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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Foysol Choudhury

Scottish Labour

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2021 - present day

About Foysol Choudhury

Contact details

Contact online

X (previously known as Twitter): @FoysolChoudhury

Facebook: Foysol's facebook

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

Cross-party groups

Foysol is a member of 19 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours

Member

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 Diabetes

Member

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 has had 2 previous roles

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

31 January 2024 - 03 September 2024

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

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 21 to 25 December 2023 I travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Non-Residential Bangladeshi (NRB) World and Business America Magazine to be a guest speaker at the Global Business Conference. The purpose of the conference was to gather Non-Residential Bangladeshi leaders, businessmen and expats from all around the world to participate in seminars, workshops, keynote speeches to discuss how to strengthen business relations with Bangladesh across the world and learn about Bangladesh’s products, initiatives, investment climate, and help improve Bangladesh’s business relations internationally. The main theme of the conference was ‘Discover Higher Industry & Economic Development’. I met with President of NRB world, Mohammed Shahiduzzaman; Business America Magazine Country director, Sanjida Afreen and Managing editor Enamul Haque Enam; various business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and stakeholders from numerous nations. The total cost of the visit, including flights (£865), hotel accommodation (£1,415), food (£250), and boat trip (£80) amounted to £2,610 and was met by Business America Magazine Inc. (Magazine Publication company, B2B Networking Platform, US Office; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA) and NRB World (non-profit, non-political and service-oriented organization which brings expatriate Bangladeshi professionals from all countries of the world; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA). [Registered 31 January 2024]

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]

From 17 to 26 November 2023 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the People’s Republic of Bangladesh at the invitation of the High Commission of Bangladesh to the UK based in London (28 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5JA) and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The purpose of the visit was to engage with senior politicians within the Bangladeshi government, organisations, academics and business leaders to strengthen relationships between Bangladesh and Scotland, especially on issues of joint importance such as climate change, education, support for refugees and, fair pay and conditions for garment workers, and to build skill and knowledge sharing opportunities which will benefit both our nations. The delegation held meetings with Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; A.K. Abdul Momen MP, Foreign Affairs Minister; Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament; Md. Shahab Uddin MP, Minister of Environment Forest & Climate Change; Professor Dr AKM Zakir Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University; Md. Atiqul Islam, The Mayor of Dhaka North City; Dinner with Mahbub Ali MP, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism; and breakfast with Matt Cannell, British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh. The Delegation visited the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar; Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital; Nabiganj and Habiganj; the medical camp in Biswanath’s Amtoil Village, and NRB Hospital in Sylhet. In the course of these visits, the delegation held meetings with Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet; Chamber of Commerce of Sylhet and other business leaders from the region; university academic and administrative heads, and Ataur Rahman Selim, Mayor of Habiganj. The total cost of the visit was £3,683.57. Of the total costs, £2,300 for return flights from Edinburgh to Dhaka and a one-way internal flight from Sylhet to Dhaka was met by Workpermitcloud Limited (legal recruitment experts; of the Gherkin Level 28, 30 Street Mary Axe, London, England, EC3A, Company Registration: 12909694) and £1,082.92 for hotel accommodation, £240.65 for food and transport, £60 for internal return flights Dhaka to Cox Bazar were met by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh (State Ministry which oversees foreign relations of Bangladesh; of Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh) and Sylhet City Corporation (Sylhet City Council; of Nagar Bhaban, 3100, Bangladesh). I also received gifts, which including welcome crests, posters and books. The values of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. [Registered 14 December 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.

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]

Voluntary

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]

I am Chairperson of Bangladeshi Samity Edinburgh.

I am the General Secretary of the Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.

I am General Secretary of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurants UK Limited.

I am Chair of Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC). [Amended interest 3 May 2023]

I am a member of UNITE the Union.

I am a member of the Co-operative Party. [Registered 15 December 2021]

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: 5 December 2024

School Curriculum (Practical Science)

7. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that pupils have access to practical science activities as part of the curriculum. (S6O-04087)"

Chamber meeting date: 4 December 2024

Community Arts and Placemaking (Funding)

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "The MacMillan Skills Hub in Muirhouse, in north Edinburgh, will fully reopen in January…

Chamber meeting date: 4 December 2024

Scots Language (Open University Support)

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "I join members in congratulating Emma Harper, who is a great champion of the Scots language, on securing this members’ business debate, and in welcoming the continued work of the Open University and Education Scotland in teaching the Scots language…

Chamber meeting date: 28 November 2024

Islamophobia

8. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work on diversity, inclusion and equalities, what recent discussions the Minister for Equalities has had with ministerial colleagues regarding work to tackle Islamophobia. (S6O-04028)"

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 28 November 2024

Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s Museums

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Good morning. I want to draw my colleagues’ attention to the fact that I was part of the steering group at the beginning…

Votes

How Foysol Choudhury has voted in Parliament

Find out how Foysol Choudhury has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 23

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 55 for, 59 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 1

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 89 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-15683

Social Security (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, December 2, 2024

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 117 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 5

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 27 for, 88 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 35 Amendment 21

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Result 51 for, 60 against, 7 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motions

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.

Question ref. S6W-31838

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 28 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it ensures that increases in child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) staff numbers are consistent and proportionate across NHS boards."

Answered by Maree Todd on 6 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31924

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that communities do not lose access to dentistry services."

Answer expected on 18 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31957

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the operators of the Queensferry Crossing regarding regularly cleaning its cables to prevent the build up of ice."

Answer expected on 18 December 2024

Question ref. S6W-31958

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 4 December 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to prevent closures of the Queensferry Crossing, in light of reports after recent periods of cold weather that traffic could be diverted to the Forth Road Bridge as soon as an ice forecast is received, to prevent ice falling from its cables onto vehicles."

Answer expected on 18 December 2024

Question ref. S6O-04087

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 27 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to ensure that pupils have access to practical science activities as part of the curriculum."

Taken in the Chamber on 5 December 2024

Question ref. S6O-04028

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 20 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government, as part of its work on diversity, inclusion and equalities, what recent discussions the Minister for Equalities has had with ministerial colleagues regarding work to tackle Islamophobia."

Taken in the Chamber on 28 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-31093

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 7 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether funding for the 2025-26 round of the Place Based Investment Programme (PBIP) will take place as planned."

Answered by Tom Arthur on 15 November 2024

Question ref. S6O-03986

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13 November 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to protect the allocation of funding to third sector organisations in its forthcoming Budget."

Taken in the Chamber on 20 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-30695

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has considered extending modern language provision in primary and secondary schools to include the languages spoken by New Scots pupils and their families, in line with the recommendations set out in the University of Glasgow-led project, Welcoming Languages, and the principles of the New Scots Refugee…

Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 12 November 2024

Question ref. S6W-30702

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 October 2024

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to publicly respond to the Scottish Police Federation's submitted pay claim for a 5.7% pay increase for 2024-25."

Answered by Angela Constance on 4 November 2024

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