Jeremy Balfour
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
About Jeremy Balfour
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5961
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Jeremy is a member of 2 committees
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is a member of 10 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Funerals and Bereavement
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Jeremy does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Jeremy has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Local Government
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Social Security
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Jeremy has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Local Government and Communities Committee
Substitute Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 29 September 2016
Equal Opportunities Committee
Member
Register of interests
Jeremy'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 Jeremy Balfour. The date of their initial statement was 01 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
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 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 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).
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
No registrable interests
Recent Activity
What was said
What Jeremy Balfour 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: 26 October 2021
Mental Health Needs and Substance Use
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "There were 1,339 drug-related deaths in Scotland in 2020, which represented a 5 per cent rise from the previous year and was the highest number since records began in 1996…
Chamber meeting date: 7 October 2021
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I thank all carers for what they have done, not only in the past 20 months, but day in, day out, often unseen and unpaid. Without those carers, society would be in a much worse place…
Chamber meeting date: 7 October 2021
Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I welcome the final stage of the bill, and I am pleased that it will get all-party support. I thank the clerks and others who have got the bill through so quickly and smoothly. The Parliament has the power to implement the measure…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 7 October 2021
Pre-budget Scrutiny 2022-23
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Thank you for your answers so far. I want to discuss income maximisation, particularly in relation to the situation that we will have in Scotland with more benefits being run from Scotland and benefits also being run from Westminster…
Chamber meeting date: 6 October 2021
Decision Time
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I would have voted no."
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Carer's Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Ben Macpherson, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Supported by: Shona Robison
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Result 118 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Result 51 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Result 51 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, October 7, 2021
Result 50 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Jeremy Balfour in Parliament
Find out what motions Jeremy Balfour has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Jeremy Balfour 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: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 18 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the findings and recommendations in the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care report, Every Story’s Ending, published in September 2021."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the forthcoming bonfire night celebrations, whether it will confirm what the outcome was of its consultation on the use of fireworks."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 October 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason NHS boards are reportedly not being provided with clear face masks to aid people who are hearing impaired, in light of these reportedly being provided to NHS trusts in England."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason there continues to be a delay to the implementation of the provisions in the Transport (Scotland) Act 2019 prohibiting pavement parking, double parking and parking at dropped kerbs."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it is following World Health Organization and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control COVID-19 contact guidance that (a) contact tracing should include contacts in school, including classmates, teachers and other staff and (b) as well as testing all contacts with symptoms, there should be…
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 22 September 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policy that schools remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, what its position is on whether (a) significant mitigations are needed in schools and (b) community transmissions must be kept to a minimum; what additional policies it will implement to ensure that children and young people do not face…
Answered by: Shirley-Anne Somerville on 21 September 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 September 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the COVID-19 Delta variant, what its position is on the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control statement that "children appear to be equally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to other age groups"."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 21 September 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 25 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will commit to doubling the Scottish Child Payment in its forthcoming budget for 2022-23."
Answered by: Shona Robison on 2 September 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 12 August 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish the scientific evidence it used to determine that face coverings should continue to be required in places of worship, and by what date this restriction will be lifted."
Answered by: John Swinney on 27 August 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 June 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on having a phased launch of the Deposit Return Scheme, with larger suppliers participating in the first phase and smaller and/or independent producers in the second after any initial issues that have been identified have been resolved, and what its response is to calls for the launch to be moved…
Answered by: Michael Matheson on 20 July 2021
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament