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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Ben Macpherson

Scottish National Party

MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day

About Ben Macpherson

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @BenMacpherson

Facebook: Ben's facebook

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

34 Constitution Street
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6RS

Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.

Committees

Ben is a member of 2 committees

Cross-party groups

Ben is a member of 6 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Medicinal Cannabis

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Ben does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Ben does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Ben has had 16 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

05 September 2023 - 11 September 2024

Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee

Deputy Convener

05 September 2023 - 17 June 2024

Education Children and Young People Committee

Member

26 April 2023 - 05 September 2023

Education Children and Young People Committee

Deputy Convener

29 June 2023 - 05 September 2023

Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee

Member

18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Substitute Member

18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023

Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee

Member

18 April 2023 - 26 April 2023

Education Children and Young People Committee

Member

19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023

Minister for Social Security and Local Government

Scottish Government

21 December 2020 - 19 May 2021

Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment

Scottish Government

17 February 2020 - 21 December 2020

Minister for Public Finance and Migration

Scottish Government

28 June 2018 - 17 February 2020

Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development

Scottish Government

14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Office of the First Minister

Scottish Government

14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the First Minister

Scottish Government

08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

Justice Committee

Member

06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018

Justice SubCommittee on Policing

Member

08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018

Social Security Committee

Member

Register of interests

Ben'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 Ben Macpherson. The date of their initial statement was 24 May 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

On 4 February 2017 myself and a guest attended the Scotland v Ireland match at Murrayfield as hospitality guests of BT Scotland (a telecommunications company of BT Group plc, BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AJ). The combined value of the two tickets was £1390 + VAT.

Overseas visits

From 3 to 25 February 2024 I visited the United States of America as a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. I participated in this particular three week professional exchange program with a range of other participants from Europe and Asia, considering various global challenges. The costs of travel, accommodation, meals and other occasional expenses were $9,284 USD (equivalent to £7339, at the closing exchange rate on 29 February 2024) and were met by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State (of 2201 C St., NW Washington, DC 20520, United States of America), an organisation that aims to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through exchange programmes. [Registered 29 February 2024]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

No registrable interests

Voluntary

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 16 May 2024]

I am registered on the roll of Scottish Solicitors.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Ben Macpherson 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: 31 October 2024

Housing (Scotland) Bill

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "According to the Office for National Statistics, on average rates, rents for my constituents have increased by about 14 per cent in the past year, compared with an increase of 7 per cent across Scotland…

Chamber meeting date: 30 October 2024

Edinburgh (Affordable Housing Discussions)

6. Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant stakeholders regarding how its financial planning can support the delivery of affordable housing in Edinburgh. (S6O-03858)"

Criminal Justice Committee meeting date: 30 October 2024

Pre-budget Scrutiny 2025-26

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "Good morning. I want to go back to capital matters for a moment, and I also have a question on revenue…

Chamber meeting date: 29 October 2024

Fiscal Sustainability

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "Will Craig Hoy give way on that point?"

Chamber meeting date: 10 October 2024

Prison Population

Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "Can the cabinet secretary say more about how the Scottish Government will ensure that victims and organisations that represent victims are consulted on the proposed legislation…

Votes

How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament

Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-15086.3

Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape

Submitted by: Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Supported by: Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Result 84 for, 25 against, 7 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15086.2

Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape

Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Result 24 for, 92 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-15086

Scotland’s Commissioner Landscape

Submitted by: Kenneth Gibson, Cunninghame North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Supported by: Ross Greer, Michael Marra, Michelle Thomson
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Result 92 for, 24 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15088

Passenger Railway Services (Public Ownership) Bill - UK Legislation

Submitted by: Fiona Hyslop, Linlithgow, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Supported by: Jim Fairlie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 31, 2024

Result 87 for, 26 against, 4 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15078

Consideration of SSI

Submitted by: Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Result 62 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 5 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motions

Questions

Questions Ben Macpherson has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6W-30947

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on its planned review of Creative Scotland, and wider funding streams for the arts and culture sector."

Answer expected on 12 November 2024

Question ref. S6O-03858

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 23 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues, City of Edinburgh Council and other relevant stakeholders regarding how its financial planning can support the delivery of affordable housing in Edinburgh."

Taken in the Chamber on 30 October 2024

Question ref. S6W-30110

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25 September 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to implementing the Disclosure (Scotland) Act 2020 earlier than April 2025."

Answered by Natalie Don-Innes on 8 October 2024

Question ref. S6O-03770

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 September 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding the implementation of its heat in buildings strategy, what discussions it has had with the UK Government on consumer protection, in light of reported concerns that customers currently using heat networks are not protected by Ofgem's price cap."

Taken in the Chamber on 26 September 2024

Question ref. S6O-03701

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 4 September 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the implementation of the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 and Cladding Remediation Programme, including the Scottish Safer Buildings Accord and Single Building Assessment pilot programme."

Taken in the Chamber on 12 September 2024

Question ref. S6W-29240

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 23 August 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, regarding its announced review of the Community Right to Buy, what steps it has taken to (a) advertise its review of the community right to buy land and (b) invite evidence; what deadline it has set for the submission of evidence; whether it plans to publish all evidence submitted, and what formal terms of reference…

Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 2 September 2024

Question ref. S6W-28987

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 August 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for early release prisoners to ensure that they are able to find and maintain stable accommodation upon release."

Answered by Angela Constance on 28 August 2024

Question ref. S6W-28988

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 August 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to ensure that early release prisoners are not at risk of homelessness upon release."

Answered by Angela Constance on 28 August 2024

Question ref. S6W-29249

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 August 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government when the Registrar General for Scotland will publish the next results from the 2022 Census."

Answered by Angus Robertson on 22 August 2024

Question ref. S6W-29135

Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 14 August 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what progress is being made with the development and delivery of Scotland’s National Marine Plan 2."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 15 August 2024

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