Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Ben Macpherson
Contact details
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 Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment
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 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice 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 16 May 2016.
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. [Registered 10 February 2017]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I received two premium tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 19 Street Party at a value of £160 each, gifted by Underbelly Limited. [Registered 13 January 2019]
I am a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). [5 March 2018]
I am registered on the roll of Scottish Solicitors. [Amended interest 04 September 2016, Amended interest 26 September 2017]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 19 February 2021]
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: 24 March 2021
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "The Scottish ministers fully support these technical amendments, which will improve the drafting of this important bill."
Chamber meeting date: 24 March 2021
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "I am pleased to speak for the Scottish Government in support of this important legislation, which will do much to protect livestock all across Scotland…
Chamber meeting date: 17 March 2021
Human Right to a Healthy Environment
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "I record my thanks to Ruth Maguire for securing this important debate…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Cetaceans (Acoustic Deterrent Devices)
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "The Scottish Government is committed to protecting marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins and porpoises…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Flapper Skate Protection
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "I am pleased to announce the urgent designation of the Red Rocks and Longay marine protected area, which is located in the inner sound of Skye, to protect flapper skate…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Result 120 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motion of No Confidence
Submitted by: Ruth Davidson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, March 4, 2021
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Bill Bowman, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Peter Chapman, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Maurice Golden, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Alison Harris, Liam Kerr, Gordon Lindhurst, Dean Lockhart, Tom Mason, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, John Scott, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Adam Tomkins, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 31 for, 65 against, 27 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Neil Bibby, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 111 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 18 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Independent. Date lodged: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
National Mission to Reduce Drug Deaths and Harms
Submitted by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Supported by: Donald Cameron
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 18, 2021
Result 43 for, 69 against, 1 abstained, 16 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