Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
Email: [email protected]
X (previously known as Twitter): @jeremyrbalfour
Facebook: Jeremy's facebook
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5961
Text relay calls welcome.
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Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
21 May 2021 - 08 October 2024
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2023 - 08 October 2024
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
25 May 2022 - 21 March 2024
Member
21 May 2021 - 28 June 2023
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 September 2021 - 25 May 2022
Substitute Member
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Substitute Member
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Member
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Member
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
08 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Member
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 Jeremy Balfour. The date of their initial statement was 01 June 2021.
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
From 21 to 23 August 2019 I travelled to Stockholm on a fact finding visit. The costs of the visit, for flights, were £223.38 and were met by UK Feminista (a charitable organisation which promotes equality between men and women of Omnibus Business Centre, North Road, London, N7 9DP).
From 9 t o 13 October 2017, I participated in a cross-party visit to the Republic of China (Taiwan), at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). The trip was arranged by the Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan) (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). I met a number of Government departments, as well as trade and cultural organisations. The cost of the visit was £3,900 for return flights, and the hotel and ancillary expenses was £2,600. All costs were met by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan).
From 20 to 30 August 2018 I was part of a Tearfund delegation travelling to Rwanda to learn how projects in relation to genocide reconciliation and new business projects are transforming lives. The costs of the visit amounted to £1,700 and were met by Tearfund Scotland (a Christian charity of 29 Canal St, Glasgow G4 0AD).
From 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1460 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 1 August 2022]
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
No registrable interests
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.
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee meeting date: 29 April 2025
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning, and thank you for coming along. I want to move on to sections 2 to 7 of the bill, on the statutory code. How will it work in practice, day to day?"
Chamber meeting date: 24 April 2025
8. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to reduce the number of teachers on temporary contracts. (S6O-04575)"
Chamber meeting date: 24 April 2025
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "The member might want to develop this in a moment. One of the problems for Opposition members is that, when secondary legislation is made, we have to either accept it all or reject it all—there is no ability to amend…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 24 April 2025
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I apologise for my late arrival to the committee. Having reflected over recess and heard what the minister has said, I do not intend to move any of the amendments in the group on domestic abuse…
Chamber meeting date: 23 April 2025
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "We all want more people to be in employment, particularly those with a disability. However, does Paul O’Kane recognise that getting more people into employment does not necessarily mean a reduction in ADP or PIP payments…
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Submitted by: Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, April 28, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Result 22 for, 98 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Liberal Democrats. Date lodged: Monday, April 28, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Result 34 for, 86 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Lorna Slater, Lothian, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 28, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Result 7 for, 111 against, 0 abstained, 10 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Submitted by: Kate Forbes, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 28, 2025
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Result 103 for, 17 against, 0 abstained, 8 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Submitted by: Murdo Fraser, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 28, 2025
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Result 30 for, 84 against, 5 abstained, 9 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Find out what motions Jeremy Balfour has submitted recently.
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised by Young Lives vs Cancer regarding the three-month qualifying period for disability benefits for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, what consideration it has given to removing this, in light of any immediate additional costs that they might face following diagnosis."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 25 April 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to require Caledonian Sleeper to adapt its carriages so that all of them are capable of having a portable ramp fitted for the safe emergency egress of customers with mobility impairments, and, if it plans to make this a requirement, by when."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Caledonian Sleeper has shared with it the timeframe for replacing the fold-out tables in individual berths to enable customers to consume hot drinks without the current reported risk to their health or safety."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 April 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 16 April 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it can take to reduce the number of teachers on temporary contracts."
Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review and aim to simplify the disability benefit application process for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, including reducing any delays caused where medical evidence is required to determine eligibility."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 March 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised by Young Lives vs Cancer that, currently, there is an average six-month waiting time between a child or young person's cancer diagnosis and their receiving their first disability benefit payment, what action it can take to reduce this."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 March 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that children and young people with cancer, and their carers and families, receive clear, timely and accessible communication from Social Security Scotland regarding their disability benefit applications."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 March 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised by Young Lives vs Cancer that almost half of patients in Scotland finish their cancer treatment before receiving a decision regarding disability benefit claims due to lengthy waits, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of Social Security Scotland’s disability benefits…
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 March 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact of any delays in receiving disability benefits on children and young people with cancer, and their families, particularly in respect of (a) financial pressures and (b) emotional wellbeing."
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 31 March 2025
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 March 2025
"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the finance secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the allocation of additional funding for health and social care, in light of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board's reported plans to end funding for its third sector grant programme."
Taken in the Chamber on 26 March 2025
See all of Jeremy Balfour's questions submitted in Parliament