Jeremy Balfour
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
About Jeremy Balfour
Contact details
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
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is a member of 22 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Jeremy does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Jeremy has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Jeremy has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Member
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.
Here is the register for Jeremy Balfour. The date of their initial statement was 01 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
From 20 to 30 August 2018 I was part of a Tearfund delegation travelling to Rwanda to learn how projects in relation to genocide reconciliation and new business projects are transforming lives. The costs of the visit amounted to £1,700 and were met by Tearfund Scotland (a Christian charity of 29 Canal St, Glasgow G4 0AD).
From 9 t o 13 October 2017, I participated in a cross-party visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan), at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). The trip was arranged by the Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). I met a number of Government departments, as well as trade and cultural organisations. The cost of the visit was £3,900 for return flights, and the hotel and ancillary expenses was £2,600. All costs were met by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan).
From 21 to 23 August 2019 I travelled to Stockholm on a fact finding visit. The costs of the visit, for flights, were £223.38 and were met by UK Feminista (a charitable organisation which promotes equality between men and women of Omnibus Business Centre, North Road, London, N7 9DP).
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
No registrable interests
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: 24 May 2022
ScotRail (Revised Timetable)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "The minister will be aware that the Edinburgh international festival is just around the corner. At that time, many people travel into the city from other parts of Scotland to go to the theatre or to shows…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2022
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill and United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "There is a danger that the Deputy First Minister is trying to rewrite history…
Chamber meeting date: 24 May 2022
Health and Social Care
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I would like to declare an interest. It will not have escaped the notice of people in the Parliament that I have a disability and that, as such, I rely on carers to help me in my life. Without them, my life would be more difficult…
Chamber meeting date: 19 May 2022
Remote and Rural Communities (Lothian)
5. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to remote and rural communities in the Lothian region. (S6O-01106)"
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 19 May 2022
Low Income and Debt Inquiry
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning and thank you all very much for coming. I will follow up Paul McLennan’s questions. I am not sure who will want to jump in on my question…
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes
Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, May 23, 2022
Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 21 for, 97 against, 3 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Dean Lockhart, Douglas Lumsden, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 53 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 96 for, 24 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes
Submitted by: Kevin Stewart, Aberdeen Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, May 23, 2022
Supported by: Maree Todd, Humza Yousaf
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 68 for, 54 against, 0 abstained, 7 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Keeping Care Close to Home and Improving Outcomes
Submitted by: Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Glasgow, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, May 23, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Result 33 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Jeremy Balfour in Parliament
Find out what motions Jeremy Balfour has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Jeremy Balfour has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 April 2022
"To ask the Government how it plans to mitigate fuel poverty among social housing tenants, in light of the recent energy price cap increase and the data from the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce showing that over one third of social tenants already experience fuel poverty."
Answered by: Patrick Harvie on 13 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 May 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, how many (a) emergency calls and (b) ambulance call-outs recorded in the Scottish Ambulance Service call log have included the field search "abortion", in each of the last five years."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what involvement SQA psychologists had in the development of the pre-COVID-19 pandemic advice and guidance that the SQA provided to schools regarding the examinations diet."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there is no statistical data available from the SQA that could be used to asses whether there are any differences in pass rates for exams taken (a) pre-COVID-19 pandemic and (b) during the pandemic for those (i) with a neuro-divergent diagnosis and (ii) without such a diagnosis."
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 10 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that some Scottish Child Payments and Child Disability Payments were not made on time in the week beginning 11 April 2022, and whether it will confirm how many individuals did not receive their payments on time."
Answered by: Ben Macpherson on 6 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 April 2022
"To ask the Government whether it plans to increase investment in local advice services, including government-funded services and those provided by housing associations, to help provide people with advice and support amid the reported cost of living crisis, in line with the recommendation of the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce."
Answered by: Patrick Harvie on 5 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 April 2022
"To ask the Government whether it plans to introduce emergency redress funding for social tenants facing higher fuel bills as a result of work to decarbonise their energy supplies, in line with the recommendation of the Zero Emissions Social Housing Taskforce."
Answered by: Patrick Harvie on 5 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 April 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason the total funding available from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for an Occupational Therapy Masters is reportedly £10,000 when the tuition fees for the two-year course at Queen Margaret University amount to £20,000, plus living expenses, in light of reports that, in England,…
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 4 May 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 31 March 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position, including that of Transport Scotland, is on the use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to enforce School Streets, and whether there are any barriers, including legal ones, that could prevent using ANPR cameras in such a way."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 March 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how it has supported former Hong Kong residents who have resettled in Scotland."
Answered by: Shona Robison on 25 March 2022
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament