Photo © Scottish Parliament
Former Member of the Scottish Parliament
Michael Matheson
Unknown party
At a glance Michael Matheson was a Member of the Scottish Parliament.
Attendance is votes cast as a share of the 2,903 Holyrood divisions on record; Michael Matheson did not vote in 312.
Voting record
The most recent divisions Michael Matheson voted in. For, Against and Abstain are as recorded.
| 24 Mar 2026 | Railways Bill - UK Legislation | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Visitor Levy (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 24 Mar 2026 | Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 19 Mar 2026 | Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee’s 8th Report, 2026 (Session 6) | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 18 Mar 2026 | Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill | Against |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 17 Mar 2026 | Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
| 11 Mar 2026 | Approval of SSI | For |
Questions
Michael Matheson has tabled 1,154 questions in the Scottish Parliament.
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support local authorities, including Falkirk Council, to deli…
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.
Awaiting an answer.
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the reported marine energy sector calls for it and the UK Govern…
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.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 12 Mar 2026
I refer the member to the answer to question S6W-43978 on 12 March 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.
To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting Scotland’s marine energy sector to protect its home-grown, in…
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.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 12 Mar 2026
Scotland has developed one of the world’s strongest concentrations of marine energy expertise, built through significant investment to date by Scottish Government and its Enterprise Agencies in research and development which has leveraged additional support. The Scottish Government invested over £70 million into Wave Energy Scotland, and £15 million into the European Marine Energy Centre site to date. Further investment is now needed from the UK Government and its bodies to support the sector which is where the main levers sit for commercialising these emerging technologies.We are very fortunate that our domestic skills base spans engineering, research, manufacturing, project development, offshore operations, and advanced subsystem innovation which is in demand not only across tidal stream and wave but also floating offshore wind. This cross fertilisation of innovative skills and knowledge between sectors offers a wider range of opportunities to individuals and also benefits the advancement of key industries.The Scottish Government, alongside the UK Government and the Welsh Government, is participating in the work of the Marine Energy Taskforce which is tasked with making recommendations on how best to accelerate the UK’s marine energy sector and is due to report this summer. We look forward to working with governments across the UK to consider these recommendations.
To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to research suggesting that Scotland’s marine energy sector c…
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.
Answer · Gillian Martin · 12 Mar 2026
The successful commercialisation of the marine energy sector in Scotland certainly has the potential to grow our economy. While the research referenced shows promising projections for the marine energy sector, the realisation of these projections is reliant on significant technological advances being made in very short order.To get to commercialisation, the sector will need to demonstrate sufficient technical maturity at utility scale and cost competitiveness with other marine energy technologies. The main levers for enabling the commercialisation of emerging, pre-commercial technologies lie with the UK Government (e.g. Contracts for Difference) and bodies such as GB Energy whose remit includes providing market confidence in nascent and growth clean energy sectors.We will continue to make representations to the UK Government, encouraging them to provide sufficient support for the development of the sector, including through the UK industry-led Marine Energy Taskforce.
To ask the Scottish Government what role integration joint boards have in monitoring funding allocated by the Scottish …
To ask the Scottish Government what role integration joint boards have in monitoring funding allocated by the Scottish Government to hospices.
Answer · Jenni Minto · 29 Jan 2026
Financial monitoring requirements, as set out in legislation and statutory guidance, apply to Integration Joint Boards (IJBs) for functions that are delegated to IJBs.IJBs commission palliative care services, including independent hospices, to meet the needs of their local communities. This commissioned work is set out through service level agreements, which include monitoring and reporting requirements as set by the IJB.
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026.
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026.
Answer · Neil Gray · 23 Jan 2026
The Scottish Government recognises the impact that Eosinophilic Diseases can have on those affected and their families, and remains committed to ensuring access to safe, effective and person-centred care for people living with these conditions in Scotland.Whilst we do not currently have any plans to mark Eosinophilic Diseases Awareness Month in May 2026, we welcome and value the work of third sector organisations, such as Guts UK and the EOS Network, whose ongoing awareness raising activities and support for people living with these long-term conditions make an important contribution to improving understanding and supporting those affected.
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support research and clinical trials for the medical condition, eos…
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to support research and clinical trials for the medical condition, eosinophilic oesophagitis.
Answer · Jenni Minto · 20 Jan 2026
Within the Scottish Government, funding of Health and Care Research comes under the remit of the Chief Scientist Office (CSO).CSO funds research projects via its Translational Clinical Studies (TCS) Committee and the Health Improvement, Protection and Services Research (HIPS) Committeehttps://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/grant-funding/response-mode-funding-schemes/CSO funds capacity building research via its Fellowship Funding programmeshttps://www.cso.scot.nhs.uk/fellowship-funding/Research funding is not allocated to any particular condition and CSO funds research across the clinical spectrum. All applications go through a process of independent expert review to allow funding decisions to be made. Applications on eosinophilic oesophagitis are welcomed and CSO's role is well known across the Health and Care research community in Scotland
To ask the Scottish Government what data it holds on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis, and whether it has ob…
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.
