Foysol Choudhury
Scottish Labour
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2021 - present day
About Foysol Choudhury
Contact details
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 2 committees
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Foysol is a member of 17 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh
Convener
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]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
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.
Until 17 January 2023, I owned 100% of the issued share capital of West Preston Street Ltd, a licensed restaurant, with a market value of £15,000. [Amended interest 3 May 2023, Ceased interest 3 May 2023]
Voluntary
I am a member of UNITE the Union.
I am Chairperson of Bangladeshi Samity Edinburgh.
I was a Board Member of Edinburgh Mela. [Amended interest 3 May 2023, Ceased interest 3 May 2023]
I am General Secretary of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurants UK Limited.
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 Chair of Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC). [Amended interest 3 May 2023]
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: 30 November 2023
Restoring Nature to Tackle Climate Change
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Nature can be used as a first line of defence against the impacts of the global climate crisis, but we must not only look at protecting the existing nature and species that we have; we must also make targeted moves towards restoring what has been lost. That means ensuring that there are green spaces in urban areas. It means investing in our rural…
Chamber meeting date: 29 November 2023
Type 2 Diabetes Drugs (Supply Issues)
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "As always, there are supply issues for those with type 2 diabetes. The recent report by Diabetes Scotland on its “Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait” campaign highlighted that only 14…
Chamber meeting date: 16 November 2023
Culture and Arts Careers
7. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to help schools to support children who wish to pursue a career in the culture and arts sector. (S6O-02734)"
Chamber meeting date: 16 November 2023
Culture in Communities
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Place-based approaches to culture are vital. They enable communities to make decisions about culture that best suit the needs and wants of the local population and allow much-needed local engagement in Scotland’s culture…
Chamber meeting date: 14 November 2023
Migration to Scotland: Scottish Government Proposals
Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "I apologise to members and the ministers for my slightly late arrival in the chamber for this afternoon’s debate. Scotland benefits greatly from migration, as Jamie Hepburn rightly noted…
Votes
How Foysol Choudhury has voted in Parliament
Find out how Foysol Choudhury has voted recently.
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 30, 2023
Result 82 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 23, 2023
Result 19 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 52 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 87 for, 3 against, 25 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP not voted
Vote Passed
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP not voted
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: 29 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure scrutiny of Education Scotland and the Race Equality Action Plan, in light of the recommendations of the report of the public inquiry into Islamophobia in Scotland."
Answer expected on 14 December 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what it has done to ensure that initiatives regarding Islamophobia in Scotland pay specific attention to any gendered nature of Islamophobia."
Answer expected on 14 December 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 29 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to improve the reporting and recording of Islamophobia in schools, colleges and universities."
Answer expected on 14 December 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered targeting funding to ensure that people in Scotland who have recently been granted refugee status will not become homeless and/or potentially vulnerable to trafficking, in light of the UK Government reducing the notice period for leaving asylum accommodation to seven days."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of pancreatic cancer survival rates in Scotland in relation to other comparable nations."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 November 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 15 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the launch of Pancreatic Cancer UK’s report, Faster. Fairer. Funded., what assessment it has made of the merits of implementing an optimal care pathway for pancreatic cancer."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 27 November 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 24 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce the number of incidents in Scotland of children drowning, in light of data from the 2022 Active Lives Survey reportedly showing that only 34…
Answer expected on 11 December 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that the implementation of the Shared Rural Network plans consider the most appropriate locations to place 4G masts for public benefit, in order to not unnecessarily damage wild land."
Answered by Richard Lochhead on 24 November 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered extending concessionary travel for over-60s to include the Edinburgh Trams, in light of a reported reduction in the number of buses and trains running from West Lothian to Edinburgh city centre…
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 23 November 2023
Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 14 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will announce the details and scope of the proposed independent review of Adult Disability Payments."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 November 2023
See all of Foysol Choudhury's questions submitted in Parliament