Jeremy Balfour
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Lothian (Region) 2016 - present day
About Jeremy Balfour
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5961
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Jeremy is not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Jeremy does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Jeremy does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Jeremy has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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 06 June 2016.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 17 May 2016 I was a personal independence payment (PIP) Tribunal member for the Ministry of Justice (of Whitehall, London). My final payment for this role was up to £500.
Until 12 May 2016 I was the Property Manager for Scottish Churches Housing Action (of 44 Hanover Street, Edinburgh). My final payment for this role was up to £500.
Until 4 May 2017, when I stood down, I was a Councillor with the City of Edinburgh Council (of 253 High Street, Edinburgh). I worked 1 day per week. I received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 per annum. Following my election as an MSP, I advised the Council that I did not wish to take any remuneration for this post. [Amended interest 10 May 2017]
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). [Registered 4 September 2019]
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). [Registered interest 6 September 2018]
From 9 to 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). [Registered interest 27 October 2017]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 April 2019]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 20 April 2018]
I am a director of Bethany Christian Trust. I receive no payments or expenses for this role.
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 20 April 2018]
I took part in an MSP interview for Populus Research Strategy. For participating in this a donation of £50 was made to Bethany Christian Trust. [Registered 20 February 2018]
I am a member of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland and the Society’s Widow Fund. [Registered 7 February 2020]
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: 24 March 2021
School Closures (Support for Pupils)
6. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what it is doing to ensure that pupils are able to catch up on any learning lost as a result of school closures. (S5O-05143)"
Chamber meeting date: 23 March 2021
Churches (Support During Lockdown)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "My first speech in the chamber, just under five years ago, was in a members’ business debate, so it seems appropriate to finish this session with a members’ business debate…
Chamber meeting date: 18 March 2021
Universities and Colleges (Teaching Schedules)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the First Minister when universities and colleges across Scotland will be given sufficient information to allow them to plan their teaching schedules for the next academic year, given that their timetables are normally decided at the end of this month and they cannot wait until after the election."
Chamber meeting date: 17 March 2021
Independence Referendum (Publication of Draft Bill)
1. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I wish Michael Russell well in his retirement. I am sure that he will still be very actively involved in the political scene in Scotland. We recognise the contributions to the Parliament that he has made over a number of years…
Chamber meeting date: 16 March 2021
People with Learning Disabilities (Support during Pandemic)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I thank Jackie Baillie for securing the debate. I acknowledge the hard work that she has done as the convener of the cross-party group on learning disability to raise many such issues, along with Joan McAlpine as the deputy convener…
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Emma Harper, South Scotland, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Result 120 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motion of No Confidence
Submitted by: Ruth Davidson, Edinburgh Central, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Thursday, March 4, 2021
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Bill Bowman, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Peter Chapman, Maurice Corry, Murdo Fraser, Maurice Golden, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Alison Harris, Liam Kerr, Gordon Lindhurst, Dean Lockhart, Tom Mason, Margaret Mitchell, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, John Scott, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Adam Tomkins, Annie Wells, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 31 for, 65 against, 27 abstained, 6 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Tied Pubs (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Neil Bibby, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 111 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 18 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Andy Wightman, Lothian, Independent. Date lodged: Thursday, February 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Result 114 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
National Mission to Reduce Drug Deaths and Harms
Submitted by: Brian Whittle, South Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Supported by: Donald Cameron
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, March 18, 2021
Result 43 for, 69 against, 1 abstained, 16 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: 25 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government which "mild to moderate" learning disabilities people must have to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccination as part of priority group 6, and what analysis it has undertaken to determine this."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 11 March 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 March 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review the financial assistance that is available for the removal of unsafe cladding from private buildings."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, whether it will legislate to classify the act of stealthing (non-consensually removing a condom during sex) as a sexual assault, as is the position in England and Wales."
Answered by: Humza Yousaf on 1 March 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether people employed in the funeral sector who are required to enter domestic properties, care homes and other environments that might see them exposed to the COVID-19 virus should be prioritised for access to vaccinations, and by what date it expects all such employees to be (a) offered a…
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will provide substantive answers to questions S5W-33894 and S5W-34610, which received holding responses on 22 December 2020 and 29 January 2021 respectively."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 15 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-33894 by Jeane Freeman, which received a holding response on 22 December 2020, for what reason it has not yet provided a substantive answer to the question, and when it plans to do so."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 25 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government when organisations will be informed of the outcome of their applications for funding under the section 10 grant scheme, which provides essential funding for Scotland’s Access Panel network."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 11 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason 20 guests are permitted at a funeral during the current lockdown, but not at a wedding."
Answered by: Ash Denham on 11 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what additional support is available for businesses in the bakery sector that continue to operate despite the closure of a majority of their customers’ businesses."
Answered by: Fergus Ewing on 3 February 2021
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 January 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government what support is available for businesses in the professional cleaning sector that are continuing to operate during the COVID-19 lockdown, in light of the restrictions in place under the current guidance."
Answered by: Fiona Hyslop on 1 February 2021
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament