Sharon Dowey
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2021 - present day
About Sharon Dowey
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @SharonDowey_
Facebook: Sharon's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6980
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
18 Wellington Square
Ayr
KA7 1EZ
Phone: 01292 839130
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Sharon is not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Sharon is a member of 14 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Construction
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gardening and Horticulture
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Men's Violence Against Women and Children
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Mental Health
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Music
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Recreational Boating and Marine Tourism
Member
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
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Wood Panel Industry
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Sharon has 1 parliamentary and government role
Scottish Commission For Public Audit
Deputy Chair
Party Roles
Sharon has 1 party role
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Justice
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Sharon has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
23 June 2021 - 08 February 2024
Deputy Convener
08 September 2021 - 29 June 2023
Substitute Member
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 May 2022 - 28 June 2023
Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
24 June 2021 - 01 September 2021
Scottish Commission for Public Audit
Member
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Member
Register of interests
Sharon'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 Sharon Dowey. The date of their initial statement was 26 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until the election I was employed by William Morrison Supermarkets plc (a retailer of Kilwinning Road, Stevenston, KA20 3DE). I worked full time and received remuneration of between £45,001 and £50,000 a year. I handed in my notice on my election and am no longer employed by the company.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 7 October to 13 October 2023 I visited Delhi, India, as part of a delegation of the Cross Party Group on India. The purpose of the visit was to engage with FinTech and Culture organisations and senior politicians within the Indian government. The total costs of the visit, including flights, hotel accommodation, food and transport, amounted to £2,402.16 and were paid by Amit Shah, Director of Flight Path Travel (a tour and travel agency which sells, flights, hotels and tour packages; Office No. 1, Jubilee Business Centre, 211 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London, NW9 8AQ). [Registered 3 November 2023]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
I own a house in South Ayrshire with a market value of between £250,001 and £300,000. [Amended interest 5 April 2023]
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Sharon Dowey 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: 16 May 2024
Prison Population
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "I thank the cabinet secretary for an advance copy of her statement. Recently, the chief executive of the Scottish Prison Service, Teresa Medhurst, confirmed that seven of the country’s 15 prisons had declared red status due to severe overcrowding…
Chamber meeting date: 15 May 2024
Police Officer Numbers
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "Our police force is underfunded and overstretched. It has been forced to no longer investigate thousands of crimes. There are not enough officers, and the force does not have enough resources to perform its duties…
Chamber meeting date: 8 May 2024
Homelessness in Ayrshire
7. Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to tackle homelessness in Ayrshire. (S6O-03410)"
Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 8 May 2024
Police (Ethics, Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "The evidence so far has been very good, and a lot of my questions have been answered already. Kate Wallace, on the proposed period of 12 months, you said that some victims do not become aware of things until further down the line…
Chamber meeting date: 2 May 2024
Unborn Victims of Violence
Sharon Dowey (South Scotland) (Con): "Domestic abuse is a despicable and evil crime. It is particularly abhorrent when it also results in harm to a child…
Votes
How Sharon Dowey has voted in Parliament
Find out how Sharon Dowey has voted recently.
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Roz McCall
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 29 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 13, 2024
Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 95 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 62 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Stand Up for Teaching
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 13, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 62 for, 61 against, 1 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 15, 2024
Result 69 for, 33 against, 22 abstained, 5 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Sharon Dowey in Parliament
Find out what motions Sharon Dowey has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Sharon Dowey has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in situations where wayleaves cannot be satisfactorily concluded with landowners, what processes are in place to overcome any such issues, and what is considered a reasonable period within which to conclude such negotiations."
Answer expected on 30 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-22266 by Paul McLennan on 16 October 2023, how much of the £500,000 domestic abuse pilot fund has been distributed to date."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has reviewed, or plans to review, any current legislation in light of the UK Government's proposed amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill regarding sexually explicit deepfakes, and what its position is on whether there are any gaps in Scots law in relation to deepfake technology."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures are in place to (a) track and (b) prosecute cases involving the distribution, publication, or sale of sexually explicit deepfake images, particularly in cases where the depicted individuals did not consent to such depictions."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to protect women and other vulnerable groups from the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is collaborating with (a) other governments across the UK, (b) law enforcement agencies and (c) technology platforms to address the reported proliferation of sexually explicit deepfakes, and what resources are being allocated for (i) education and (ii) prevention of any associated crimes."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is taking any action to ensure that prisoners with an Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentence are provided with courses that will help them reform their behaviour."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many inmates with Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentences have not had an updated risk assessment within the last year."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on how many current inmates have Order for Lifelong Restriction (OLR) sentences, and whether that figure has risen in the past five years."
Answered by Angela Constance on 7 May 2024
Asked by: Dowey, Sharon, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 24 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking to ensure equitable access to alcohol and drug rehabilitation services in (a) East and (b) South Ayrshire, in light of reports that the 12-week programme costs between £15,000 and £20,000 per person."
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 2 May 2024