Skip to main content
Loading…

Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Image description

Jeremy Balfour

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day

About Jeremy Balfour

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @jeremyrbalfour

Facebook: Jeremy's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 5961
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Jeremy is a member of 2 committees

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

Cross-party groups

Jeremy is a member of 17 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Children and Young People

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Disability

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Funerals and Bereavement

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Maritime and Shipbuilding

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Co-Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Jeremy has 1 parliamentary and government role

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive

Member

Party Roles

Jeremy has 1 party role

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Jeremy has had 19 previous roles

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

21 May 2021 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

25 May 2022 - 21 March 2024

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Local Government

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 September 2021 - 25 May 2022

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Equalities

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Older People

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Local Government and Communities Committee

Substitute Member

29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021

Social Security Committee

Member

25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020

Local Government and Communities Committee

Member

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Communities

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Welfare

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Welfare

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017

Equalities and Human Rights Committee

Member

26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

08 June 2016 - 29 September 2016

Equal Opportunities Committee

Member

Register of interests

Jeremy'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 Jeremy Balfour 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: 12 June 2025

Migration

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I am grateful to Michael Marra for taking my intervention…

Chamber meeting date: 11 June 2025

Disabled People (Economic Contribution)

5. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated value is of the contribution that disabled people make to the Scottish economy annually. (S6O-04772)"

Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2025

Building Cladding Remediation (Update)

1. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the removal of dangerous building cladding, in light of the recent publications by Scotland’s cladding remediation programme. (S6T-02570)"

Chamber meeting date: 10 June 2025

Care Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I, too thank the minister for her constructive engagement over the past few days. I recognise that I am late to the show on this matter, but I think that amendment 1 is important, and I ask members to agree to it this afternoon…

Chamber meeting date: 5 June 2025

Housing (Scotland) Bill (Homelessness Prevention)

2. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill, when the homelessness prevention pilots will commence. (S6O-04761)"

Votes

How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament

Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17906.1

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 24 for, 84 against, 0 abstained, 21 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17906.2

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Michael Marra, North East Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 19 for, 62 against, 27 abstained, 21 did not vote

MSP abstained

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17906

A Migration System that Works for Scotland

Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Paul McLennan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, June 12, 2025

Result 67 for, 42 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17895

Approval of SSI

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Result 85 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17862

Planning

Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, June 9, 2025

Supported by: Foysol Choudhury, Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Result 91 for, 1 against, 21 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Jeremy Balfour has asked

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

Question ref. S6T-02570

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the removal of dangerous building cladding, in light of the recent publications by Scotland’s Cladding Remediation Programme."

Taken in the Chamber on 10 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04772

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 June 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the estimated value is of the contribution that disabled people make to the Scottish economy annually."

Taken in the Chamber on 11 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-37672

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37429 by Jim Fairlie on 12 May 2025, how many (a) canaries, (b) budgerigars, (c) other finches, (d) pigeons and (e) parrots are included in the 142,450 captive birds of other species that have been registered on the Scottish Kept Bird Register."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-37673

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-37428 by Jim Fairlie on 12 May 2025, and in light of reported errors within the February 2025 version of the general licence to arrange a fair, market, show, exhibition or other gathering involving the collecting together of birds in Scotland (EXD 178 (AI) (S)), whether it sought…

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 3 June 2025

Question ref. S6O-04761

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to part 5 of the Housing (Scotland) Bill, when the homelessness prevention pilots will commence."

Taken in the Chamber on 5 June 2025

Question ref. S6W-37333

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the number of Child Winter Heating Payments reportedly increased by 115% during the winter of 2024-25, compared with 2020-21."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37428

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has plans to make the Scottish Kept Birds Register publicly searchable, and, if not, for what reason."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 12 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-37429

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have registered under the Scottish Kept Bird Register, and whether it will provide a breakdown of the number of (a) poultry, (b) birds of prey and (c) other captive birds."

Answered by Jim Fairlie on 12 May 2025

Question ref. S6O-04642

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 May 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with the music sector to enable up-and-coming artists to hold concerts in Scotland."

Taken in the Chamber on 14 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-35938

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised by Young Lives vs Cancer regarding the three-month qualifying period for disability benefits for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, what consideration it has given to removing this, in light of any immediate additional costs that they might face following diagnosis."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 April 2025

Share this page