Portrait of Jim Fairlie

Photo © Scottish Parliament

Member of the Scottish Parliament

Jim Fairlie

Scottish National Party MSP for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire

Minister for Agriculture, Marine and the Islands

At a glance Jim Fairlie is a Scottish National Party Member of the Scottish Parliament for Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.

Votes cast1,159
Attendance40%
Voted For666
Voted Against485

Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Jim Fairlie did not vote in 107.

Voting recordlatest 15 shown
Register of interests7 entries

From the Scottish Parliament's Register of Interests. Shown as registered; nothing is added or interpreted.

Controlled transactions1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Gifts1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Heritable property1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Interest in shares1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Overseas visits1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Remuneration and related undertaking1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)
Voluntary1
  • No registrable interests. (lodged 5 Jun 2026)

Source: Register of Interests on parliament.scot.

Questions46 tabled

Jim Fairlie has tabled 46 questions in the Scottish Parliament.

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on what progress the Scottish Government has made towards i… 5 Feb 2024 · First Minister's Question

To ask the First Minister whether he will provide an update on what progress the Scottish Government has made towards implementing the recommendations of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee’s report, Long COVID.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people in Scotland know about, and can access and enjoy,… 30 Jan 2024 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to ensure that people in Scotland know about, and can access and enjoy, local food and drink produced in Scotland.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon · 31 Jan 2024

Scotland really is a land of food and drink, with so many high quality and delicious products, renowned and sought after at home and internationally. That’s why making the most of the fantastic food and drink produced here in Scotland has always been at the heart of the Scottish Government’s food policies.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to enjoy food and drink produced locally and for producers of all sizes to access the markets on their doorsteps. So today, the Scottish Government is publishing "Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey" – our Local Food Strategy.
This Strategy has been developed following the Local Food for Everyone consultation and outlines how the Scottish Government and partners will ensure the people of Scotland continue to have access to the best produce Scotland has to offer.
I want to thank everyone who has contributed their thoughts, views, ideas and experiences to help inform the development and content of the Strategy.
Link to "Local Food for Everyone: Our Journey" https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781835217696

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on the proposed Shinafoot junction o… 10 Jan 2024 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential impact on the proposed Shinafoot junction on the A9 at Auchterarder of the announcement that Stewart Milne Homes has gone into administration.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the food and drink industry as it addresses the ongoing effe… 22 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the food and drink industry as it addresses the ongoing effects of Brexit, the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war against Ukraine.

Answer · Mairi Gougeon · 23 Jun 2023

The food and drink industry has been through significant turmoil in recent years, and Scottish Government support has been vital in ensuring the industry has been as resilient as possible during these times. As a key member of the Scotland Food & Drink Partnership, the Scottish Government has been integral in the collective decision making and financial support for the previous Industry Strategy (Ambition 2030) and the subsequent Recovery Plan in place during Covid.
Today, we are delighted to announce year 1 funding of £5m, supplemented by £1m from Industry themselves, towards the new Food and Drink Industry led strategy – Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the World – which sets out short-, medium- and long-term goals developed in collaboration with food and drink producers with a focus on stability amidst turbulence from global events including the war in Ukraine.

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regardi… 14 Jun 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the rural affairs secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the reported concerns of farmers about the potential impact on their productivity of beaver relocation.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government when the new procurement for the dualling of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy will commenc… 12 Jun 2023 · Inspired Question

To ask the Scottish Government when the new procurement for the dualling of the A9 between Tomatin and Moy will commence.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to tackle any challenges faced by … 23 May 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to tackle any challenges faced by NHS dentistry.

Awaiting an answer.

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest engagement has been with the UK Government regarding financial pressures… 26 Apr 2023 · Portfolio Question

To ask the Scottish Government what its latest engagement has been with the UK Government regarding financial pressures that households in Scotland are facing as a result of energy costs.

Awaiting an answer.

See all questions

Motions lodged116 lodged
Speechesfrom the Official Report

Recent things Jim Fairlie has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.

