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 at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6972
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 2 committees
Cross-party groups
Rachael is a member of 13 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Conditions
Member
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 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
Deputy Convener
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 11 previous roles
Previous roles in cross-party groups are not included in this list.
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
20 August 2020 - 04 May 2021
Social Security Committee
Member
25 February 2020 - 04 May 2021
Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee
Substitute Member
25 February 2020 - 20 August 2020
Rural Economy and Connectivity Committee
Member
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Environment Climate Change and Land Reform Committee
Member
17 May 2018 - 10 September 2019
Public Petitions Committee
Member
21 June 2017 - 17 May 2018
Culture Tourism Europe and External Relations Committee
Member
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.
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: 2 February 2023
Schools (Bullying)
4. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle bullying in schools. (S6O-01855)"
Chamber meeting date: 31 January 2023
Management of Transgender Individuals in Prison Custody
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Ministers intervened and overturned the decision to send double rapist Isla Bryson to a female prison, yet an equally violent sex pest—Katie Dolatowski—was sent to Cornton Vale last year, with no questions asked…
Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee meeting date: 31 January 2023
Budget Scrutiny 2023-24
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Good morning, minister. Last week, Professor O’Hagan said: “Useful and important research came out alongside the budget”. Most witnesses were complimentary about where we are so far, but they highlighted some gaps, deficiencies and holes…
Chamber meeting date: 24 January 2023
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Amendment 55 in my name seeks to extend the ability to use dogs to hunt—Interruption. Pardon? I do not know if someone wants to intervene."
Chamber meeting date: 24 January 2023
Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Bill
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): "Fourteen years after the Scottish Parliament passed the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002, the Scottish Government asked Lord Bonomy to review the act and report on how it could be improved…
Votes
How Rachael Hamilton has voted in Parliament
Find out how Rachael Hamilton has voted recently.
Budget (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill
Submitted by: John Swinney, Perthshire North, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: George Adam, Tom Arthur, Richard Lochhead, Ivan McKee, Lorna Slater, Nicola Sturgeon
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Thursday, February 2, 2023
Result 68 for, 56 against, 0 abstained, 5 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Paul Sweeney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 24 for, 96 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Defeated
Three Years On - Brexit and Workers’ Rights
Submitted by: Richard Lochhead, Moray, Scottish National Party. Date lodged: Monday, January 30, 2023
Supported by: Tom Arthur, Ivan McKee, John Swinney
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 90 for, 30 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted against
Vote Passed
Revision to Business Programme
Submitted by: Russell Findlay, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Alexander Burnett, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Pam Gosal, Rachael Hamilton, Craig Hoy, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Ross, Sue Webber, Tess White
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 51 for, 67 against, 0 abstained, 11 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
Business Programme
Submitted by: Stephen Kerr, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party. Date lodged: Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Supported by: Finlay Carson, Sharon Dowey, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Greene, Jamie Halcro Johnston, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Roz McCall, Liz Smith, Sue Webber
Current status: Taken in the Chamber on Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Result 54 for, 66 against, 0 abstained, 9 no vote
MSP voted for
Vote Defeated
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: 30 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what guidance it issues to its executive agencies regarding the criteria for risk assessments conducted which may allow transgender individuals to access single sex spaces."
Answer expected on 27 February 2023
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 20 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish the findings of the Agriculture Bill consultation, Delivering our Vision for Scottish Agriculture, which closed on 21 November 2022."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 30 January 2023
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 26 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on pilot schemes to fast-track applications for blue badges for disabled parking for people with motor neurone disease."
Answer expected on 9 February 2023
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 25 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to tackle bullying in schools."
Taken in the Chamber on 2 February 2023
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 13 January 2023
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of the new Core Operating Solutions developed for Police Scotland and any difficulties it has encountered in the implementation."
Answered by Keith Brown on 24 January 2023
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 8 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (Incorporation) (Scotland) Bill."
Answered by Clare Haughey on 21 December 2022
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 5 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government whether it will make an assessment of whether rewilding on deep peat caused by a lack of management risks reducing (a) carbon sequestration and (b) populations of ground nesting bird species."
Answered by Mairi McAllan on 16 December 2022
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 14 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential impact that proposed Highly Protected Marine Areas will have on the fishing industry."
Taken in the Chamber on 22 December 2022
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government, in the light of recently released evidence from NatureScot showing that wrasse is a typical species of rocky reef habitats, which are a Habitats Directive Annex I habitat, and kelp beds, which are categorised as a Priority Marine Feature, what additional wrasse fishery management measures it has reviewed and refined…
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 December 2022
Asked by: Hamilton, Rachael, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 6 December 2022
"To ask the Scottish Government what quantity of wild wrasse, and from what source, was included in the latest recorded information on live fish movements to aquaculture facilities."
Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 14 December 2022
See all of Rachael Hamilton's questions submitted in Parliament