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
Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment
Scottish Government
Find out more about the Cabinet and Ministers at the Scottish Government website.
Party Roles
Ben does not have any party roles
Previous roles
Ben has had 7 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice Committee
Member
06 October 2016 - 28 June 2018
Justice SubCommittee on Policing
Member
08 June 2016 - 28 June 2018
Social Security 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 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
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]
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]
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 19 February 2021]
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: 17 March 2021
Human Right to a Healthy Environment
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "I record my thanks to Ruth Maguire for securing this important debate…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Cetaceans (Acoustic Deterrent Devices)
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "The Scottish Government is committed to protecting marine wildlife, including whales, dolphins and porpoises…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Flapper Skate Protection
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "I am pleased to announce the urgent designation of the Red Rocks and Longay marine protected area, which is located in the inner sound of Skye, to protect flapper skate…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Rewilding
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "We are committed to tackling the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, which are among the most important challenges of this generation. Tackling them is central to our green recovery from Covid-19…
Chamber meeting date: 10 March 2021
Green Recovery (Covid-19)
The Minister for Rural Affairs and the Natural Environment (Ben Macpherson): "As Scotland moves out of the pandemic, we are committed to rebuilding in a way that delivers a greener, fairer and more equal society, and which helps us to meet our world-leading climate targets…
Votes
How Ben Macpherson has voted in Parliament
Find out how Ben Macpherson has voted recently.
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Result 24 for, 95 against, 0 abstained, 10 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Domestic Abuse (Protection) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Ash Denham, Edinburgh Eastern, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, March 15, 2021
Supported by: Humza Yousaf
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Result 118 for, 0 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: Graeme Dey, Angus South, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Result 93 for, 27 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Result 85 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, March 16, 2021
Result 83 for, 26 against, 0 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Ben Macpherson in Parliament
Find out what motions Ben Macpherson has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 8 June 2018
"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."
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick on 20 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 18 June 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to support the delivery of more affordable housing."
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 19 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"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…
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 29 May 2018
"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…
Answered by: Kevin Stewart on 6 June 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 26 April 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to provide meals to children outwith school term times."
Answered by: Angela Constance on 10 May 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 25 April 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what role the Education Maintenance Allowance plays in encouraging young people to stay on at school."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 March 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government how it is supporting the renewable energy industry."
Answered by: Paul Wheelhouse on 28 March 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 5 March 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that all patients diagnosed with bowel cancer are tested for Lynch syndrome, in light of evidence suggesting that the condition can dramatically increase a person’s chance of developing bowel cancer by up to 80%."
Answered by: Shona Robison on 14 March 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 21 February 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government what proposals the Scottish Law Commission has for future law reform projects."
Answered by: Annabelle Ewing on 22 February 2018
Asked by: Macpherson, Ben, Edinburgh Northern and Leith, Scottish National Party, Date Lodged: 7 February 2018
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the First Minister plans to publish a new edition of the Scottish Ministerial Code."
Answered by: Joe FitzPatrick on 8 February 2018
See all of Ben Macpherson's written questions submitted in Parliament