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
Email: [email protected]
Website: rachaelhamilton.co.uk
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
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
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Rachael does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Rachael has 2 party roles
Party Spokesperson on Islands
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Party Spokesperson on Rural Affairs
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Previous roles
Rachael has had 20 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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: 13 March 2024
Local Rural Economies (Housing)
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "That is all talk from Minister McLennan. The house-building record of this Scottish National Party Government has been dreadful, with rural areas away from the central belt bearing the brunt of its failures…
Chamber meeting date: 12 March 2024
Flood Management
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "I thank Willie Rennie for bringing this important debate to the chamber. He shares with me a belief in the catchment management approach, which I have been advocating for a number of years now…
Chamber meeting date: 7 March 2024
Child Neurodevelopmental Assessment (Waiting Times)
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Many children coped with the challenges of the pandemic, but for those who were already struggling with mental ill health, the impacts of lockdowns and lost schooling are likely to have made their conditions worse…
Chamber meeting date: 7 March 2024
Bus Partnership Fund
4. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the bus partnership fund, including what the spending plans are for the £473.1 million that is reportedly unspent to date, and when the fund will be resumed. (S6O-03169)"
Chamber meeting date: 29 February 2024
Livestock Worrying
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "The devastating cost of dog attacks on livestock has doubled in Scotland since 2022. It is causing harm and distress to animals and financial hardship to farmers. The legislation really is not working, is it?"
Votes
How Rachael Hamilton has voted in Parliament
Find out how Rachael Hamilton has voted recently.
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 80 for, 0 against, 32 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Approval of SSI
Submitted by: George Adam, Paisley, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 80 for, 0 against, 32 abstained, 17 did not vote
MSP abstained
Vote Passed
Growing Scotland’s Economy
Submitted by: Màiri McAllan, Clydesdale, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Richard Lochhead, Gillian Martin, Lorna Slater
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 50 against, 0 abstained, 16 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Bringing Down NHS Waiting Lists
Submitted by: Neil Gray, Airdrie and Shotts, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Supported by: Jenni Minto
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Bringing Down NHS Waiting Lists
Submitted by: Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, March 11, 2024
Supported by: Carol Mochan, Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Result 63 for, 51 against, 0 abstained, 15 did not vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Motions
Motions made by Rachael Hamilton in Parliament
Find out what motions Rachael Hamilton has submitted recently.
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.
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 March 2024
"To ask the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body whether it will provide an update on the waiting time for external stakeholder parliamentary events sponsored by MSPs."
Taken in the Chamber on 21 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how many people have been convicted of livestock worrying since the increased penalties were introduced in November 2021."
Answered by Angela Constance on 12 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what recent steps have been taken to improve diagnosis times for those affected by brain tumours."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government, in relation to people with optic discs showing signs of papilloedema, whether cancer pathways exist in all NHS boards for optometrists to refer patients directly to secondary care."
Answered by Jenni Minto on 5 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether any consideration has been given to expanding the referrals criteria that are used by healthcare professionals in primary care to refer patients to Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Services."
Answered by Neil Gray on 4 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 23 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government how much funding it has provided to Rape Crisis Scotland in each financial year since 2020-21, and how much it will provide in the financial year 2024-25."
Answered by Siobhian Brown on 4 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to tackle the reported encroachment of feral pigs in Scotland."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 February 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what its assessment is of the occupied range of feral pigs in Scotland, and the extent of any damage being caused by the pigs."
Answered by Jim Fairlie on 29 February 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 28 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Bus Partnership Fund, including what the spending plans are for the £473.1 million that is reportedly unspent to date, and when the fund will be resumed."
Taken in the Chamber on 7 March 2024
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 9 February 2024
"To ask the Scottish Government what actions are being taken to tackle the reported encroachment of muntjac deer in Scotland."
Answered by Lorna Slater on 28 February 2024
See all of Rachael Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament