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Members of the Scottish Parliament (³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ)

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Foysol Choudhury

Scottish Labour

MSP for Lothian (Region) 2021 - present day

About Foysol Choudhury

Contact details

Contact online

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Facebook:

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6761
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

Phone: 0131 348 6761
Text relay calls welcome.

Committees

Cross-party groups

Foysol is a member of 18 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Bangladesh

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Brain Tumours

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Cancer

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Challenging Racial and Religious Prejudice

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Culture and Communities

Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Diabetes

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Europe

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fair Trade

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Human Trafficking

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Improving Scotland’s Health

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Independent Convenience Stores

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on India

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on International Development

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Migration

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Palestine

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Volunteering

Co-Convener

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Foysol does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Foysol has 3 party roles

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Labour

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Europe

Scottish Labour

Deputy Party Spokesperson on International Development

Scottish Labour

Previous roles

Foysol has had 2 previous roles

Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.

31 January 2024 - 03 September 2024

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

17 June 2021 - 25 April 2023

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Member

Register of interests

Foysol's register of interests

³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ 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 Foysol Choudhury. The date of their initial statement was 10 June 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

No registrable interests

Gifts

On 26 August 2023, I received two tickets for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo as guests of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Charities) LIMITED (Private company limited by guarantee without share capital, Edinburgh Tattoo Office, 1-3 Cockburn Street, EH1 1QB). The combined value of the tickets was £830. [Registered 22 September 2023]

Overseas visits

From 21 to 25 December 2023 I travelled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates at the invitation of Non-Residential Bangladeshi (NRB) World and Business America Magazine to be a guest speaker at the Global Business Conference. The purpose of the conference was to gather Non-Residential Bangladeshi leaders, businessmen and expats from all around the world to participate in seminars, workshops, keynote speeches to discuss how to strengthen business relations with Bangladesh across the world and learn about Bangladesh’s products, initiatives, investment climate, and help improve Bangladesh’s business relations internationally. The main theme of the conference was ‘Discover Higher Industry & Economic Development’. I met with President of NRB world, Mohammed Shahiduzzaman; Business America Magazine Country director, Sanjida Afreen and Managing editor Enamul Haque Enam; various business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians and stakeholders from numerous nations. The total cost of the visit, including flights (£865), hotel accommodation (£1,415), food (£250), and boat trip (£80) amounted to £2,610 and was met by Business America Magazine Inc. (Magazine Publication company, B2B Networking Platform, US Office; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA) and NRB World (non-profit, non-political and service-oriented organization which brings expatriate Bangladeshi professionals from all countries of the world; of 19 Sunburst Dr, Deer Park, NY 11729, New York, USA). [Registered 31 January 2024]

From 7 October to 13 October 2023 I visited Delhi, India, as part of a delegation of the Cross Party Group on India. The purpose of the visit was to engage with FinTech and Culture organisations and senior politicians within the Indian government. The total costs of the visit, including flights, hotel accommodation, food and transport, amounted to £2,402.16 and were paid by Amit Shah, Director of Flight Path Travel (a tour and travel agency which sells, flights, hotels and tour packages; Office No. 1, Jubilee Business Centre, 211 Kingsbury Road, Kingsbury, London, NW9 8AQ). [Registered 3 November 2023]

From 17 to 26 November 2023 I was part of a cross-party delegation of ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ who visited the People’s Republic of Bangladesh at the invitation of the High Commission of Bangladesh to the UK based in London (28 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 5JA) and Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The purpose of the visit was to engage with senior politicians within the Bangladeshi government, organisations, academics and business leaders to strengthen relationships between Bangladesh and Scotland, especially on issues of joint importance such as climate change, education, support for refugees and, fair pay and conditions for garment workers, and to build skill and knowledge sharing opportunities which will benefit both our nations. The delegation held meetings with Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh; A.K. Abdul Momen MP, Foreign Affairs Minister; Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Bangladesh Parliament; Md. Shahab Uddin MP, Minister of Environment Forest & Climate Change; Professor Dr AKM Zakir Hossain, Vice-Chancellor of Kurigram Agricultural University; Md. Atiqul Islam, The Mayor of Dhaka North City; Dinner with Mahbub Ali MP, Minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism; and breakfast with Matt Cannell, British Deputy High Commissioner and Development Director to Bangladesh. The Delegation visited the Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar; Sylhet Women’s Medical College Hospital; Nabiganj and Habiganj; the medical camp in Biswanath’s Amtoil Village, and NRB Hospital in Sylhet. In the course of these visits, the delegation held meetings with Anwaruzzaman Chowdhury, Mayor of Sylhet; Chamber of Commerce of Sylhet and other business leaders from the region; university academic and administrative heads, and Ataur Rahman Selim, Mayor of Habiganj. The total cost of the visit was £3,683.57. Of the total costs, £2,300 for return flights from Edinburgh to Dhaka and a one-way internal flight from Sylhet to Dhaka was met by Workpermitcloud Limited (legal recruitment experts; of the Gherkin Level 28, 30 Street Mary Axe, London, England, EC3A, Company Registration: 12909694) and £1,082.92 for hotel accommodation, £240.65 for food and transport, £60 for internal return flights Dhaka to Cox Bazar were met by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh (State Ministry which oversees foreign relations of Bangladesh; of Segunbagicha, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh) and Sylhet City Corporation (Sylhet City Council; of Nagar Bhaban, 3100, Bangladesh). I also received gifts, which including welcome crests, posters and books. The values of the items are below the threshold for registration in the gifts category. [Registered 14 December 2023]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests

