Liz Smith
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife (Region) 2007 - present day
About Liz Smith
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @mspliz
Facebook: Liz's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6762
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
The Control Tower
Perth Airport
Scone
Perth
PH2 6PL
Phone: 01738 553990
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Liz is a member of 2 committees
Economy and Fair Work Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Liz is a member of 3 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Colleges and Universities
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Liz does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Liz has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Liz has had 29 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Party Spokesperson on Economy
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
20 February 2020 - 14 August 2020
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Chief Whip
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 25 February 2020
Education and Skills Committee
Member
19 May 2016 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Education
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Public Audit and Postlegislative Scrutiny Committee
Substitute Member
28 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
19 March 2014 - 19 May 2016
Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body
Appointed Member
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
06 September 2013 - 23 March 2016
Party Spokesperson on Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
27 February 2014 - 23 March 2016
Education and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
07 January 2015 - 23 March 2016
Devolution Further Powers Committee
Substitute Member
01 June 2011 - 27 February 2014
Education and Culture Committee
Member
23 June 2011 - 10 September 2013
Public Audit Committee
Substitute Member
12 May 2011 - 06 September 2013
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
12 May 2011 - 06 September 2013
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2010 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2010 - 22 March 2011
Party Spokesperson on Lifelong Learning
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
13 June 2007 - 22 March 2011
Education Lifelong Learning and Culture Committee
Member
03 October 2007 - 22 March 2011
Standards Procedures and Public Appointments Committee
Substitute Member
17 May 2007 - 20 May 2010
Party Spokesperson on Education and Young People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
27 June 2007 - 28 September 2007
Procedures Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Liz'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 Liz Smith. The date of their initial statement was 15 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1030 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 2 August 2022]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a member of the John Muir Trust.
I am a member of the Munro Society.
I am a member of the National Trust for Scotland.
I am a member of Friends of the Black Watch.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Liz Smith 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
Economic Inactivity
1. Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to measure the extent of economic inactivity in Scotland post-Covid-19 pandemic. (S6O-03260)"
Chamber meeting date: 27 March 2024
Public Finances (Impact of Stagnation)
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "Does the cabinet secretary agree that the stagnation issue to which Mr MacDonald’s question refers is as much a Scottish problem as a UK one, given that the recent Confederation of British Industry-Fraser of Allander report into productivity in Scotland clearly shows that Scotland is failing in 10 out of 13 productivity metrics?"
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Higher Education (Access)
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "The main strategic challenge that the higher education sector faces is trying to balance the increasing economic and social demands from the Government with the academic excellence to which we are so accustomed…
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 26 March 2024
Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): "Good morning. Mr Thomson, the problem that this committee has, which the convener has rightly pointed to, is that we are asked to scrutinise the numbers that have to go behind a bill…
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 26 March 2024
Scottish Fiscal Commission (Report on Climate Change and Fiscal Sustainability)
Liz Smith: "I have a question, which is one of clarification. Professor Roy, you raised an interesting point about future Scottish budgets and said that it would be helpful if we could see the numbers on how much has been spent to mitigate climate change…
Votes
How Liz Smith has voted in Parliament
Find out how Liz Smith 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 not voted
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Liz Smith in Parliament
Find out what motions Liz Smith has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Liz Smith has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make eligibility for business rate reliefs conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which rate reliefs it anticipates will be in scope."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 11 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its recent consultations with local authorities about community access to the school estate, including sports facilities."
Taken in the Chamber on 18 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to make the granting of licence permissions conditional on payment of the real Living Wage, as part of its Fair Work Action Plan, and, if so, which types of licences it anticipates will be in scope."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 3 April 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has undertaken to measure the extent of economic inactivity in Scotland post-COVID-19 pandemic."
Taken in the Chamber on 27 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would have been in (a) 2021-22, (b) 2022-23 and (c) 2023-24 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 18 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to a recent report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, which states that the 2024-25 Budget implied a real-terms reduction to health spending."
Taken in the Chamber on 13 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment, what the cost would be in 2024-25 of bringing the Higher Property Rate into line with that in England, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it estimates will be raised by the Budget decision to increase the Intermediate Property Rate by 6.7% in 2024-25, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how much additional revenue it estimates will be raised by the Budget decision to increase the Higher Property Rate by 6.7% in 2024-25, broken down by industry sector."
Answered by Tom Arthur on 1 March 2024
Asked by: Smith, Liz, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what analysis it has conducted of the potential impact of the proposed non-domestic rates public health supplement on large retailers, as set out in its 2024-25 Scottish Budget."
Taken in the Chamber on 29 February 2024