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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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 21 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Changing Places Toilets

Deputy Convener

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 Future of Football in Scotland

Deputy 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 Rugby Development in Scotland

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scottish Showmen's Guild

Member

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: 6 February 2025

Bereavement Education (Schools)

7. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I remind members that I am the convener of the cross-party group on funerals and bereavement. To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to making bereavement education a formal part of the school syllabus. (S6O-04304)"

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 6 February 2025

Pensioner Poverty

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I am a bit like Roz McCall’s mum in that I am information technology shy. I also think that most people out there are trying to scam me. I have heard lots of analysis of such problems, but I am still not sure how we can solve them…

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Addressing Child Poverty through Education

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "We have reached a 20-year high for the number of children who are in temporary accommodation. What will the cabinet secretary say to those children about the chances that the Government is giving them? Why is that number still going up, and not down?"

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Health and Wellbeing Census (Third-party Access)

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "The introduction to the survey, which was written using wording that the Scottish Government supplied, promised children and their families that their answers would not be shared outwith their local authority…

Chamber meeting date: 5 February 2025

Decision Time

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Unfortunately, I could not connect. I would have voted no."

Votes

How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament

Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16526

Great British Energy Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Alasdair Allan, Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 84 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.2

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 16 for, 97 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16532

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Angela Constance, Almond Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 70 for, 42 against, 1 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16532.1

Independent Review of Sentencing and Penal Policy

Submitted by: Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 28 for, 69 against, 14 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16531

Scottish Rate Resolution

Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 20, 2025

Result 86 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote

MSP voted against

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. S6W-35118

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on the outcomes of the long COVID support service pilot that took place across Edinburgh in 2022-23, including whether it considers it to have been successful."

Answer expected on 7 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35116

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the outcomes of the £10 million that it designated in 2023-24 to support people with long COVID, including how this was spent."

Answer expected on 7 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35117

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support is currently in place for people with long COVID."

Answer expected on 7 March 2025

Question ref. S6O-04364

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which two local authority areas have been identified as areas for the planned homelessness prevention pilots, in light of reports that the pilots are due to commence in spring 2025."

Taken in the Chamber on 27 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-35026

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when Transport Scotland plans to publish the next version of its Disability and Transport report, which was last published in 2023, and whether it will commit to publishing updated versions of the publication each year, taking account of the annual data made available through the Scottish Household Survey and other…

Answer expected on 4 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34526

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of voluntary sector grants are (a) currently and (b) expected to be multi-year as a result of its Fairer Funding commitment."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-34528

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards the ambition to achieve Fairer Funding for the voluntary sector by 2026, and how progress towards this ambition will be scrutinised."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-34527

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it defines "Fairer Funding"."

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 18 February 2025

Question ref. S6W-34873

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 17 February 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that SportScotland is making staff redundancies, and what its position is on whether this is in relation to reported costs incurred as a result of internal investigations involving Cricket Scotland."

Answer expected on 3 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-34329

Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 31 January 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when legislative regulations regarding alkaline hydrolysis will be laid before the Parliament."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 17 February 2025

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