24 Jun 2026   Correction (draft)

At column 3, paragraph 3—Original text—I point out to the member that we are doing this in concert with the UK Government. There is a joint consultation ongoing as we speak, and I have confirmed with Department for Environment, Food and Ru…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

As Amanda Lindsay points out, there is a management scheme. Licences are available and there is funding through various schemes, such as the sea eagle management scheme or any number of other schemes that we have and through which funding …

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

The Scottish Government recognises the challenges that certain plant and animal species pose to agricultural businesses and is supporting farmers to manage those impacts. Ministers engage directly with land managers through forums such as …

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

I give an absolute guarantee that there is consultation right across the sector and across all sectors. We are cognisant of the fact that this will be a very contentious issue. Some people will be very unhappy with the results either way. …

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

As I said, I am currently working on that consultation. The cabinet secretary has given a commitment that it will be done as soon as possible. However, a considerable amount of work needs to be done to make sure that we ask the right quest…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

The answer to the question that Gillian Mackay asks about marine protected areas concerns, I have to admit, a new element of my portfolio. I am working on it with our officials and stakeholders right now. I took receipt of the petition tha…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

Bear with me, Deputy Presiding Officer. You caught me out there.

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

I point out to the member that we are doing this in concert with the UK Government. There is a joint consultation ongoing as we speak, and I have confirmed with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ministers our agreement to …

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

The Scottish Government remains committed to that work. Indeed, in September, in the Scottish Parliament, I hosted and chaired a constructive round-table discussion on alternative farrowing systems with representatives from the Scottish pi…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

Tim Eagle knows very well that the Government has been absolutely crystal clear that support for our primary producers is essential and we will continue to provide it. The shape of the support will be developed in the next number of years.…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

The process is ongoing as we speak. There is a desire to make good-quality local food accessible through the good food nation plans across the country.

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

I agree with Joe Fagan: co-operation is absolutely essential, whether it is about land ownership, food production or getting food into the public sector. We have just announced that there will be a public sector task force, and co-operatio…

24 Jun 2026   Portfolio Question Time (draft)

I welcome Joe Fagan to the chamber. The Scottish Government is committed to supporting agriculture, food production and our food and drink sectors in a fair manner. In March, we published our first rural support plan, outlining support for…

23 Jun 2026   Decision Time (draft)

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My apologies. My system did not connect. I would have voted no.

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

I am not quite sure what the member is talking about with regard to declining production in this country. We are still producing plenty of food in this country. He also said that there has not been certainty, but there is a guarantee of ce…

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

Will the member give way?

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

Given the points that the member has made about peatland restoration, does he welcome the fact that we have exceeded the peatland restoration targets for this year?

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

The facts are that the Dava wildfire went through every landscape—it did not matter whether it was forestry, wetland, peatland or managed land—so it is simply not correct to say that the only reason for the scale of the Dava fire was that …

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

I assume that Claire Baker is comfortable with the fact that, down in England, a payment under the basic payment scheme used to be worth £40,000 but its replacement is now worth £600. Is that the right way to give farmers certainty?

23 Jun 2026   Climate Change (draft)

It has clarity.

Seat & career2 seats held

Source: this MSP's profile on parliament.scot.

Allowances£16,773 · 2025

2025 (latest published)

Printing and/or Photocopying£5,485
Hotel£4,529
Rent£1,875
Advertising£901
Utilities£590
Newspaper Subscriptions£543
Office/Window Cleaning£540
Evening Meal£435
Members Mileage£388
Equipment£336
Staff Rail£282
Telephone Services Costs£247
Hall Hire£180
Cleaning/Hygiene Products£123
Running Costs£120
Staff Mileage£111
Refreshment£71
Business Meeting£11
Staff Tram£4

Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)

Contact & offices[email protected]

[email protected]

Website

Parliamentary

The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh, EH99 1SP

Constituency

63 Glasgow Rd, Perth, PH2 0PE

Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.