Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Ben Macpherson
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
34 Constitution Street
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6RS
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Ben is a member of 3 committees
Education, Children and Young People Committee
Deputy Convener
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Ben is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Ben does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Ben does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Ben has had 5 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
18 April 2023 - 26 April 2023
Education Children and Young People Committee
Member
19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023
Minister for Social Security and Local Government
Scottish Government
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice Committee
Member
Register of interests
Ben'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.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Ben Macpherson 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.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 1 June 2023
Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill
Ben Macpherson: "Good morning, cabinet secretary. In answer to Mr Bibby, you spoke about engagement with members of the House of Lords…
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 1 June 2023
National Outcomes
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "I want to follow up on some of the themes that colleagues have already touched on. Of course, as has already been said, Scotland’s international engagement is about profile, narrative and reputation…
Chamber meeting date: 31 May 2023
Education (National Discussion)
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "This debate and the national discussion on education as a whole are important opportunities for us to reflect on where we have been, where we are and where we are going in Scottish education…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2023
Transient Visitor Levy (City of Edinburgh Council)
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "I am also supportive of a visitor levy in Edinburgh, as are many organisations, including from the business community…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2023
Ending Violence in Schools
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "I, too, welcome this important debate…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Let's Talk Education – The National Discussion
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 31, 2023
Result 29 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Matheson, Falkirk West, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 17 for, 94 against, 3 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Hospital at Home Programme in Scotland
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 25, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Result 47 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Ending Violence in Scottish Schools
Submitted by: Jenny Gilruth, Mid Fife and Glenrothes, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Natalie Don
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Result 93 for, 18 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Ben Macpherson in Parliament
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Ben Macpherson has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 31 May 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting City of Edinburgh Council with the Trinity Academy redevelopment."
Taken in the Chamber on 8 June 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 April 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it and its agencies have had with Leith Theatre."
Taken in the Chamber on 26 April 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 June 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09168 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 May 2017, to what extent the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies to private companies."
Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 20 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 June 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing."
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 19 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, whether it will outline the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three years, broken down by type of…
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06577 by Kevin Stewart on 2 February 2017, what the average (a) Housing Association Grant (HAG) and (b) non-HAG subsidy level per unit was expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow…
Answered by Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 April 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide meals to children outwith school term times."
Answered by Angela Constance on 10 May 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25 April 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what role the Education Maintenance Allowance plays in encouraging young people to stay on at school."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2018
"To ask the First Minister how many Syrian refugees have been resettled in Scotland."
Taken in the Chamber on 19 April 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the renewable energy industry."
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse on 28 March 2018
See all of Ben Macpherson's questions submitted in Parliament