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 6990
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 6 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gaelic
Deputy Convener
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 11 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
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
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee
Member
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
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]
I am 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 attend 5 board meetings per year, lasting half a day each, and receive remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum.
Gifts
No registrable interests
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; and utility wayleaves. The approximate value of the estate is between £8,490,001 and £8,500,000. In the tax year 2020-2021, the property yielded a gross annual income in the range £830,001 to £840,000. This is a gross figure and does not take account of costs and losses to the business.
Interest in shares
Until 10 December 2021 I owned 9.45 per cent of Green Highland Renewables (Achnacarry) Limited, a company which was created to invest in the development, construction and maintenance of three hydro-electric schemes on Achnacarry Estate (see under Heritable Property above). These were ordinary shares which had a market value of £700,000. [Amended interest 13 December 2021, Ceased interest 13 December 2021]
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.
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 June 2022
Implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "Good morning to the panel. I think that Stuart Anderson is on record as saying that aspects of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill may help consumer-facing businesses. Is that still your view?"
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee meeting date: 30 June 2022
Retained European Union Law
Donald Cameron: "I refer to my entry in the register of members’ interests as a member of the Faculty of Advocates. I enjoyed the historical references in the faculty’s and the Law Society’s submissions…
Chamber meeting date: 29 June 2022
Point of Order
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer…
Chamber meeting date: 29 June 2022
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "I am genuinely grateful to the Scottish Government for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is an important debate, not least in terms of the integrity of the United Kingdom and regarding our wider relations with the European Union…
Chamber meeting date: 28 June 2022
Independence Referendum
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "Given the centrality that the First Minister accords to the Lord Advocate in the process, and having set the precedent a few years ago with the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Legal Continuity) (Scotland) Bill, will the First Minister commit as a matter of urgency to having the Lord Advocate appear in the chamber to answer questions from…
Votes
How Donald Cameron has voted in Parliament
Find out how Donald Cameron has voted recently.
Business Programme
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 63 for, 47 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 85 for, 25 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Wednesday, June 29, 2022
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, Dean Lockhart, Douglas Lumsden, 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, June 29, 2022
Result 47 for, 63 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Fireworks and Pyrotechnic Articles (Scotland) Bill
Submitted by: Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 21, 2022
Supported by: Keith Brown
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 84 for, 0 against, 25 abstained, 20 no vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Northern Ireland Protocol Bill
Submitted by: Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, June 28, 2022
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Result 25 for, 85 against, 0 abstained, 19 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Motions
Motions made by Donald Cameron in Parliament
Find out what motions Donald Cameron has submitted recently.
Written questions
Written questions Donald Cameron 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: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 11 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the announcement by the UK Government on 19 July 2022 that it will issue around 50% of overall Basic Payment Scheme payments to farmers from July 2022, with the remaining 50% expected in December 2022, whether it will bring forward the initial payment date to August 2022, and if this is not the case, what…
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on what the total amount has been of any performance payments given to executive level staff at CalMac Ferries Ltd, broken down by each year since 2007."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether Transport Scotland has provided CalMac Ferries Ltd with additional funding to meet any financial penalties that may have been issued, and, if this is the case, what the total cost has been of any such additional funding, broken down by each year since 2007."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what information it has on whether CalMac Ferries Ltd awarded any performance payments to staff at executive level in any years in which it also received any financial penalties by Transport Scotland, broken down by year."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 10 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what the total cost has been of any financial penalties issued by Transport Scotland to CalMac Ferries Ltd, in each year since 2007."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 21 July 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the development of a forensic laboratory to be run by the Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services, as announced on 9 July 2021."
Answered by: Keith Brown on 4 August 2022
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 July 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding has been allocated to support the work of Scotland’s Makar in each year since the position was created in 2004."
Answered by: Neil Gray on 4 August 2022
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 22 July 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will confirm which islands it plans to include in the eligibility criteria for its proposed Islands Bond."
Answered by: Mairi Gougeon on 4 August 2022
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 3 August 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what support it can provide to the Clyde 2020 Research Advisory Group to facilitate the publication of an Ecosystem Enhancement Plan (EEP), to determine how any pressures on the Firth of Clyde may be managed to allow the natural recovery of fish stocks."
Awaiting answer
Asked by: Cameron, Donald, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 19 July 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government how many contracts have been awarded through NatureScot for deer management in Scotland in each year since 2007, broken down by the cost of each individual contract."
Answered by: Lorna Slater on 3 August 2022
See all of Donald Cameron's written questions submitted in Parliament