Ben Macpherson
Scottish National Party
MSP for Edinburgh Northern and Leith (Constituency) 2016 - present day
About Ben Macpherson
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 5786
Text relay calls welcome.
Contact at their Constituency
34 Constitution Street
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 not a member of any committees
Cross-party groups
Ben is not a member of any cross-party groups
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Ben has 1 parliamentary and government role
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Minister for Public Finance and Migration
Scottish Government
Party Roles
Ben does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Ben has had 6 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
28 June 2018 - 17 February 2020
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Minister for Europe, Migration and International Development
Scottish Government
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the Office of the First Minister
Scottish Government
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security Committee
Member
14 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Parliamentary Liaison Officer to the First Minister
Scottish Government
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice Committee
Member
Register of interests
Ben's register of interests
MSP's 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 16 May 2016.
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. [Registered 10 February 2017]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
No registrable interests
Interest in shares
No registrable interests
Voluntary
My partner was employed by Christian Aid in Scotland. [Registered 30 August 2018, Amended interest 18 February 2020, Ceased interest 18 February 2020]
I am registered on the roll of Scottish Solicitors. [Amended interest 04 September 2016, Amended interest 26 September 2017]
I am a Fellow of the RSA (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce). [5 March 2018]
I received two premium tickets for Edinburgh’s Hogmanay 19 Street Party at a value of £160 each, gifted by Underbelly Limited. [Registered 13 January 2019]
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.
Personal Protective Equipment (VAT)
Ben Macpherson made 3 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 27 October 2020
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson): "The Scottish Government firmly disagrees with the United Kingdom Government’s decision to reintroduce VAT on PPE at this time, and we will be pressing for the decision to be reversed…
Non-domestic Rates (Revaluation)
Ben Macpherson made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 30 September 2020
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson): "Councils were notified through the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Institute of Revenues Rating and Valuation. The Scottish Government also engaged with a number of business organisations in advance…
Migration and Care Workers
Ben Macpherson made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 15 September 2020
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson): "Considering what Mr Cameron has just said, does he agree with me and the Scottish Government that the inclusion of social care workers on the shortage occupation list in order to meet the lower salary threshold that Mr Cameron just mentioned would be a sensible and important thing to do?"
Immigration
Ben Macpherson made 33 Contributions to this discussion
Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee - 10 September 2020
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson): "Thank you for the opportunity to speak to the committee. I am mindful that this is the first time that I have appeared before the committee to speak about migration, and I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss matters…
Public Spending (North East Scotland)
Ben Macpherson made 3 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 03 September 2020
The Minister for Public Finance and Migration (Ben Macpherson): "The Scottish Government will continue to focus on delivering outcomes for all areas of Scotland through its spending plans, including for the north-east. For example, local councils in the north-east will receive more than £1…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 27 for, 92 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Jeane Freeman, Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Clare Haughey
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 92 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Recognising the Importance of Family Caregivers
Submitted by: Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, September 28, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Result 90 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 12 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
The Social Security Administration and Tribunal Membership (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, September 28, 2020
Supported by: Christina McKelvie
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Result 109 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, September 22, 2020
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Result 108 for, 6 against, 0 abstained, 15 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Ben Macpherson in Parliament
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Tax Rates and Tax Bands) (Scotland) Amendment (No. 2) (Coronavirus) Order 2020 (SSI 2020/215)
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Local Government Finance (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020 [draft]
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Local Government Finance (Coronavirus) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2020 [draft]
Current status: Has not yet achieved cross-party support
Written questions
Written questions Ben Macpherson 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.
S5W-17127 - Answered
08 June 2018
Macpherson, Ben: "To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-09168 by Joe Fitzpatrick on 22 May 2017, to what extent the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 applies to private companies."
S5W-17320 - Answered
18 June 2018
Macpherson, Ben: "To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing."
S5W-16906 - Answered
29 May 2018
Macpherson, Ben: "To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-04448 by Kevin Stewart on 15 November 2016, whether it will outline the average Housing Association Grant (HAG) subsidy levels approved for housing association new development tender approval activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the last three years, broken down by type of…
S5W-16922 - Answered
29 May 2018
Macpherson, Ben: "To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S5W-06577 by Kevin Stewart on 2 February 2017, what the average (a) Housing Association Grant (HAG) and (b) non-HAG subsidy level per unit was expressed as a percentage of total costs for housing association new development tender approval activity in (i) Edinburgh and (ii) Glasgow…
S5W-16205 - Answered
26 April 2018
Macpherson, Ben: "To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide meals to children outwith school term times."
See all of Ben Macpherson's written questions submitted in Parliament