Answer · Neil Gray · 23 Jan 2026
The Scottish Government does not hold any data on the prevalence of eosinophilic oesophagitis in Scotland.
Motions lodged
| 25 Mar 2026 | Utility Infrastructure Investment Delivering Ambitions for Scotland’s People, Communities and Nature | 7 sig. |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Freedom of Mind Community Choir’s 10th Anniversary | 18 sig. |
| 11 Nov 2025 | Congratulating Evie, Poppy and Violet on Being Included in the Young Women’s Movement Scotland’s 30 Under 30 List | 19 sig. |
| 10 Sep 2025 | Rev Alan Donaldson Awarded Order of Merit (3rd Class) by President Zelensky | 18 sig. |
| 10 Jul 2025 | Kelpies 10 and The Helix Shortlisted for VisitScotland Scottish Thistle Awards | 21 sig. |
| 17 Jun 2025 | Diving for Peace – Limassol 2025 | 18 sig. |
Speeches
Recent things Michael Matheson has said in the chamber and in committee, from the Official Report.
24 Mar 2026 Climate Change Plan (draft)
I am grateful to the cabinet secretary for her statement. I very much agree with her comments about securing the economic value of decarbonisation and achieving net zero. The cabinet secretary will recognise that one of the key areas in wh…
18 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
As others have done, I wish Shona Robison well as she departs the Parliament. It has been a real pleasure to serve in the Parliament with her over the past 27 years—I hope that that does not make her feel old—and she leaves with my very be…
18 Mar 2026 Portfolio Question Time
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. (S6O-05661)
17 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill (draft)
As I rise to make my last contribution to a debate in this Parliament after some 27 years, I cannot think of a more consequential debate taking place during my time here. I offer my congratulations and thanks to Liam McArthur and to collea…
17 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill
As I rise to make my last contribution to a debate in this Parliament after some 27 years, I cannot think of a more consequential debate taking place during my time here. I offer my congratulations and thanks to Liam McArthur and to collea…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I should declare the fact that I was the justice secretary who introduced the presumption against sentences of less than a year. However, I think that we should leave the sentencing guidelines to stand as they are without necessarily putti…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I will give way briefly to Murdo Fraser.
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I am grateful for that clarity. The Government does not always get it right, of course—I can say that, these days, from the back benches. I do not think that we should lower the threshold, because that would send out the wrong signal. The …
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
Russell Findlay makes a valid point. We cannot overestimate the scope of coercive and controlling behaviour in different parts of our society. As I said, it happens on a day-in, day-out basis, with social work staff dealing with it through…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I am grateful for Mr Whittle’s intervention, given that he has been a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee and considered the issues.On Christine Grahame’s point, training is one aspect, but I do not believe that the way i…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I will take Brian Whittle’s intervention, and I will try to deal with both interventions at once.
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I will take Christine Grahame’s intervention, and then Brian Whittle’s.20:45
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
There are issues about potential inequalities that are associated with the bill. Inequality is created when individuals cannot access the palliative care that they would like to have, because it is not available to them—if they had the fin…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
Given that coercive and controlling behaviour impacts on a range of aspects of our society, including on vulnerable individuals, I do not believe that it will not impact on vulnerable individuals when it comes to making decisions about ass…
10 Mar 2026 Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3 (draft)
I am grateful to the members who have lodged amendments in this group on coercion, which is one of the key risks that are associated with the bill. During the stage 1 debate, when we were debating coercion, it was asserted—as we have heard…
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
I will briefly touch on a couple of other areas, one of which is transport. Several members have raised the challenges that we face with electrification. Significant progress has been made on that, but there is a significant challenge, esp…
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
I very much agree. It is not a question of not deploying new technologies; it is a question of recognising that some of them carry different levels of risk. As well as being mindful of that, we must ensure that the final plan is drafted in…
5 Mar 2026 Draft Climate Change Plan (draft)
To begin, I apologise for being slightly late for the start of the debate.I will seek to draw the debate together in a consensual fashion, given the importance of the issue. I put on record my thanks to all those members who have contribut…
22 Jan 2026 General Question Time
The Deputy First Minister will be aware that social impact bonds can leverage significant additional investment to support the expansion and delivery of social enterprise and third sector organisation services. They have been successfully …
22 Jan 2026 General Question Time
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding whether social impact bonds can be used to improve the employment opportunities for young people, including in Falkirk West…
Seat & career
- Falkirk West Constituency MSP · Dissolution 6 May 2021 – 8 Apr 2026
- Falkirk West Constituency MSP · Dissolution 5 May 2016 – 4 May 2021
- Falkirk West Constituency MSP · Dissolution 5 May 2011 – 23 Mar 2016
- Falkirk West Constituency MSP · Dissolution 3 May 2007 – 22 Mar 2011
- Central Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 1 May 2003 – 2 Apr 2007
- Central Scotland (region) Regional MSP · Dissolution 6 May 1999 – 31 Mar 2003
Allowances
2025 (latest published)
Source: Scottish Parliament (published ~1 year in arrears)
Contact & offices
Source: this MSP's official Scottish Parliament profile. Last updated 26 Jul 2026.