Graham Simpson
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 2016 - present day
About Graham Simpson
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6983
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Graham is a member of 3 committees
Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee
Deputy Convener
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Graham is a member of 8 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Architecture and the Built Environment
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cycling, Walking and Buses
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Life Sciences
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Towns and Town Centres
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Graham does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Graham has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Connectivity
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Infrastructure
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Transport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Graham has had 13 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
20 August 2020 - 27 August 2020
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 20 August 2020
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Social Security Committee
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Communities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Convener
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Conveners Group
Member
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Planning
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Communities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 June 2017 - 05 September 2017
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Register of interests
Graham'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 Graham Simpson. The date of their initial statement was 31 May 2016.
Remuneration and related undertaking
I previously worked as a newspaper sub-editor for News UK (of 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF). I have not done any work for News UK since I was elected. My employment ended on 31 May 2016 and I received my last salary payment of between £3,001-£5,000 on 6 May 2016.
Until 4 May 2017, when I stood down, I was a Councillor for South Lanarkshire Council (of Almada Street, Hamilton, ML3 0AA). I received a salary for this role which, combined with the value of the use of a mobile phone and tablet, was between £15,0001 and £20,000 per annum. I spent 25 hours per week undertaking this role. [Amended interest 15 May 2017]
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am an adviser to the board of Clyde Cycle Park SCIO. I receive no remuneration for this role. [Amended interest 15 May 2017]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Graham Simpson 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: 26 January 2021
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "I welcome the statement on page 35 of the accompanying document, “Scotland’s Vision for Trade”, in which the Scottish Government accepts that the UK Government has a “global influence”, which could “create an open trading landscape for Scottish businesses”. I want to ask the minister about free ports, which are also mentioned in the document. I…
Chamber meeting date: 21 January 2021
Place-based Economic Development Zones
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "I, too, am pleased that the minister is now on board with the programme on free ports. Is he putting a limit on the number of free ports in Scotland? When does he expect the first one to be in operation?"
Chamber meeting date: 21 January 2021
Scottish Prison Service Annual Report 2019-20
8. Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Prison Service’s annual report for 2019-20. (S5O-04944)"
Chamber meeting date: 21 January 2021
Queensferry Crossing (Closures)
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "Will the cabinet secretary tell us what measures he is looking at to prevent further closures of the Queensferry crossing? The number of closures is becoming immensely frustrating."
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 19 January 2021
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "Good morning. I will start by asking about targets. Recent figures show that 19 per cent of energy consumption—through electricity, heat and transport—in 2017 came from renewables. That rose to 21 per cent in 2018…
Votes
How Graham Simpson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Graham Simpson has voted recently.
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Michael Russell, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jeane Freeman, Jenny Gilruth, Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Post-mortem Examinations (Defence Time Limit) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gil Paterson, Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Result 26 for, 90 against, 1 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 21, 2021
Result 26 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 14 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 96 for, 5 against, 18 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Graham Simpson in Parliament
Find out what motions Graham Simpson has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Graham Simpson has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the Scottish Prison Service’s annual report for 2019-20."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is considering procuring a catamaran to operate on the Oban-Mull route and, if so, what stage its considerations are at."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 November 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the latest police strength statistics."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made in planning for an upgrade of the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan."
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 6 November 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 October 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on ensuring that planning authorities do not reduce efforts to deliver new homes and other sustainable development during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 September 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the 2019-20 Recorded Crime in Scotland statistics."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 August 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the long-term effect on the night-time economy of the ongoing closure of nightclubs and similar venues in response to the COVID-19 pandemic."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 27 August 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 August 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the powers that will come to Scotland once the Brexit transition period is concluded."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 August 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme on the rural and tourism economies in Scotland."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 July 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to continue distributing food boxes to people who have been shielding from the COVID-19 pandemic, and what its policy is regarding items distributed that the recipient says were not required or not used…
Answered by: John Swinney on 5 August 2020
See all of Graham Simpson's written questions submitted in Parliament