Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

Economy, Energy and Fair Work Committee

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Armed Forces and Veterans Community

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on End of Life Choices

Convener

Conveners Group

Member

25 February 2020 - 03 March 2020

Economy Energy and Fair Work Committee

Member

17 May 2018 - 25 February 2020

Social Security Committee

Member

03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020

Party Spokesperson on Communities

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Children

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 June 2017 - 06 September 2018

Justice Committee

Substitute Member

29 June 2017 - 17 May 2018

Public Petitions Committee

Member

29 June 2017 - 16 May 2018

Education and Skills Committee

Substitute Member

Remuneration and related undertaking

Until 30 November 2017 I was a local authority councillor for Scottish Borders Council (of Newtown St. Boswells, Melrose, TD6 0SA). I worked 16 hours per week in this post and received remuneration of between £20,001 and £25,000 a year, which included provision of a laptop and mobile phone and reimbursement of mileage. From July 2017 I donated my salary to the Haining Charitable Trust. [Amended interest 6 March 2018].

Until 4 August 2017 I was head of service at Stable Life Limited, a charitable company limited by guarantee (of Dryden Farm, Ashkirk, Selkirk, TD7 4NT). Until 23 May 2017 I worked approximately 20 hours per week in this role. I received remuneration of between £15,001 and £20,000 a year for undertaking this work. On that date I ceased receiving remuneration for this post and, until 4 August 2017, provided consultancy on a voluntary basis. On 30 August 2017, I ceased all work for Stable Life [Amended interest 24 October 2017, Amended interest 6 March 2018].

I am a director of Ballantynes of Walkerburn, a manufacturing company (of Jubilee Mill, Jubilee Road, Walkerburn, EH43 6AB). I work approximately 2 hours per month in this role. I receive remuneration of between £5,001 and £10,000 a year for undertaking this role.

Gifts

On 20 January 2020 I received a donation of £2,000 to my leadership campaign from Mr John Stirling, a private individual. I established that the donation was from a permissible donor and accepted it on 22 January 2020. [Registered 19 February 2020]

Overseas visits

From 7 to 11 October 2017 I was part of a cross-party delegation of MSPs who visited the Republic of China (Taiwan) at the invitation of the Director General, Taipei Representative Office (Edinburgh Office) in the UK, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China Department (of 1 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7PE). The delegation held meetings with a number of Government departments, trade and cultural organisations including; President MA Ying-Jeou and Madame Ma, Scottish Development International (Taiwan Office), Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Taipei City Council, Straits Exchange Foundation, British Trade and Cultural Office, Hsinchu Science Park, Green Energy and Environment Research Lab, King Car Whisky Distillery and the National Centre for Traditional Arts. The cost of the visit was; air ticket £2780, accommodation £528, bus £133, high speed rail £12, food £163, tickets for 101, opera and hot spring £59. The total cost was £3,675 met in its entirety by the Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China (Taiwan). I also received gifts, which included a vase, a set of fruit forks, a mug and a book. The value of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. [Registered 6 March 2018].

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

I own a flat in the Scottish Borders with a market value of between £50,001 and £100,000. I anticipate that this flat will yield gross income of between £5,001 and £10,000 annually. This income will not be received by me as the flat is managed by a member of my family.

Interest in shares

I own ordinary voting shares, ordinary shares and preference shares in Ballantynes of Walkerburn, a manufacturing company and a close family business. These shares have a market value of approximately £247,000. The shares represent 50 per cent of the issued share capital of the company. [Amended interest 19 March 2019]

Voluntary

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]

I am a Patron of Food Facts and Friends. [Registered 19 March 2019]

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]

I am a Council Member of Friends at the End Unincorporated Association. [Registered 19 March 2019]

I am a Trustee of Friends at the End (FATE). [Registered 19 March 2019]

I am the Managing Trustee of the Haining Charitable Trust.

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 March 2019]

S5W-30078 - Answered

18 June 2020

Ballantyne, Michelle: "To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to reports of large numbers of salmon smolts trapped in the Muirtown Lock on the Caledonian Canal."

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S5W-29212 - Answered

19 May 2020

Ballantyne, Michelle: "To ask the Scottish Government whether aquaculture companies are required to be part of the direct food supply chain to be eligible to apply to the Aquaculture Hardship Fund that has been set up in response to the COVID-19 outbreak."

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S5W-29214 - Answered

19 May 2020

Ballantyne, Michelle: "To ask the Scottish Government how many aquaculture businesses in the South Scotland region are in receipt of support from the Aquaculture Hardship Fund that has been set up in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, also broken down by home many do not (a) farm trout and (b) grow shellfish."

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S5O-04403 - Unanswered

03 June 2020

Ballantyne, Michelle: "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that public transport is safe and practicable for people using it during the COVID-19 outbreak."

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S5O-04386 - Unanswered

27 May 2020

Ballantyne, Michelle: "To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to help reduce flytipping and littering."

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