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 2 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 9 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 Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Conveners Group
Member
05 September 2017 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Convener
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Planning
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
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 the 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: 10 December 2020
Forensic Medical Services (Victims of Sexual Offences) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "Presiding Officer, I could not get connected. I would have voted for the amendment."
Chamber meeting date: 9 December 2020
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "This is a really important debate and it is long overdue…
Chamber meeting date: 9 December 2020
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "I thank all the members who signed the motion to allow the debate to take place. I also thank those—few—members who have stayed back tonight. I understand the reasons for the low attendance, as it is very late…
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 8 December 2020
Scottish Offshore Wind Sector Inquiry
Graham Simpson: "Thanks, convener. On the length of time that it takes to get an offshore wind farm up and running, I am told that, from consent to getting the turbines operating, can take as long as 11 years…
Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee meeting date: 8 December 2020
Covid-19 (Impact on Business, Workers and the Economy)
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con): "At the start of the discussion, there was a question about people’s future working arrangements in town and city centres…
Votes
How Graham Simpson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Graham Simpson has voted recently.
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Richard Lochhead, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 61 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Economy
Submitted by: Maurice Golden, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 94 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Responding to Parliamentary Will and Calls for Clarity in Education
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 7, 2020
Supported by: Michelle Ballantyne
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 59 for, 4 against, 61 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 95 for, 25 against, 1 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Economy
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Supported by: Kate Forbes, Fiona Hyslop, Ben Macpherson, Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Result 71 for, 31 against, 22 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
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: 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: 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: 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
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 June 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-28463 by Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020, whether it will provide an update regarding how many people are signed up to the Ready Scotland volunteer scheme, and how many are in a volunteering role."
Answered by: Aileen Campbell on 27 July 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how many volunteers have been assigned to directly assist the NHS through the Ready Scotland volunteer scheme."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 2 July 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 June 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what actions it is taking in response to the High Rise Inventory 2020."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what the process is for assigning a Ready Scotland volunteer to a specific volunteering role, and how many people have been assigned specific roles since signing up to the scheme, broken down by the number of people assigned to each type of work."
Answered by: Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government which organisations (a) have received and (b) will receive additional volunteers through the Ready Scotland scheme."
Answered by: Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people are signed up to the Ready Scotland volunteer scheme, and how many are currently in a volunteering role."
Answered by: Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020
Asked by: Simpson, Graham, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what the processing time is from individuals signing up to be a volunteer through the Ready Scotland scheme to them becoming an active volunteer for an organisation."
Answered by: Aileen Campbell on 15 May 2020
See all of Graham Simpson's written questions submitted in Parliament