Heritable property

No registrable interests

Interest in shares

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]

I own 11,000 ordinary shares in Universal Koba Corporation Ltd, a licensed restaurant, representing 10% of the issued share capital, with a market value of £11,000.

Voluntary

I am General Secretary of the Guild of Bangladeshi Restaurants UK Limited.

I am Chair of Edinburgh and Lothian Regional Equality Council (ELREC). [Amended interest 3 May 2023]

I am a member of UNITE the Union.

I am a member of the Co-operative Party. [Registered 15 December 2021]

[Ceased interest removed from entry: 3 May 2024]

I am Chairperson of Bangladeshi Samity Edinburgh.

I am the General Secretary of the Council of Bangladeshis in Scotland.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Foysol Choudhury 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: 24 April 2025

Community Energy Projects

6. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging the growth of community energy projects. (S6O-04565)"

Chamber meeting date: 3 April 2025

Volunteering (Wellbeing Benefits)

2. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "To ask the Scottish Government how it is working to promote the benefits of volunteering, in light of the recent research from Volunteer Scotland indicating that regular participation in volunteering can have wellbeing benefits worth approximately £1,000 per person per year. (S6O-04537)"

Chamber meeting date: 2 April 2025

General Practitioner Retention

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "The medical director of Lothian Local Medical Committee recently stated that many practices can no longer afford to take on additional GPs and that some are at risk of going bust…

Chamber meeting date: 2 April 2025

General Practitioner Retention

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "The medical director of Lothian Local Medical Committee recently stated that many practices can no longer afford to take on additional GPs and that some are at risk of going bust…

Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee meeting date: 2 April 2025

A96 Dualling (Inverness-Nairn Timeline) (PE2132)

Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Lab): "Good morning, cabinet secretary. What reassurance can you offer the petitioner that the upgrade of the A75 as outlined in STPR2 will be delivered in a timely manner and will be sufficient to meet the needs of road users and local communities?"

Votes

How Foysol Choudhury has voted in Parliament

Find out how Foysol Choudhury has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6M-17242

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dunfermline, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Thursday, April 17, 2025

Supported by: Paul McLennan, Kaukab Stewart
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 73 for, 40 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17242.1

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Paul O'Kane, West Scotland, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 14 for, 100 against, 0 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted for

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17242.3

UK Government Welfare Reforms

Submitted by: Liz Smith, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Supported by: Roz McCall
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Result 27 for, 82 against, 5 abstained, 14 did not vote

MSP voted against

Vote Defeated

Motion ref. S6M-17267

Substitution on Committees

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Result 108 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 19 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Passed

Motion ref. S6M-17266

Committee Membership

Submitted by: Jamie Hepburn, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, April 22, 2025

Result 109 for, 1 against, 0 abstained, 18 did not vote

MSP not voted

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Foysol Choudhury has asked

These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.

Question ref. S6O-04587

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 23 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allocate additional funding from its Budget 2025-26 to provide further financial support for universities, in light of the University of Edinburgh reporting a financial deficit."

Taken in the Chamber on 30 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36471

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 3 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact of the projected funding gap of £457 million for Integration Joint Boards on its goal of preventative healthcare."

Answered by Neil Gray on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36470

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its target to increase the amount of heating and cooling supplied by heat networks, what recent discussions ministers have had with the UK Government regarding the affordability of heat networks for consumers."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6O-04565

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 16 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is encouraging the growth of community energy projects."

Taken in the Chamber on 24 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36356

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 2 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met NHS Lothian to discuss replacing East Calder Medical Centre; what the outcome was, and what future meetings are planned."

Answered by Neil Gray on 11 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36792

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 10 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to provide additional financial support for NHS boards to allow more adults with type 1 diabetes access to closed-loop systems."

Answer expected on 8 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36657

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it is giving to NHS boards to ensure that patients currently on a waiting list are able to access the new digital dermatology pathway."

Answer expected on 6 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36656

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how it is working with NHS boards to better inform patients of how long they will be waiting after being referred to see a dermatologist."

Answer expected on 6 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36655

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 8 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to its NHS Scotland operational improvement plan, what assessment it has made of the impact of the digital dermatology pathway on waiting times for patients currently waiting to see a dermatologist."

Answer expected on 6 May 2025

Question ref. S6W-36004

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 21 March 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what support it provides to the Scottish Assembly for people with learning disabilities and/or autism."

Answered by Maree Todd on 1 April 2025

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