Donald Cameron
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) 2016 - present day
About Donald Cameron
Contact details
Contact online
Email: [email protected]
Website: donaldcameron.org.uk
Twitter: @DAJCameron
Facebook: Donald's facebook
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6989
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Donald is a member of 2 committees
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Deputy Convener
Criminal Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Cross-party groups
Donald is a member of 7 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Beer and Pubs
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gaelic
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Islands
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Ukraine
Member
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Donald does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Donald has 3 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Constitutional Affairs
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Culture
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on External Affairs
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Donald has had 21 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
17 June 2021 - 23 June 2021
Constitution Europe External Affairs and Culture Committee
Member
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
11 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
02 September 2020 - 04 May 2021
COVID19 Committee
Convener
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Health and Sport Committee
Member
02 September 2020 - 04 May 2021
Conveners Group
Member
20 August 2020 - 02 September 2020
COVID19 Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Finance and Constitution Committee
Member
06 February 2019 - 13 August 2020
Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints
Member
18 February 2020 - 11 August 2020
Party Spokesperson on Finance
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee
Member
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Election Co-ordinator
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
29 June 2017 - 06 September 2018
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
08 June 2016 - 29 June 2017
Health and Sport Committee
Member
19 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
19 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2016 - 09 March 2017
Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Donald'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 Donald Cameron. The date of their initial statement was 07 June 2021.
Remuneration and related undertaking
Until 2 November 2021, when I retired from the role, I was a non-executive director of Murray Income Trust, a PLC (of 7th Floor, 40 Princes Street, Edinburgh EH2 2BY) listed on the London Stock Exchange, which is an investment company within the meaning of section 833 of the Companies Act 2006. I attended 5 board meetings per year, lasting half a day each, and received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum. [Amended interest 8 November 2021]
Until 7 March 2023, when I resigned from the role, I was a non-executive director of Edinburgh Worldwide Investment Trust a PLC (of Calton Square, 1 Greenside Row, Edinburgh EH1 3AN) listed on the London Stock Exchange, which is an investment company within the meaning of section 833 of the Companies Act 2006. I attended 5 board meetings per year, lasting half a day each, and received remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum. [Amended interest 7 March 2023]
Gifts
On 12 September 2023 I attended Hampden Park Stadium for the Scotland vs England friendly match as a guest of Channel 4 Television Corporation (a broadcasting company of 124 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2TX). The ticket and associated hospitality amounted to a total of £478. [Registered 15 September 2023]
Overseas visits
No registrable interests
Controlled transactions
No registrable interests
Heritable property
I own Achnacarry Estate, a landholding in the Highland local authority area which supports a commercial, forestry and agricultural business, with income from: residential property lets; agricultural and crofting lets (including agricultural subsidy); holiday lets (including income from boating/ fishing/ caravans/ camping); fish-farming rental; renewable energy (hydro-electric/ biomass heating); telecoms sites; deerstalking/ shooting; utility wayleaves; and mineral royalties from quarrying. The approximate value of the estate is between £11,490,001 and £11,500,000. In the tax year 2021-2022, the property yielded a gross annual income in the range £890,001 to £900,000. This is a gross figure and does not take account of costs and losses to the business. [Amended interest 13 March 2023, Amended interest 17 May 2023]
Interest in shares
[Ceased interest removed from entry: 13 December 2022]
Voluntary
I am a trustee of Lochaber Rural Education Trust.
I am a non-practising member of the Faculty of Advocates (Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF), meaning I am unable to accept instructions and will accordingly undertake no work as an Advocate during my time as a MSP.
I am a trustee of Clan Cameron Museum. [Registered 13 March 2023]
Recent Activity
What was said
What Donald Cameron 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.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 30 November 2023
Historic Environment Strategy
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "I welcome the panel. Can you give an update on the number of sites that remain closed or that have restricted access, and on what the current timetable for reopening those sites is…
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 23 November 2023
Historic Environment Strategy
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "Welcome, everybody. I would like to focus on the specific issue of closures of sites and restricted access, which I think will be well known to everyone here…
Chamber meeting date: 21 November 2023
Situation in the Middle East
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "I begin in the spirit of the consensus that the First Minister achieved in his speech, during what is unequivocally a desperate and tragic situation…
Chamber meeting date: 16 November 2023
Clyde and Hebrides Ferry Service
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "Under the existing contract, it is island communities that continue to suffer from problems in our ferry service. The minister may be aware that there will be no Monday sailings from Colonsay to the mainland for the duration of the winter timetable…
Chamber meeting date: 16 November 2023
Culture in Communities
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "The debate has been wide ranging and helpful. I add my thanks to the committee’s clerks for all their work on its inquiry into culture in the communities and to all those who gave evidence…
Votes
How Donald Cameron has voted in Parliament
Find out how Donald Cameron has voted recently.
Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Gillian Martin, Aberdeenshire East, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 28, 2023
Supported by: Mairi Gougeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 30, 2023
Result 82 for, 32 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Disabled Children and Young People (Transitions to Adulthood) (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, November 23, 2023
Result 19 for, 90 against, 0 abstained, 20 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Supported by: Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Alexander Burnett, Donald Cameron, Jackson Carlaw, Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Maurice Golden, Pam Gosal, Jamie Greene, Dr. Sandesh Gulhane, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Roz McCall, Edward Mountain, Oliver Mundell, Douglas Ross, Graham Simpson, Liz Smith, Alexander Stewart, Sue Webber, Annie Wells, Tess White, Brian Whittle
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 52 for, 64 against, 0 abstained, 13 did not vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 87 for, 3 against, 25 abstained, 14 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Scotland’s Housing Emergency
Submitted by: Paul McLennan, East Lothian, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, November 21, 2023
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Emma Roddick, Shirley-Anne Somerville
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Donald Cameron in Parliament
Find out what motions Donald Cameron has submitted recently.
Questions
Questions Donald Cameron has asked
These are the questions that this MSP has asked in Parliament. It also includes any answer to those questions.
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government how many heat pump engineers it estimates there currently are in Scotland, and what support it will offer to the sector in order to train more engineers to (a) install and (b) maintain heat pumps."
Answer expected on 15 December 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to increase the number of dental student places available at Scottish universities in 2024, and, if so, whether it will provide details of this."
Answer expected on 15 December 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 30 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to allocate additional funding to promote squash, in light of reports that squash has been approved as an Olympic sport for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles."
Answer expected on 15 December 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 29 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the EU policy priorities and forward look in Annex D of the letter of 31 October 2023 from the Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture to the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee, which states that the Scottish Government is "looking carefully" at the…
Answer expected on 14 December 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the recently reported landslides at the A83 Rest and Be Thankful have had any impact on the delivery timescales of the (a) medium- and (b) long-term resilience solutions."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 29 November 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support charity-run art venues with (a) operating costs and (b) energy costs during the winter season."
Answered by Christina McKelvie on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of Firework Control Zone provisions following Bonfire Night 2023, and whether any changes will be implemented in advance of Bonfire Night 2024 and beyond."
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-21873 by Fiona Hyslop on 13 October 2023, whether recent poor weather, including the impact of Storm Babet, has had any impact on how it will allocate funding towards the aims of its Weather Resilience and Climate Change Adaption strategy."
Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 28 November 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether the refresh of the Skills Investment Plan for Scotland’s historic environment sector is still on track to be published in February 2024."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 27 November 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the provision of micro-grants to support and promote volunteering via Creative Scotland."
Answer expected on 12 December 2023
See all of Donald Cameron's questions submitted in Parliament