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
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is a member of 22 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Autism
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Aviation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Changing Places Toilets
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Children and Young People
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Commercial Sexual Exploitation
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Disability
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Epilepsy
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Funerals and Bereavement
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Future of Football in Scotland
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Industrial Communities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing
Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Rugby Development in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scottish Showmen's Guild
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Work
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Taiwan
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Co-Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Jeremy has 1 parliamentary and government role
Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Branch Executive
Member
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 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
08 September 2021 - 25 May 2022
Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Local Government and Communities Committee
Substitute Member
29 June 2017 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
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 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 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]
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).
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: 29 June 2022
Social Security (Special Rules for End of Life) Bill
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "It feels a bit like déjà vu, as we had a similar debate on a different social security issue last week. Last week, the minister felt that I was slightly partisan in my comments, so I will try to be more constructive this week…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 23 June 2022
Resource Spending Review
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning, and thank you for coming along. First, I would like to follow up that issue with the finance secretary. Post-Covid, people with disability are struggling to get into employment more than they were before Covid…
Social Justice and Social Security Committee meeting date: 23 June 2022
Low Income and Debt Inquiry
Jeremy Balfour: "Good morning, minister, and good morning again, cabinet secretary. It feels like the good old days when we all used to be on the committee together. It is nice to see you here…
Chamber meeting date: 22 June 2022
Police Pay Negotiations
6. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on police pay negotiations. (S6O-01257)"
Chamber meeting date: 22 June 2022
Cost of Living Support
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Will the member take an intervention?"
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 85 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 63 for, 47 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 25 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
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, Dean Lockhart, Douglas Lumsden, 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, June 29, 2022
Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Supported by: Keith Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 84 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
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: 8 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months on preparations for the introduction of the Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance scheme."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months in order to tackle social isolation."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 4 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months to increase access to advice services, including services which help maximise income, in order to tackle any poverty penalty and to improve wellbeing."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months to support the social enterprise sector."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months on funding third-sector organisations that help children and vulnerable groups."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has spent in the last 12 months to provide (a) frontline and (b) second-tier advice and debt services."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 2 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on progress in exploring systems of automatic payment for devolved social security benefits."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve working conditions for social workers, in light of the report Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland finding that 59% of social workers who responded said that they might leave the profession due to unmanageable workload."
Answered by: Clare Haughey on 27 July 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to improve working conditions for social workers, in light of the report Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland finding that 45% of social workers who responded said that they might leave the profession due to poor physical or mental health."
Answered by: Clare Haughey on 27 July 2022
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 June 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to address workforce capacity and resource challenges affecting the social work profession, which are highlighted in the report Setting the Bar for Social Work in Scotland."
Answered by: Clare Haughey on 27 July 2022
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament