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Members of the Scottish Parliament (³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ)

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Rachael Hamilton

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

MSP for Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Constituency) 2017 - present day

Former MSP for South Scotland (Region) 2016 - 2017

About Rachael Hamilton

Contact details

Contact online

Website:

X (previously known as Twitter):

Facebook:

Contact at the Scottish Parliament

The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP

Phone: 0131 348 6970
Text relay calls welcome.

Contact at local office

7 Abbey Court
Kelso
TD5 7JA

Phone: 01573 224862
Text relay calls welcome.

Find out when the MSP's surgery times are .

Committees

Rachael is a member of 1 committee

Cross-party groups

Rachael is a member of 15 cross-party groups

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions

Deputy Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Building Bridges with Israel

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Dyslexia

Member

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

Co-Convener

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Fisheries and Coastal Communities

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gardening and Horticulture

Convener

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

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Outdoor Education

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scotch Whisky

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Scottish Horseracing and Bloodstock Industries

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Social Enterprise

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on St Andrew's Day

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Tourism

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on USA

Member

Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Women's Health

Member

Parliamentary and Government Roles

Rachael does not have any parliamentary or government roles

Party Roles

Rachael has 1 party role

Deputy Party Leader

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Previous roles

Rachael has had 23 previous roles

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

01 February 2023 - 10 October 2024

Rural Affairs and Islands Committee

Member

21 May 2021 - 28 September 2024

Party Spokesperson on Islands

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

21 May 2021 - 28 September 2024

Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

25 May 2022 - 29 June 2023

Equalities Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee

Member

17 June 2021 - 01 February 2023

Rural Affairs Islands and Natural Environment Committee

Member

08 September 2021 - 25 May 2022

Social Justice and Social Security Committee

Substitute Member

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Social Security

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Party Spokesperson on Older People

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021

Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee

Substitute Member

20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021

Social Security Committee

Member

25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020

Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee

Member

28 June 2017 - 11 August 2020

Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Party Spokesperson on Rural Economy

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020

Co-Chair

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020

Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee

Member

28 June 2017 - 18 February 2020

Party Spokesperson on Culture

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

17 May 2018 - 10 September 2019

Public Petitions Committee

Member

21 June 2017 - 17 May 2018

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Member

26 May 2016 - 02 May 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Tourism

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

26 May 2016 - 02 May 2017

Deputy Party Spokesperson on Business

Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

29 September 2016 - 02 May 2017

Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee

Member

08 June 2016 - 17 November 2016

Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee

Member

08 June 2016 - 29 September 2016

European and External Relations Committee

Member

Register of interests

Rachael'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 Rachael Hamilton. The date of their initial statement was 14 May 2021.

Remuneration and related undertaking

I am a director of Borders Hotels Ltd, a hospitality firm of the Green, St Boswells, Melrose, Roxburghshire, TD6 0EW. I received £2,000 in the form of dividends in the year end accounts which I then paid directly into the company.

Gifts

No registrable interests.

Overseas visits

From 4 July to 8 July 2022 I visited Munich and Berlin, Germany, as part of a cross-Party delegation from the Scottish Parliament, meeting Parliamentarians, public officials and business representatives, as a guest of the Hanns Seidel Foundation. The costs of the visit, including travel, accommodation, meals and translation services amounted to £1300 and were paid by the Hanns Seidel Foundation (a political research foundation of Munich, Germany). [Registered 1 August 2022]

Controlled transactions

No registrable interests.

Heritable property

No registrable interests.

Interest in shares

I own 49% of the issued share capital in Borders Hotels Ltd. of the Green, St Boswells, Melrose, Roxburghshire, TD6 0EW. These are ordinary shares with a market value of £120,518. The company is a privately owned limited company therefore market value is difficult to determine. The value given is the net asset value based on the latest accounts filed with Companies House.

Voluntary

No registrable interests.

Recent Activity

What was said

What Rachael Hamilton 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: 23 April 2025

Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023

1. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its work on tackling rural crime and preventing the theft and resale of machinery in Scotland, when it was first made aware of the proposals for the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, which applies to England and Wales. (S6O-04552)"

Chamber meeting date: 22 April 2025

Supreme Court Judgment

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "The SNP has tied itself in knots trying to define what a woman is. John Swinney still does not know. Discussing women’s rights has been met in and outside this chamber with accusations of transphobia…

Chamber meeting date: 3 April 2025

Banking Hubs

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "The number of banks on Scottish high streets declined by 60 per cent between 2015 and 2023. Getting access to cash in rural towns is like searching for water in a desert…

Chamber meeting date: 2 April 2025

Sustainable and Regenerative Agriculture

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Last night, many members attended the Food and Drink Federation Scotland reception in the Parliament. The agriculture sector is calling for certainty…

Chamber meeting date: 26 March 2025

Land Reform (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Will the cabinet secretary give way?"

Votes

How Rachael Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Rachael Hamilton 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 against

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 for

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 voted for

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 voted for

Vote Passed

Motions

Questions

Questions Rachael Hamilton has asked

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

Question ref. S6W-36280

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it has any plans to reintroduce lynx into Scotland, and, if so, what assessment it has made of any potential impact that this would have on rural communities and livestock."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36636

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how much is currently owed to it in total in brokerage by each NHS board."

Answered by Neil Gray on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36635

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether brokerage will be available to any NHS board in 2025-26."

Answered by Neil Gray on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36634

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 7 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with NHS Borders regarding brokerage in 2025-26."

Answered by Neil Gray on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36341

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how local communities living in the vicinity of the proposed Cross Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks are being involved in the decision-making process."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36336

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what steps its Energy Consents Unit takes to assess the visual impact and location of renewable energy applications during the consultation phase, in light of tourism reportedly contributing £4 billion to the Scottish economy annually, with 40% of that being nature-based tourism, according to NatureScot."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36326

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the criteria for approving or rejecting renewable energy applications, in light of its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025 stating that 100% of proposals between 2020 and 2025 have been approved."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36339

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how the proposed Cross-Border Connection development by SP Energy Networks aligns with Scotland's Energy Strategy and Just Transition Plan."

Answered by Gillian Martin on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36329

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce an upper limit on the proportion of land allocated to large-scale renewable energy projects in order to preserve agricultural land, in light of the reported economic importance of farming to the Scottish Borders economy."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

Question ref. S6W-36333

Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 1 April 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its Freedom of Information response of 28 February 2025 stating that no renewable energy projects have been rejected, what steps it is taking to ensure that public consultation processes are given due consideration."

Answered by Alasdair Allan on 22 April 2025

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