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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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Foysol Choudhury

Independent

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2025 - present day

Scottish Labour

Former MSP for Lothian (Region) 2021 - 2025

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 18 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 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 does not have any party roles

Previous roles

Foysol has had 6 previous roles

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

31 May 2021 - 26 September 2025

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 26 September 2025

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe

Scottish Labour

31 May 2021 - 26 September 2025

Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development

Scottish Labour

25 April 2023 - 02 September 2025

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee

Member

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 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]

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]

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

I am Chairperson of Bangladeshi Samity Edinburgh.

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 the General Secretary of the Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.

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

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]

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

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: 25 September 2025

Dementia

6. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking in light of Public Health Scotland’s estimate that dementia in Scotland is set to rise by more than 50 per cent by 2044. (S6F-04336)"

Chamber meeting date: 25 September 2025

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Production

2. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding the development and scaling up of sustainable aviation fuel production, in light of the need to support the infrastructure, skills, and supply chains required to make Scotland a leader in the sector. (S6O-04987)"

Chamber meeting date: 18 September 2025

Fire Service Provision (Edinburgh)

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "What urgent action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure adequate fire service provision in Edinburgh, in the light of the reported proposal to close Marionville fire station, despite the area’s expanding population and the increased activity at Leith docks?"

Chamber meeting date: 17 September 2025

Empire, Slavery and Scotland’s Museums Steering Group

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Will the cabinet secretary provide an update on his work with museums to promote antiracist education and on how that is being integrated into efforts to decolonise the curriculum in Scottish schools, ahead of black history month?"

Chamber meeting date: 10 September 2025

Edinburgh Biomes Project

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "How exactly does the Scottish Government plan to protect vital carbon mitigation research at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in the interim period while the biomes project secures funding?"

Votes

How Foysol Choudhury has voted in Parliament

Find out how Foysol Choudhury has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-19123

Mobile Phones in Schools

Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 29, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Result 85 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19124.1

Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service

Submitted by: Sharon Dowey, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Result 54 for, 56 against, 2 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6M-19124

Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service

Submitted by: Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 29, 2025

Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Result 56 for, 53 against, 3 abstained, 17 did not vote

MSP voted for

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19124.2

Protecting Scotland’s Fire Service

Submitted by: Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Supported by: Angela Constance
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Result 55 for, 52 against, 3 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP abstained

Agreed

Motion ref. S6M-19123.1

Mobile Phones in Schools

Submitted by: Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Result 49 for, 62 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

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 reference: S6W-40670

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:19 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 30 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop a long-term and sustainable model for National 5 Creative Industries courses in roof slating and stone carving to be rolled out across Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-40480

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:10 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 24 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in each year since 2022 to research in (a) brain, (b) liver, (c) lung, (d) oesophageal, (e) pancreatic and (f) stomach cancer."

Question reference: S6F-04336

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:22 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

"To ask the First Minister what urgent action the Scottish Government is taking in light of Public Health Scotland's estimate that dementia in Scotland is set to rise by more than 50% by 2044."

Question reference: S6O-04987

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:17 September 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 25 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with stakeholders regarding the development and scaling up of sustainable aviation fuel production, in light of the need to support the infrastructure, skills, and supply chains required to make Scotland a leader in the sector."

Question reference: S6W-40300

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:2 September 2025

Current Status: Answered by Kate Forbes on 17 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will renew the Investing in Communities Fund after it ends in 2026."

Question reference: S6W-39948

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:19 August 2025

Current Status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 9 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure that NHS boards meet their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010 with regards to offering autistic people who are unable to use the phone, communication methods appropriate to their needs, for example, letters or in-person communication."

Question reference: S6O-04866

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:27 August 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 3 September 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with business leaders regarding work to maximise the economic impact of Edinburgh's festivals."

Question reference: S6W-39853

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:12 August 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 21 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many people have been supported to have repairs made to their homes through the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004."

Question reference: S6W-39479

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:21 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Jenni Minto on 7 August 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what progress it has made regarding its plans to implement a nationwide, 24/7 national thrombectomy service."

Question reference: S6W-39526

Asked by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour

Date lodged:23 July 2025

Current Status: Answered by Shona Robison on 29 July 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it expects to publish its public sector pay award for 2025-26."

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