Jeremy Balfour
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
About Jeremy Balfour
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
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
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is a member of 22 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
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
Deputy 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 3 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Equalities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Jeremy has had 16 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Local Government and Communities Committee
Substitute 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.
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 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).
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 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 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1460 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 1 August 2022]
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: 27 June 2024
Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Bill: Stage 1
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I welcome the opportunity to speak. It is clear that there is a fair amount of consensus among all the parties on a way forward. That has been helpful as we have reflected on the changes that might come at stages 2 and 3…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 27 June 2024
Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning to you and your team, minister. Obviously, everybody here wants to prevent homelessness…
Chamber meeting date: 26 June 2024
Creative Scotland (Meetings)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "At his meeting with Creative Scotland next Monday, could the cabinet secretary raise the issue of funding for projects for people with disabilities? There is still concern in the disability community that the appropriate methodology is not being used…
Chamber meeting date: 25 June 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer."
Finance and Public Administration Committee meeting date: 25 June 2024
Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill: Financial Memorandum
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning, colleagues. I introduced the Disability Commissioner (Scotland) Bill in February this year, having previously obtained the right to introduce a member’s bill…
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour 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 Jeremy Balfour in Parliament
Find out what motions Jeremy Balfour has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it still plans to add the data from 134,000 children gathered in the Health and Wellbeing Census to the Administrative Data Research Scotland system; what its position is on whether the data was captured ethically and legally, and whether it will implement measures to mitigate any risks of being able to link…
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to (a) reviewing and (b) deleting, if found to be infringing UK GDPR and/or ethical standards for health research, the data gathered from 134,000 children who participated in the Health and Wellbeing Census survey in 2022 reportedly without being informed of what the Information…
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will implement a Scottish version of the UK Government's national school breakfast club programme, specifically with a view to tackling child poverty."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government on what date its Statistics Public Benefit and Privacy Panel (SPBPP) reportedly granted a request by the University of Strathclyde to access data gathered from 134,0000 children in the Health and Wellbeing Census, and whether it will provide any documentation that shows for what reason any such request was granted, in…
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 18 June 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 June 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to mitigate against crop damage over the coming months."
Taken in the Chamber on 19 June 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 May 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its plans to restart the GP Sustainability Loan Scheme, including by what date it expects to restart the scheme."
Taken in the Chamber on 29 May 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 25 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to reopening a Scottish Development International office in Taiwan."
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 1 May 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the Medium Term Financial Strategy to provide clarity on its commitment to introduce multi-year funding for the voluntary sector in Scotland."
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it will utilise the Medium Term Financial Strategy to progress its commitment to Fairer Funding by 2026, beyond multi-year funding."
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2024
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to use the Medium Term Financial Strategy to ensure greater certainty and security for the voluntary sector in Scotland."
Answered by Shona Robison on 29 April 2024
See all of Jeremy Balfour's questions submitted in Parliament