Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Ben Macpherson
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: benmacpherson.scot/home
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 their Constituency
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 not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Ben is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Ben has 1 parliamentary and government role
Minister for Social Security and Local Government
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Party Roles
Ben does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Ben has had 3 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security Committee
Member
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
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
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I am a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce).
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: 9 September 2021
Social Security (Support)
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson): "As set out in this year’s budget, we are committing £3.5 billion to social security payments, which will reach more than 800,000 people. That money will go directly to the people in Scotland who need it most…
Chamber meeting date: 9 September 2021
Gypsy Travellers
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson): "First, we welcome Ms Whitham’s interest in this area, which she has had since her days as COSLA’s community spokesperson. She was also an active member of the Scottish Government’s Gypsy Traveller ministerial working group…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 2 September 2021
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson): "Thank you, convener, and good morning. I welcome you and, indeed, committee members to their roles…
Chamber meeting date: 16 June 2021
Community Services (Local Government Support)
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson): "The 2021-22 local government finance settlement of almost £11.7 billion includes an additional £375.6 million—or 3.5 per cent—for day-to-day revenue spending…
Chamber meeting date: 16 June 2021
Two-child Cap (Discussions)
The Minister for Social Security and Local Government (Ben Macpherson): "I have not spoken to the Children and Young People’s Commissioner about this issue, but the Scottish Government agrees that the United Kingdom Government’s two-child limit and its associated rape clause are abhorrent policies that push families into poverty. Scottish Government analysis indicates that the two-child limit takes at least £120…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Shona Robison, Dundee City East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 67 for, 30 against, 20 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Supported by: Foysol Choudhury, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 25 for, 93 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
A Land of Opportunity - Supporting a Fairer and More Equal Society
Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Supported by: Sharon Dowey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, September 16, 2021
Result 33 for, 65 against, 20 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Return to Normal GP Services
Submitted by: Humza Yousaf, Glasgow Pollok, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Kevin Stewart, Maree Todd
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Result 67 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Return to Normal GP Services
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 14, 2021
Supported by: Paul O'Kane, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Result 56 for, 65 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Ben Macpherson in Parliament
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Ben Macpherson has submitted in Parliament
These are the questions that this MSP has asked the Scottish Government about its work. It also includes any answer to these questions.
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 June 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09168 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 May 2017, to what extent the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies to private companies."
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick on 20 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 June 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 19 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, whether it will outline the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three years, broken down by type of…
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06577 by Kevin Stewart on 2 February 2017, what the average (a) Housing Association Grant (HAG) and (b) non-HAG subsidy level per unit was expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow…
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 April 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide meals to children outwith school term times."
Answered by: Angela Constance on 10 May 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the renewable energy industry."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 28 March 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 5 March 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer are tested for Lynch syndrome, in light of evidence suggesting that the condition can dramatically increase a person’s chance of developing bowel cancer by up to 80%."
Answered by: Shona Robison on 14 March 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects."
Answered by: Annabelle Ewing on 22 February 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 7 February 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to publish a new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code."
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick on 8 February 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 31 January 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government how the finance secretary will ensure that the Budget supports local businesses."
Answered by: Derek Mackay on 7 February 2018
See all of Ben Macpherson's written questions submitted in Parliament