29 June 2017
Health and Sport Committee
Substitute Member
28 June 2016 - 29 June 2017
Economy Jobs and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Brian'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 Brian Whittle. The date of their initial statement was 14 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
On 22 March 2022, I became Director of Trackside Consultancy, a business advice consultancy of Regent Court, 70 West Regent Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G2 2QZ. I do not undertake any work within parliamentary time and work a maximum of 12 hours per month. I received remuneration of £1000 on 16th May 2022 and £1000 on 19th May 2022. I received remuneration of £1000 on 29 June 2022 and £1000 on 7 July 2022. I received remuneration of £1200 on 13 January 2023. I received remuneration of £1200 on 9 November 2023 and £2400 on 10 November 2023. I received remuneration of £2000 on 9 February 2024 [Registered 19 April 2022; Amended interest 26 July 2022, Amended interest 1 February 2023, Amended interest 23 November 2023, Amended interest 29 February 2024]
Gifts
On 10 February 2024 I was a guest of the renewable energy department at Scottish Gas (of One Waterfront Avenue, Edinburgh, EH5 1SG) at the Scotland vs France Rugby International. I would estimate the value of the hospitality at £500. [Registered 29 February 2024]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
On 22nd March 2022, I acquired 95 ordinary shares, with a nominal value of £1 per share, representing 95% of the issued share capital in Trackside Consultancy, a business advice consultancy of Regent Court, 70 West Regent Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom, G2 2QZ. [Registered 19 April 2022]
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Brian Whittle 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: 27 March 2024
Prestwick Airport (Former Chairman)
7. Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the former chairman of Prestwick airport resigned his post to lead a bid to purchase the airport. (S6O-03266)"
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I am concerned that a farm that is local to me has been bought over and planted with trees. Does the cabinet secretary think that there is scope in the bill for a presumption against planting trees on good-quality farmland?"
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Higher Education (Access)
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I agree with the minister that it is extremely important that we give equal access across all SIMD areas, and the progress is welcome. Is he not concerned that the income coming into universities is increasingly coming from abroad now…
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Smoking and Vaping
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I welcome the recognition that vaping is a significant health issue in Scotland, the UK and further afield. I put it on record that, if I had my way, I would give access to vaping only through prescriptions…
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Smoking and Vaping
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con): "I welcome the recognition that vaping is a significant health issue in Scotland, the UK and further afield. I put it on record that, if I had my way, I would give access to vaping only through prescriptions…
Votes
How Brian Whittle has voted in Parliament
Find out how Brian Whittle has voted recently.
Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 27, 2024
Result 89 for, 0 against, 31 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Natalie Don, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 69 for, 49 against, 1 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Supported by: Clare Adamson, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 22 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Widening Access - Equality of Access to Higher Education
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Result 31 for, 69 against, 20 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Jim Fairlie, Perthshire South and Kinross-shire, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 18, 2024
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 21, 2024
Result 85 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Brian Whittle in Parliament
Find out what motions Brian Whittle has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Brian Whittle has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-26130 by Gillian Martin on 19 March 2024, as part of its work to explore other avenues with the onshore renewables industry to maximise benefits flowing into communities, whether it has specifically considered maintaining community benefit schemes and community shared ownership…
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 April 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) how many meeting room bookings within the Scottish Parliament estate have been made in each of the last two years, broken down by those that were made by (a) ministers or ministerial staff, (b) SPCB staff, (c) non-ministerial MSPs or MSP staff and (d) anyone else."
Answered by Claire Baker (on behalf of the SPCB) on 25 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many gigawatts worth of battery storage developments have secured planning permission to date."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 25 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers non-domestic battery energy storage to be a "small scale renewable" under the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4)."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to the development of a national strategy for energy storage developments in the context of planning."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list the spatial principles in the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) in order of priority."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 22 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on land value in rural areas of its reported decision to consider battery storage developments as generating stations in relation to planning consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications for battery storage sites were granted by the Energy Consents Unit between 2013 and 2023."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 21 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that the former chairman of Prestwick Airport resigned his post to lead a bid to purchase the airport."
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
Asked by: Whittle, Brian, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether productive farmland is an ecosystem service provided by soils."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 March 2024
See all of Brian Whittle's questions submitted in Parliament