Miles Briggs
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
About Miles Briggs
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5944
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Miles is a member of 2 committees
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Miles is a member of 22 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Accident Prevention and Safety Awareness
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Care Leavers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Life Sciences
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palliative Care
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rare, Genetic and Undiagnosed Conditions
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scottish Gypsy/Traveller Community
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scottish Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women, Families and Justice
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Miles does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Miles has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Equalities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Miles has had 13 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 29 June 2023
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Member
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Party Spokesperson on Social Justice
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Chief Whip
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Substitute Member
14 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Parliamentary Bureau
Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Substitute Member
08 June 2016 - 20 August 2020
Health and Sport Committee
Member
28 June 2017 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2016 - 29 June 2017
Education and Skills Committee
Substitute Member
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Public Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Register of interests
Miles'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 Miles Briggs. The date of their initial statement was 03 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On 23 September 2023, in my capacity as the Convener of the Cross Party Group on Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries, I attended the Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse as a guest of Scottish Racing (an organisation promoting and supporting the sport of horseracing throughout Scotland; c/o Hamilton Park Racecourse, Bothwell Road, Hamilton, ML3 0DW). The value of the gift was £378. [Registered 19 October 2023]
On 22 September 2018 I and a guest attended the Ayr Gold Cup at Ayr Racecourse as guests of William Hill (a betting and gambling company of Greenside House, 50 Station Road, Wood Green, London, N22 7TP). The value of the gift was £325 per person, the total was £650 for myself and my guest.
On 22 April 2017, I attended the Scottish Grand National as a guest of Ladbrokes Coral Group plc (a betting and gambling company of 5th Floor, The Zig Zag Building, 70 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6SQ). The value of the gift, which comprised two tickets and hospitality, was £590.
Overseas visits
From 17 to 26 November 2023 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the People’s Republic of Bangladesh at the invitation of the High Commission of Bangladesh to the UK based in London (28 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5JA) and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The purpose of the visit was to engage with senior politicians within the Bangladeshi government, organisations, academics and business leaders to strengthen relationships between Bangladesh and Scotland, especially on issues of joint importance such as climate change, education, support for refugees and, fair pay and conditions for garment workers, and to build skill and knowledge sharing opportunities which will benefit both our nations. The delegation held meetings with Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; A.K. Abdul Momen MP, Foreign Affairs Minister; Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament; Md. Shahab Uddin MP, Minister of Environment Forest & Climate Change; Professor Dr AKM Zakir Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University; Md. Atiqul Islam, The Mayor of Dhaka North City; Dinner with Mahbub Ali MP, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism; and breakfast with Matt Cannell, British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh. The Delegation visited the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar; Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital; Nabiganj and Habiganj; the medical camp in Biswanath’s Amtoil Village, and NRB Hospital in Sylhet. In the course of these visits, the delegation held meetings with Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet; Chamber of Commerce of Sylhet and other business leaders from the region; university academic and administrative heads, and Ataur Rahman Selim, Mayor of Habiganj. The total cost of the visit was £3,683.57. Of the total costs, £2,300 for return flights from Edinburgh to Dhaka and a one-way internal flight from Sylhet to Dhaka was met by Workpermitcloud Limited (legal recruitment experts; of the Gherkin Level 28, 30 Street Mary Axe, London, England, EC3A, Company Registration: 12909694) and £1,082.92 for hotel accommodation, £240.65 for food and transport, £60 for internal return flights Dhaka to Cox Bazar were met by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh (State Ministry which oversees foreign relations of Bangladesh; of Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh) and Sylhet City Corporation (Sylhet City Council; of Nagar Bhaban, 3100, Bangladesh). I also received gifts, which including welcome crests, posters and books. The values of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. [Registered 14 December 2023]
From 5 to 12 October 2019 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; Meeting with Deputy Mayor of Tainan City Government, Sue Wang, Visit to Tainan Sin-Lau Hospital, Meeting with Kwo-tsai Wang, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Transportation and Communication, Meeting with Cheng-Hua Lee, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Lunch with Kelly Wu-Chiao Hsieh, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and brief engagement with the President of Taiwan, President Tsai Ing-Wen. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £4,055, accommodation £551, high speed rail £100, food £225, tickets for Chikan Tower, Fort Zeelandia, Anping Tree House and Taipei 101 £16. The total cost was £4,947 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a USB Drive. The values of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category.
From 9 February to 13 February 2024 I visited California, USA, as part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs, meeting health professionals, family members of individuals who had used the state’s End of Life Options Act, Senators and representatives of organisations who provide information about the provisions of the Act. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation and meals amounted to £2,694 and were paid by the permissible donor Dignity in Dying (a not-for-profit organisation that campaigns for a change in the law on assisted dying, of 181 Oxford Street, London, W1D 2JT). [Registered 7 March 2024]
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 Miles Briggs 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: 8 May 2024
Housing (Scotland) Bill
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con): "There is a lot to welcome in the bill, and we have welcomed many parts of it, but rent controls, which are part of the bill, are hugely damaging the market in Scotland. Rent controls have led to a decrease in supply…
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee meeting date: 30 April 2024
Rural and Island Housing
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning to the witnesses, and thanks for your initial thoughts. Collaboration between partner organisations and community engagement are key to building rural homes. You have all touched on that…
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee meeting date: 23 April 2024
“Local government in Scotland: Financial bulletin 2022/23”
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con): "I thank the witnesses for joining us today. One of the commission’s recommendations is about the prioritisation of recurring savings. Will you outline examples of good practice in that area as you see it…
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee meeting date: 23 April 2024
Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
Miles Briggs: "Amendment 49 is my only amendment in the group; it, too, is a probing amendment…
Chamber meeting date: 18 April 2024
Fossil and Biofuel Heating Systems
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con): "The recent heat in buildings consultation undervalues the significance and ability of renewable liquid fuels to contribute to a just transition and allow off-grid households to decarbonise in a fair, easy and affordable way…
Votes
How Miles Briggs has voted in Parliament
Find out how Miles Briggs has voted recently.
Appointment of Junior Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 49 against, 10 abstained, 7 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Appointment of Scottish Minister
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, May 9, 2024
Result 63 for, 57 against, 3 abstained, 6 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Douglas Ross, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Tim Eagle, 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, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 52 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Implementing the Cass Review in Scotland
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 71 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Supporting Scotland’s Colleges
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Supported by: Paul Sweeney, Martin Whitfield
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Result 60 for, 61 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Miles Briggs in Parliament
Find out what motions Miles Briggs has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Miles Briggs has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government where the new location of critical policing facilities will be, particularly the Criminal Investigation Department and fingerprinting facilities of the Edinburgh Division, in light of the recently reported closure of Fettes station."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide police officer relocation figures, in light of the reported closure of five current and 14 potential locations in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and of safety issues identified in buildings that they have been working in from at least the 1970s onwards, including reinforced autoclaved aerated…
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Police Scotland has requested further assistance in the past six months from the Metropolitan Police in relation to its policing and constitutional duties, particularly in relation to serious and organised crime…
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of alleged hate crimes reported since the commencement of the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 have been successfully prosecuted."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many complaints to public bodies related to non-crime hate incidents have been received since the Hate Crime and Public Order (Scotland) Act 2021 was passed, broken down by parliamentary region."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) police officers of all ranks and (b) civilian staff (i) were offered and (ii) accepted the option of compulsory redundancy following the reported announcement of police station closures in Edinburgh and the Lothians."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many police officers (a) were offered and (b) accepted voluntary redundancy following the reported announcement of station closures in Edinburgh and the Lothians."
Answer expected on 23 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what it anticipates the impact of the reported reduction in primary school music teacher numbers will be on children and young people."
Taken in the Chamber on 16 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 April 2024
"To ask to the Scottish Government what incentives there will be for landlords to comply with the new Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations, in light of the reported current lack of enforcement by local authorities."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 8 May 2024
Asked by: Briggs, Miles, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 April 2024
"To ask to the Scottish Government what progress has been made towards reviewing the operational arrangements of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), as committed to in its consultation on reforms to EPCs."
Answered by Gillian Martin on 8 May 2024