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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 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: 20 March 2025

Children with Cancer (Disability Benefits)

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Research by Young Lives vs Cancer shows that children with cancer wait an average of six months for disability benefits in Scotland, leaving struggling families without support…

Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 20 March 2025

Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I am very sympathetic to amendment 1078. If a future Government did not make such housing available, what would be the consequences? How would the provisions be enforced?"

Chamber meeting date: 19 March 2025

Temporary Accommodation (Children’s Rights)

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Shelter Scotland’s report can be summed up in one sentence: the SNP has failed Scottish children…

Chamber meeting date: 13 March 2025

Young Carers Action Day 2025

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "It is a real privilege to take part in the debate, and I thank the member for lodging the motion. I, too, welcome all the people in the public gallery. They have brought the average age of this Parliament down dramatically in the past half an hour…

SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee meeting date: 13 March 2025

SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review

Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning. Thank you for having us along to give evidence. The simple answer is that I am not wedded to that model at all…

Votes

How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament

Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-16923

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Angus Robertson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 108 for, 7 against, 1 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16923.1

Scotland – A Fair Trade Nation

Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 24, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Result 107 for, 8 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16844.2

Children’s Rights and Temporary Accommodation

Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 53 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-16845

Reforming Scotland’s West Coast Ferries

Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 17, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 58 for, 52 against, 6 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-16845.1

Reforming Scotland’s West Coast Ferries

Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Result 52 for, 56 against, 7 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

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-35941

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

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review and aim to simplify the disability benefit application process for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, including reducing any delays caused where medical evidence is required to determine eligibility."

Answer expected on 3 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35939

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

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of any delays in receiving disability benefits on children and young people with cancer, and their families, particularly in respect of (a) financial pressures and (b) emotional wellbeing."

Answer expected on 3 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35940

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 that almost half of patients in Scotland finish their cancer treatment before receiving a decision regarding disability benefit claims due to lengthy waits, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of Social Security Scotland’s disability benefits…

Answer expected on 3 April 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."

Answer expected on 3 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-35937

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 that, currently, there is an average six-month waiting time between a child or young person's cancer diagnosis and their receiving their first disability benefit payment, what action it can take to reduce this."

Answer expected on 3 April 2025

Question ref. S6O-04494

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

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the allocation of additional funding for health and social care, in light of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board's reported plans to end funding for its third sector grant programme."

Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2025

Question ref. S6W-35449

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

"To ask the Scottish Government how many applications to provide vehicles and equipment under the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme, from organisations other than Motability, it has (a) approved and (b) rejected in each of the last five years, and what steps it is taking to broaden the range and scope of such providers, in particular those…

Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 17 March 2025

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."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 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."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 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."

Answered by Jenni Minto on 6 March 2025

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