Foysol Choudhury
Scottish Labour
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2021 - present day
About Foysol Choudhury
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @FoysolChoudhury
Facebook: Foysol's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6761
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
Phone: 0131 348 6761
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Foysol is a member of 3 committees
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Foysol is a member of 18 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Independent Convenience Stores
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Migration
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Pakistan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palestine
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Co-Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Foysol does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Foysol has 3 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe
Scottish Labour
Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development
Scottish Labour
Previous roles
Foysol had 1 previous role
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 25 April 2023
Social Justice and Social Security Committee
Member
Register of interests
Foysol'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 Foysol Choudhury. The date of their initial statement was 10 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On 26 August 2023, I received two tickets for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as guests of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Charities) LIMITED (Private company limited by guarantee without share capital, Edinburgh Tattoo Office, 1-3 Cockburn Street, EH1 1QB). The combined value of the tickets was £830. [Registered 22 September 2023]
Overseas visits
From 7 October to 13 October 2023 I visited Delhi, India, as part of a delegation of the Cross Party Group on India. The purpose of the visit was to engage with FinTech and Culture organisations and senior politicians within the Indian government. The total costs of the visit, including flights, hotel accommodation, food and transport, amounted to £2,402.16 and were paid by Amit Shah, Director of Flight Path Travel (a tour and travel agency which sells, flights, hotels and tour packages; Office No. 1, Jubilee Business Centre, 211 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London, NW9 8AQ). [Registered 3 November 2023]
From 21 to 25 December 2023 I travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Non-Residential Bangladeshi (NRB) World and Business America Magazine to be a guest speaker at the Global Business Conference. The purpose of the conference was to gather Non-Residential Bangladeshi leaders, businessmen and expats from all around the world to participate in seminars, workshops, keynote speeches to discuss how to strengthen business relations with Bangladesh across the world and learn about Bangladesh’s products, initiatives, investment climate, and help improve Bangladesh’s business relations internationally. The main theme of the conference was ‘Discover Higher Industry & Economic Development’. I met with President of NRB world, Mohammed Shahiduzzaman; Business America Magazine Country director, Sanjida Afreen and Managing editor Enamul Haque Enam; various business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and stakeholders from numerous nations. The total cost of the visit, including flights (£865), hotel accommodation (£1,415), food (£250), and boat trip (£80) amounted to £2,610 and was met by Business America Magazine Inc. (Magazine Publication company, B2B Networking Platform, US Office; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA) and NRB World (non-profit, non-political and service-oriented organization which brings expatriate Bangladeshi professionals from all countries of the world; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA). [Registered 31 January 2024]
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]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]
I own 11,000 ordinary shares in Universal Koba Corporation Ltd, a licensed restaurant, representing 10% of the issued share capital, with a market value of £11,000.
Voluntary
I am the General Secretary of the Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.
I am a member of the Co-operative Party. [Registered 15 December 2021]
I am Chairperson of Bangladeshi Samity Edinburgh.
I am General Secretary of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurants UK Limited.
I am Chair of Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC). [Amended interest 3 May 2023]
I am a member of UNITE the Union.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Foysol Choudhury 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: 26 June 2024
Additional Support Needs Teacher Numbers
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "A constituent in Lothian has a son who was entitled to extra time during an exam due to his attention deficit hyperactivity disorder but had his eligibility for assessment arrangements repeatedly questioned and missed his extra time, which my constituent believes caused stress for his son and impacted his ability to complete his exam. How is the…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2024
Hate Crime Strategy (Online Radicalisation)
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "During the most recent meeting of the cross-party group on challenging racial and religious prejudice, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety stated that the Scottish Government was looking to overhaul the reporting of hate crime…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2024
Hate Crime Strategy (Online Radicalisation)
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "During the most recent meeting of the cross-party group on challenging racial and religious prejudice, the Minister for Victims and Community Safety stated that the Scottish Government was looking to overhaul the reporting of hate crime…
Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 26 June 2024
Redress Scheme (Fornethy House Residential School) (PE1933)
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Can you also include, for the Government, the letters from the Law Society of Scotland and Thompsons Solicitors, as evidence?"
Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. My app did not refresh. Has my vote been recorded?"
Votes
How Foysol Choudhury has voted in Parliament
Find out how Foysol Choudhury has voted recently.
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Douglas Lumsden, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 50 for, 68 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, June 24, 2024
Supported by: Màiri McAllan
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Supported by: Mark Ruskell
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 8 for, 108 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Scottish Government Priorities: Tackling the Climate Emergency
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 58 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Result 68 for, 0 against, 46 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Foysol Choudhury in Parliament
Find out what motions Foysol Choudhury has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Foysol Choudhury has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many type 1 diabetic adults are expected to be started on insulin pumps in NHS Lothian in the 2024-2025 period as a direct result of the recently announced funding of up to £8.8 million for diabetes technology…
Answer expected on 24 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to directly (a) fund and (b) engage with (i) experts and (ii) organisations in black and multi-ethnic communities."
Answer expected on 24 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 26 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to (a) ensure equal access to community assets for and (b) address the current lack of access faced by organisations serving black and minority ethnic and migrant communities, in light of the important role that a stable venue can play in enabling such groups to effectively provide services."
Answer expected on 24 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 12 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-27769 by Kaukab Stewart on 5 June 2024, which stated that 35% of successful external applicants declared a disability, what the exact number is of external recruits to Scottish Government jobs who declared a disability."
Answered by Kaukab Stewart on 24 June 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 NHS hospitals have closed in the last 17 years."
Answer expected on 16 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 18 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many NHS boards are currently consulting on the future of any (a) A1, (b) A2, (c) A3, (d) B and (e) J26 hospitals, and which hospitals they are."
Answer expected on 16 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the number of NHS boards that provide psychosocial support training for renal healthcare professionals."
Answer expected on 15 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 17 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of psychosocial support for people with chronic kidney disease."
Answer expected on 15 July 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 5 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact that its recent announcement of up to £8…
Answered by Jenni Minto on 14 June 2024
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 7 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the suspension of the GP sustainability loan scheme on health inequalities."
Answered by Neil Gray on 14 June 2024
See all of Foysol Choudhury's questions submitted in Parliament