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Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)

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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

X (previously known as Twitter): @Rachael2Win

Facebook: Rachael's 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 on their website.

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

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 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: 6 November 2025

Welfare Payments (Projection)

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "I am sorry, Deputy Presiding Officer—my question is number 6."

Chamber meeting date: 6 November 2025

Permitted Development Rights Consultation (New Homes)

6. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the Cabinet Secretary for Housing has had with the Minister for Public Finance regarding the consultation on permitted development rights to support the provision of new homes. (S6O-05119)"

Chamber meeting date: 30 October 2025

Point of Order

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer…

Chamber meeting date: 30 October 2025

Bank Closures

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "I thank my colleague Craig Hoy for securing this important debate on bank closures. Since 2012, 6,000 bank branches across the United Kingdom have been closed. The most recent sad casualty is the Bank of Scotland branch in Hawick…

Chamber meeting date: 30 October 2025

Point of Order

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "On a point of order, Presiding Officer…

Votes

How Rachael Hamilton has voted in Parliament

Find out how Rachael Hamilton has voted recently.

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 44 Amendment 380

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Result 90 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 44 Amendment 112

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Result 26 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 44 Amendment 231

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Result 90 for, 28 against, 0 abstained, 11 did not vote

MSP voted against

Agreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 44 Amendment 110

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Result 26 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

Motion ref. S6 SP Bill 44 Amendment 109

Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Result 26 for, 91 against, 0 abstained, 12 did not vote

MSP voted for

Disagreed

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 reference: S6W-41380

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:21 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government how the £901,000 veterans budget is being spent in 2025-26."

Question reference: S6W-41447

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:22 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Siobhian Brown on 5 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the publication by the UK Government on 17 October 2025 of its summary of the responses to the call for evidence regarding the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023, and what implications these might have on responding to rural crime in Scotland."

Question reference: S6W-41382

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:16 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an estimate of the number veterans who are currently unemployed."

Question reference: S6W-41383

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:16 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide information on the number of veterans it has helped enter employment since November 2018, broken down by financial year."

Question reference: S6W-41385

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:16 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Maree Todd on 3 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what mental health initiatives aimed at veterans it has supported since November 2018 and how much funding it has provided for each programme."

Question reference: S6W-41381

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:16 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 3 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what new data it has started to collect on veterans since November 2018."

Question reference: S6O-05119

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:29 October 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 6 November 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what recent discussions the housing secretary had had with the public finance minister regarding the consultation on permitted development rights to support the provision of new homes."

Question reference: S6W-41386

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:16 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 24 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to expand the Veterans In Service Injury Network, which is currently hosted by NHS Highland, to other NHS boards."

Question reference: S6O-05073

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:22 October 2025

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 29 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government when it last met with Scottish Borders Council, and whether issues regarding the future of local facilities, including the potential closure of up to 30 sport and leisure facilities, were discussed."

Question reference: S6W-40966

Asked by: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

Date lodged:2 October 2025

Current Status: Answered by Neil Gray on 21 October 2025

"To ask the Scottish Government what the average and longest waiting times are for cataract surgery, when calculated from initial referral to completion of treatment, in the most recent year for which data is available and broken down by NHS board."

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