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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Jeremy Balfour

Independent

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2025 - present day

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Former MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - 2025

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 18 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 Deafness

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 does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Jeremy has had 20 previous roles

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

08 October 2024 - 22 August 2025

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Justice

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

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: 10 December 2025

Social Security Spending

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind): "Would the member like to outline which devolved benefits he would take away and how he would do that?"

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee meeting date: 9 December 2025

Non-surgical Procedures and Functions of Medical Reviewers (Scotland) Bill

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind): "Good morning. Would the Government consider placing additional statutory constraints, such as guiding principles or limits on the purpose of the power, in the bill?"

Chamber meeting date: 4 December 2025

Non-residential Social Care Charges

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind): "Will non-residential social care charges be abolished by the Scottish Government before the end of the current parliamentary session, as was promised in the First Minister’s party’s 2021 manifesto?"

Chamber meeting date: 2 December 2025

International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind): "Like others, I congratulate Pam Duncan-Glancy on securing the debate. I also thank her for highlighting the summit that will take place in February…

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee meeting date: 2 December 2025

Contract (Formation and Remedies) (Scotland) Bill

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Ind): "Good morning, minister, and thank you again for coming…

Votes

How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament

Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-20099

Children (Withdrawal from Religious Education and Amendment of UNCRC Compatibility Duty) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, December 11, 2025

Result 79 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 23 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-20068.1

Business Programme

Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Supported by: Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 34 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 6 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 8, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 34 for, 87 against, 1 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057.3

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 60 for, 60 against, 2 abstained, 7 did not vote

MSP abstained

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-20057.1

Connecting Scotland

Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, December 9, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, December 10, 2025

Result 23 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

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 reference: S6O-05311

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 10 December 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 18 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm that it will not allocate any further funding to the extension of the tram network in Edinburgh."

Question reference: S6W-42444

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of healthcare visits, including GP visits, children and young people under the age of 25 are making before they receive a cancer diagnosis compared to older adults, and what action is being taken to reduce diagnostic delays for this age group."

Question reference: S6W-42443

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards ensuring that the experiences of children and young people under the age of 16 with cancer are captured, for example through the implementation of a dedicated under-16 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey."

Question reference: S6W-42442

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the release of the 2024 Scottish Cancer Patient Experience Survey (SCPES) results and the survey having not run in 2021 as expected, (a) when the next CPES will be conducted, and (b) what steps are being taken to ensure that the SCPES data is available by more distinct age ranges, specifically for people…

Question reference: S6W-42440

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement the recommendation of the independent review of Adult Disability Payment to give consideration to granting automatic entitlement to Adult Disability Payment when a person satisfies certain conditions or is in receipt of other forms of assistance without having to satisfy the qualifying…

Question reference: S6W-42441

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 8 December 2025

Current Status: Answer expected on 5 January 2026

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will use any learnings from the independent review of Adult Disability Payment and apply them, as appropriate, to Child Disability Payment."

Question reference: S6W-42173

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 26 November 2025

Current Status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 December 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether the decision by the Motability scheme to end the availability of "premium" vehicles, such as BMW and Mercedes cars, for purchase through the scheme will apply in Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-40835

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 30 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether the UK Government has indicated, as a response to the correspondence from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care regarding the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill, whether it agrees with the Scottish Government position that the Bill is outside the legislative competence of the…

Question reference: S6W-40834

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 30 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 15 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has sought legal advice from the Lord Advocate regarding the legislative competence of the Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill."

Question reference: S6W-40894

Asked by: Jeremy Balfour, Lothian, Independent

Date lodged: 1 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Angus Robertson on 15 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the park being managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and regulated under the Holyrood Park Regulations 1971, what discussions it has had, or plans to have, with HES regarding by what date Duddingston Low Road in Holyrood Park can be fully re-opened; what work is required to allow it to do so; how…

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