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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Michael Matheson

Scottish National Party

MSP for Falkirk West (Constituency) 2007 - present day

Former MSP for Central Scotland (Region) 1999 - 2007

About Michael Matheson

Contact details

Contact online

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

Phone: 01324 629271
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Suite 5, Brightstone Spaces
Williamson Street
Falkirk
FK1 1PR

Phone: 01324 629271
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Michael is not a member of any committees

Cross-party groups

Michael is not a member of any cross-party groups

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Michael does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Michael does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Michael has had 13 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

29 March 2023 - 08 February 2024

Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care

Scottish Government

19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023

Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero, Energy and Transport

Scottish Government

26 June 2018 - 19 May 2021

Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity

Scottish Government

18 May 2016 - 26 June 2018

Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Scottish Government

25 November 2014 - 18 May 2016

Cabinet Secretary for Justice

Scottish Government

25 May 2011 - 25 November 2014

Minister for Public Health

Scottish Government

13 September 2004 - 11 September 2006

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish National Party

13 September 2004 - 11 September 2006

Party Spokesperson on Sport

Scottish National Party

01 May 2003 - 13 September 2004

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish National Party

01 May 2003 - 13 September 2004

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish National Party

09 October 2001 - 31 March 2003

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Rural Development

Scottish National Party

13 January 2000 - 31 March 2003

Party Spokesperson on Equal Opportunities

Scottish National Party

13 July 1999 - 31 March 2003

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice

Scottish National Party

Register of interests

Michael'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 Michael Matheson. The date of their initial statement was 24 May 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

No registrable interests

Overseas visits

No registrable interests

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

I own, jointly with my wife, a house in the Highland Council local authority area, with a market value of between £250,001 and £300,000. The property generates an income of between £15,001 to £20,000 per annum. [Amended interest 29 May 2024, Amended interest 5 August 2024]

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

I am an Ambassador for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation. [Registered 17 September 2024]

On 12 August 2023 I and my wife attended a football game as guests of the board of Queen’s Park Football Club (of Lesser Hampden Park, Letherby Drive, Glasgow G42 9BA). I was invited on an individual basis. The value of the tickets was approximately £200. [Registered 30 November 2023]

I have an Honorary Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation. [Registered 5 August 2024]

I am an Ambassador for Highland Renewables. This is an unpaid role. [Registered 21 October 2025]

Recent Activity

What was said

What Michael Matheson 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.

Ecocide (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 2 December 2025

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "Good morning, cabinet secretary. I want to pick up on a couple of points that have been made in response to Mark Ruskell…

Alexander Dennis Ltd

Chamber meeting date: 19 June 2025

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "Over the course of last week, I had an opportunity to engage with the unions, and I visited the factory to speak to workers on Monday…

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 18 June 2025

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "Yes, thank you. I have considered both amendments, which would, if I have read them correctly, effectively end Crown Estate Scotland’s role and functions. However, I am not clear about a couple of issues…

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 17 June 2025

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "Amendments 138, 139 and 168 are consequential to earlier amendments on sites of community significance that I did not move."

Alexander Dennis (Collaboration with United Kingdom Government)

Chamber meeting date: 12 June 2025

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): "The First Minister will be aware of the deep concern in my constituency at the announcement that Alexander Dennis made yesterday…

Votes

How Michael Matheson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Michael Matheson has voted recently.

Scottish Rate Resolution

Motion ref. S6M-20844

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Ivan McKee
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 19, 2026

Result 93 for, 29 against, 1 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Business Programme

Motion ref. S6M-20826.1

Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 51 for, 71 against, 0 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted against

Disagreed

Approval of SSI

Motion ref. S6M-20827

Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 112 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 9 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

A Just Transition Fund for Mossmorran

Motion ref. S6M-20820.2

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Alex Rowley, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 93 for, 28 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Ending US Military Use of Scottish Airports

Motion ref. S6M-20819.3

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Supported by: Graeme Dey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Result 89 for, 7 against, 27 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motions

Questions

Questions Michael Matheson has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question reference: S6O-05661

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 11 March 2026

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support local authorities, including Falkirk Council, to deliver vital services, including those aimed at reducing child poverty."

Question reference: S6W-43977

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported marine energy sector calls for it and the UK Government to work together in delivering policies that are required to support commercialisation."

Question reference: S6W-43978

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland’s marine energy sector to protect its home-grown, innovative skills and knowledge base, and how it is working with partners, including the UK Government, to develop policy to achieve this."

Question reference: S6W-43980

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 26 February 2026

Current Status: Answer expected on 12 March 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research suggesting that Scotland’s marine energy sector could generate over £8 billion for Scotland’s economy, creating over 60,000 jobs, by 2050, and what it is doing to support the sector to deliver this."

Question reference: S6W-43165

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 16 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 29 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what role integration joint boards have in monitoring funding allocated by the Scottish Government to hospices."

Question reference: S6W-43033

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, and whether it has observed any changes in the level of prevalence over the last five years."

Question reference: S6W-43031

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to further its understanding of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, and support diagnosis and treatment of patients."

Question reference: S6W-43035

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026."

Question reference: S6W-43032

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 23 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to increase awareness of the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis, in NHS Scotland, in both primary and secondary care settings."

Question reference: S6W-43034

Asked by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party

Date lodged: 14 January 2026

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 20 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support research and clinical trials for the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis."