Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Ben Macpherson
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: benmacpherson.scot/home
X (previously known as Twitter): @BenMacpherson
Facebook: Ben's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at local office
34 Constitution Street
Leith
Edinburgh
EH6 6RS
Phone: 0131 600 0134
Text relay calls welcome.
Find out when the MSP's surgery times are on their website.
Committees
Ben is a member of 2 committees
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee
Deputy Convener
Cross-party groups
Ben is a member of 4 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Housing
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Medicinal Cannabis
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Poverty
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Ben does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Ben does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Ben has had 14 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
26 April 2023 - 05 September 2023
Education Children and Young People Committee
Deputy Convener
29 June 2023 - 05 September 2023
Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee
Member
18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023
Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee
Substitute Member
18 April 2023 - 29 June 2023
Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee
Member
18 April 2023 - 26 April 2023
Education Children and Young People Committee
Member
19 May 2021 - 29 March 2023
Minister for Social Security and Local Government
Scottish Government
21 December 2020 - 19 May 2021
Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment
Scottish Government
17 February 2020 - 21 December 2020
Minister for Public Finance and Migration
Scottish Government
28 June 2018 - 17 February 2020
Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development
Scottish Government
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Office of the First Minister
Scottish Government
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the First Minister
Scottish Government
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice Committee
Member
Register of interests
Ben'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 Ben Macpherson. The date of their initial statement was 24 May 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
No registrable interests
Gifts
On 4 February 2017 myself and a guest attended the Scotland v Ireland match at Murrayfield as hospitality guests of BT Scotland (a telecommunications company of BT Group plc, BT Centre, 81 Newgate Street, London EC1A 7AJ). The combined value of the two tickets was £1390 + VAT.
Overseas visits
From 3 to 25 February 2024 I visited the United States of America as a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. I participated in this particular three week professional exchange program with a range of other participants from Europe and Asia, considering various global challenges. The costs of travel, accommodation, meals and other occasional expenses were $9,284 USD (equivalent to £7339, at the closing exchange rate on 29 February 2024) and were met by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State (of 2201 C St., NW Washington, DC 20520, United States of America), an organisation that aims to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through exchange programmes. [Registered 29 February 2024]
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
I was a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). [Amended interest 16 May 2023, Ceased interest 16 May 2023]
I am registered on the roll of Scottish Solicitors.
Recent Activity
What was said
What Ben Macpherson 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: 16 April 2024
Decision Time
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. May I check that my vote has been recorded as well?"
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 16 April 2024
Climate Change People’s Panel
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "Good morning. It is good to see you again. I am the member of the Scottish Parliament for the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency. I am also the deputy convener of the committee."
Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2024
Higher Education (Access)
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "We are all aware of the difference that fair access to higher education can make to our personal lives and stories…
Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee meeting date: 26 March 2024
Natural Capital Finance
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "Good morning, panel, and thank you for your time. I have two questions…
Chamber meeting date: 20 March 2024
Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Ben Macpherson (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (SNP): "As somebody who does not like nonsensical waste and believes in the efficient use of resources as reasonably as possible, I believe in the circular economy as a good in itself. The circular economy is not a new concept, but it is a re-emerging trend…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Business Programme
Submitted by: Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Alexander Burnett, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Pam Gosal, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Liam Kerr, Douglas Ross, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 53 for, 60 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 88 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, April 15, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 29 against, 25 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Katy Clark
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 20 for, 97 against, 1 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Repealing the Hate Crime Act
Submitted by: Siobhian Brown, Ayr, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 16, 2024
Supported by: Angela Constance
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Result 64 for, 49 against, 5 abstained, 11 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Ben Macpherson in Parliament
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Ben Macpherson has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 15 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the third supplementary to question S6O-02854 by Jenni Minto on 7 December 2023, what its response is to the reported concerns of myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) organisations and people with ME regarding the way that the Scottish Good Practice Statement (SGPS) on ME-CFS was updated, including…
Answered by Jenni Minto on 15 April 2024
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 3 April 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to address the barriers to the implementation of the NICE guidelines on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) identified in the recent survey of NHS boards in Scotland, and how it is fostering consensus amongst the people involved in implementing the NICE guidelines."
Answer expected on 1 May 2024
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 28 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is taking forward the work and priorities of its Ministerial Population Taskforce."
Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it is giving, in collaboration with Police Scotland, to the possibility of establishing a new Leith police station within the Scottish Government's Victoria Quay building."
Taken in the Chamber on 28 February 2024
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 20 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to tackle violence in schools and the impact that this is having on both pupils and staff."
Taken in the Chamber on 11 January 2024
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 19 December 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when the final Solar Vision and draft Bioenergy Policy Statement will be published."
Answered by Neil Gray on 20 December 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it would consider keeping the canteen open in a limited capacity on business days from 2.30 pm to 3…
Answered by Claire Baker MSP (on behalf of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Bo on 6 December 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on when the Behaviour in Scottish Schools Research will be published."
Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 22 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to ensure the sustainability of healthcare services in Edinburgh, in light of the significant increase in the population of the Lothian region in recent years."
Taken in the Chamber on 29 November 2023
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 November 2023
See all of Ben Macpherson's questions submitted in Parliament