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 Shared Parenting
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Sport
Deputy Convener
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 6 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 Welfare
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
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 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 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 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]
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
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]
[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]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 April 2019]
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: 18 February 2021
First-tier Tribunal for Scotland Social Security Chamber (Allocation of Functions) Amendment Regulations 2021 [Draft]
Jeremy Balfour: "Thank you, cabinet secretary. Why are you proposing a three-year delay? I can understand a one-year or 18-month delay. Three years seems to be quite a long period of time to take to appoint an appropriate person…
Social Security Committee meeting date: 18 February 2021
Budget Scrutiny 2021-22
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I have a couple of questions on the risks to the budget. Obviously, we are in uncharted waters for the next 12 months, so what are the major risks to the budget…
Local Government and Communities Committee meeting date: 17 February 2021
Budget Scrutiny 2021-22
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "Good morning, cabinet secretaries. I have two questions for Kate Forbes and one quick one for Aileen Campbell. My first question is for Kate Forbes. You have given the money to local government to freeze council tax for this financial year…
Local Government and Communities Committee meeting date: 17 February 2021
Climate Change Plan (Update)
Jeremy Balfour: "I will limit myself to one quick question. Local authorities provide key services to many vulnerable individuals—disabled people, older people and people with other health issues…
Chamber meeting date: 16 February 2021
Adult Social Care (Independent Review)
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con): "I welcome the publication of the independent review of adult social care. There have been calls for an independent review from the third sector and social care providers for many years…
Votes
How Jeremy Balfour has voted in Parliament
Find out how Jeremy Balfour has voted recently.
Heat Networks (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Paul Wheelhouse, South Scotland, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, February 22, 2021
Supported by: Michael Matheson
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Result 119 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, February 23, 2021
Result 108 for, 6 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Doing Politics Differently – the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland
Submitted by: Michael Russell, Argyll and Bute, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Supported by: Graeme Dey, Jenny Gilruth
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 18, 2021
Result 89 for, 0 against, 29 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Doing Politics Differently – the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland
Submitted by: Patrick Harvie, Glasgow, Scottish Green Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 18, 2021
Result 116 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 13 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Doing Politics Differently – the Report of the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland
Submitted by: Anas Sarwar, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 18, 2021
Result 87 for, 29 against, 0 abstained, 13 no vote
MSP voted against
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: 24 February 2021
"To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated to spend on housing in its 2021-22 Budget."
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."
Awaiting answer
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."
Awaiting answer
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
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 29 January 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 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
See all of Jeremy Balfour's written questions submitted in Parliament