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
Local Government and Communities Committee
Substitute Member
Social Security Committee
Member
Cross-party groups
Jeremy is a member of 20 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Children and Young People
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Colleges and Universities
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
Member
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
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Future of Football in Scotland
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Heart Disease and Stroke
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Learning Disability
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Older People, Age and Ageing
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Racial Equality
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Shared Parenting
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on USA
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Visual Impairment
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Jeremy does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Jeremy has 2 party roles
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Equalities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Older People
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Jeremy has had 9 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Local Government and Communities Committee
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Communities
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Welfare
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee
Member
28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Welfare
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 September 2016 - 29 June 2017
Equalities and Human Rights Committee
Member
26 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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 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]
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.
Gifts
No registrable interests
Overseas visits
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]
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 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]
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]
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 am a member of the Society of Solicitors in the Supreme Courts of Scotland and the Society’s Widow Fund. [Registered 7 February 2020]
[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]
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.
Social Security Committee meeting date: 14 January 2021
“The 2019/20 audit of Social Security Scotland”
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Can you hear me now, convener?"
Chamber meeting date: 22 December 2020
UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I had difficulty in voting, and I would have voted yes."
Chamber meeting date: 22 December 2020
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I thank Keith Brown for bringing this important debate to the Parliament. We are living in extraordinary times and through one of the most difficult periods that this country has encountered in recent years…
Social Security Committee meeting date: 10 December 2020
Social Security Response to Covid-19 (Inquiry)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Thank you for coming, cabinet secretary. My question is for the cabinet secretary first, and maybe David Wallace will want to jump in after. It is about the use of local authorities compared with a national roll-out of policies and benefits…
Chamber meeting date: 10 December 2020
6. Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "To ask the First Minister how many staff are employed to answer calls to book Covid-19 tests in Scotland. (S5F-04653)"
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 25, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Prioritising COVID-19 Vaccination and Economic Recovery
Submitted by: Michael Russell, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jeane Freeman, Jenny Gilruth, Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Result 65 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 8 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Post-mortem Examinations (Defence Time Limit) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gil Paterson, Clydebank and Milngavie, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Result 26 for, 90 against, 1 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Culpable Homicide (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Claire Baker, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, January 21, 2021
Result 26 for, 89 against, 0 abstained, 14 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Result 96 for, 5 against, 18 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
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: 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."
Awaiting answer
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."
Awaiting answer
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."
Awaiting answer
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 22 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government whether disabled people of all ages who need allied health professional services will see enhanced investment in those services to ensure that they can access both urgent care or catch up on missed routine and planned services as a result of COVID-19."
Answered by: Jeane Freeman on 21 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures suggesting that, in the first two years of the Fair Start Scotland programme, only 6,621 of the 34,785 people who were referred to it started in employment."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures suggesting that the number of disabled people joining the Fair Start Scotland programme has been declining annually, from 55% participation in Year 1 to 27% in Year 3."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government for what reason participants in the Fair Start Scotland programme have to work 16 hours or more for at least 13 consecutive weeks to be considered as having achieved a successful short-job outcome, and what research was conducted to conclude that a 16 hours per week minimum was fair to disabled people who might not be…
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to improve the promotion of the Fair Start Scotland programme, in light of its 2020 evaluation report, which found that, of a social security experience panel that had a membership made up of 83% disabled people, 74% said that they had not heard of it."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2020
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 December 2020
"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to figures suggesting that 51% of the people who joined the Fair Start Scotland Scheme in Year 2 left it early."
Answered by: Jamie Hepburn on 18 December 2020
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament