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Every contribution to the Official Report — chamber and committee — searchable in one place. Pulled from data.parliament.scot, indexed for full-text search, linked through to every MSP.

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1999–2026

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Showing 60 of 2,096,228 contributions. Latest 30 days: 3,758. Coverage: 12 May 1999 — 11 Jun 2026.

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Earlier, I failed to register my interest as a shareholder in a hospitality business. I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests. I am not clear whether the register of interests has been published, but I am doing this just in case.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Earlier, I failed—

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Scotland actually ranks eighth in the UK for FDI. Can the member clarify whether he is referring to the number of projects being invested in, rather than the economic and financial value that is being delivered?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Many of the college staff I speak to in my constituency cite the increase in employer national insurance contributions by the Labour Government as one of the reasons why colleges are not investing in people and skills. What representations to the UK Government on scrapping tha...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Will Jenny Young take an intervention?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

That was an interesting intervention from Jack Middleton. I wonder whether he supports the introduction of licences for Jackdaw and Rosebank. We are coming on to Jack Middleton, so he can listen up on non-domestic rates. Get your intervention ready, Mr Middleton.Now that Steph...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Our amendment has a laser focus on Scotland’s economic potential. I welcome Stephen Flynn to his role and congratulate him on his first speech.I appreciate that this may sound obvious, but after nearly two decades of SNP Government, it is worth restating the basics. Prosperity...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

I apologise, but I am grateful to Stephen Flynn for taking the intervention. Does Mr Flynn agree with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, which has basically said that we cannot tax our way to growth?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Will the member accept an intervention?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Summer of Sport

This summer is certainly going to be exciting. I hope that it will be non-political and that we can all enjoy it. Even if some people in the chamber do not like football, I am sure that everybody will wish the participants, the volunteers and the spectators well.I will touch o...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Summer of Sport

The minister makes an important point about inclusion. In rural areas, kids at school cannot get the bus transport to get to the activities and events, and the pools and other assets. What more can the Scottish Government do to support local authorities to ensure that the faci...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

Over the weekend, the Scottish National Party’s new Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy said that the Scottish Government’s energy strategy may not be ready until the end of the year. That is a shocking dereliction of duty by the SNP Government. Oil and gas worker...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Summer of Sport

This summer is certainly going to be exciting. I hope that it will be non-political and that we can all enjoy it. Even if some people in the chamber do not like football, I am sure that everybody will wish the participants, the volunteers and the spectators well.I will touch o...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Summer of Sport

The minister makes an important point about inclusion. In rural areas, kids at school cannot get the bus transport to get to the activities and events, and the pools and other assets. What more can the Scottish Government do to support local authorities to ensure that the faci...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time

Over the weekend, the Scottish National Party’s new Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Energy said that the Scottish Government’s energy strategy may not be ready until the end of the year. That is a shocking dereliction of duty by the SNP Government. Oil and gas worker...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

John Swinney is desperately trying to sweep this scandal under the carpet and deny that there was any problem in 2021—that is on record.Peter Murrell will rightly face the full force of the law, but the public will question why the former First Minister did not face investigat...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

Let us spell out what happened. In 2021, Nicola Sturgeon denied that there was anything untoward in the SNP’s finances; months later, Police Scotland opened a formal investigation; and, in April 2023, a tent was erected by Police Scotland at Nicola Sturgeon’s family home and P...

1. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on public confidence in political institutions in Scotland following the guilty plea entered by former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell in recent court proceedings.

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Alan Brown thinks that the grass is greener, but he cannot even deal with his own lawn. Is that not a shame?The Scottish Government cannot even get the number of GPs that we need. It promised drop-in clinics. There was a six-hour waiting list in its trial clinic, according to ...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

I am very proud that the blue wall has been maintained and has stopped an SNP majority. It was my win, and the wins of my colleagues Finlay Carson and Craig Hoy, that absolutely scuppered the chances of the separatists.The SNP has simply not managed to reach its goal. I am a b...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you to your role, and I welcome everyone who is making their maiden speech today. I remember making mine back in 2016, and it is quite a daunting thing to do.I am disappointed by the SNP’s motion for our first debate because it fu...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Jackie Dunbar is very much in support of the oil and gas industry in the north-east. Will she back our calls to drill for oil in Jackdaw and open the fields of Jackdaw and Rosebank for gas and oil?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Will the member take an intervention?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Will the member give way?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

John Swinney is desperately trying to sweep this scandal under the carpet and deny that there was any problem in 2021—that is on record.Peter Murrell will rightly face the full force of the law, but the public will question why the former First Minister did not face investigat...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

Let us spell out what happened. In 2021, Nicola Sturgeon denied that there was anything untoward in the SNP’s finances; months later, Police Scotland opened a formal investigation; and, in April 2023, a tent was erected by Police Scotland at Nicola Sturgeon’s family home and P...

1. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Urgent Question · Public Confidence in Political Institutions

To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on public confidence in political institutions in Scotland following the guilty plea entered by former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell in recent court proceedings.

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Alan Brown thinks that the grass is greener, but he cannot even deal with his own lawn. Is that not a shame?The Scottish Government cannot even get the number of GPs that we need. It promised drop-in clinics. There was a six-hour waiting list in its trial clinic, according to ...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

I am very proud that the blue wall has been maintained and has stopped an SNP majority. It was my win, and the wins of my colleagues Finlay Carson and Craig Hoy, that absolutely scuppered the chances of the separatists.The SNP has simply not managed to reach its goal. I am a b...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you to your role, and I welcome everyone who is making their maiden speech today. I remember making mine back in 2016, and it is quite a daunting thing to do.I am disappointed by the SNP’s motion for our first debate because it fu...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Jackie Dunbar is very much in support of the oil and gas industry in the north-east. Will she back our calls to drill for oil in Jackdaw and open the fields of Jackdaw and Rosebank for gas and oil?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Will the member take an intervention?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Independence Referendum

Will the member give way?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Oaths and Affirmations

I, Rachael Hamilton, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Oaths and Affirmations

I, Rachael Hamilton, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Oaths and Affirmations

I, Rachael Hamilton, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law. So help me God.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Heating Oil Costs (Agriculture Sector and Rural Industries)

I congratulate my friend and colleague Christine Grahame on her time here, and I wish her well in the future.I agree with the minister and Christine Grahame that heating bills are doubling and that rural areas are particularly affected. Farmers are bearing the brunt of the war...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Heating Costs (Rural Households)

Borders residents have also written to me about the rise in fuel prices, and particularly those who live in fuel poverty. Will the First Minister consider making a Scottish Government resilience or crisis fund available to support those people, who are really living in challen...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

On a point of order, Presiding Officer, I am having technical issues. I would have voted no.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Assisted Dying for Terminally Ill Adults (Scotland) Bill: Stage 3

To clarify the question from Emma Roddick, does the amendment mean that a pregnant woman who is in a palliative state would have to take a pregnancy test? Indeed, would any other person—who was possibly someone who identified as a woman but was a 90-year-old man—also then have...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

General Question Time · Face-to-face Banking Services

Last month, the Bank of Scotland announced that it would close its branch in Kelso. That is the ninth closure in the Borders since 2022.I agree with Richard Lochhead that we need to review the access to cash criteria, and the Scottish Conservatives will be pushing the United K...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Wull Muir Wind Farm(Court of Session Ruling)

Gillian Martin attended the first quarter of the rural Scotland convention on major energy infrastructure on Tuesday, so she will know that communities are concerned that the SNP is not listening to their concerns about the energy industrialisation of communities across Scotla...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Women in Enterprise)

Freedom of information data from the Scottish Government agency South of Scotland Enterprise, covering the financial years from 2021-22 to 2025-26, shows that just five loans worth £481,500 were awarded to female-led organisations, compared with 22 loans totalling more than £5...

3. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Budget 2026-27 (Women in Enterprise)

To ask the Scottish Government how much it has allocated in its draft budget 2026-27 to support women in enterprise, including in the Scottish Borders. (S6O-05557)

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Point of Entry Levy Consultation

Inaudible.—budget 2026-27—

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Urgent Questions

The Lord Advocate says that sharing details with the First Minister is normal. Does she, however, accept that now that the correspondence has been shared with the wider public just weeks before election, that risks undermining the confidence in the impartiality of the prosecut...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Service Delivery Review)

I thank the First Minister for that answer, but, shamefully, the review has now been delayed until after the elections in May, which is unacceptable to my constituents in Hawick who deserve to know the future of their local station.The SFRS warned that 500 firefighter posts co...

5. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

First Minister’s Question Time · Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (Service Delivery Review)

To ask the First Minister whether the Scottish Government will provide an update on the service delivery review of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. (S6F-04675)

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Business Motion

Will the minister take an intervention?

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Business Motion

Presiding Officer, I did not give you prior notice of my intent to speak. In relation to the business programme, I ask for parliamentary time to be scheduled for a Government statement on the continued delay in the release of material connected with the Salmond and Sturgeon in...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Portfolio Question Time · Salmon Numbers (Rivers)

Given that the River Tweed is an iconic salmon river that provides around £24 million to the economy and 500 jobs, what action is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that sewage treatment works and overflows along the Tweed are not damaging water quality or undermining sa...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

General Question Time · Thrombectomy Services (Scottish Borders)

Essentially, the minister is telling my Borders constituents that, if they have a stroke and need a thrombectomy, they must hope that it happens during the working week. Currently, due to a lack of funding and services, patients in the south-east of Scotland can access that tr...

3. Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

General Question Time · Thrombectomy Services (Scottish Borders)

To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what work it is doing to improve access to thrombectomy services across the Scottish Borders. (S6O-05469)

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

No thanks. Maybe in a bit.Mr Thompson continued:“Scottish communities”will“continue to see the loss of much-loved local venues.”Stephen Montgomery, director of Scottish Hospitality Groups, said:“Hospitality is the absolute backbone of Scotland’s communities and high streets, b...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Some hospitality businesses are facing increases of up to 300 per cent. The minister needs to look at the stats, because he clearly does not understand them.Let us hear what the industry thinks. Leon Thompson of UKHospitality said:“Without action, we will only see business clo...

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

I will, in a second.As Daniel Johnson, who has run a business, recognises, in an SME that has a large turnover and a low profit margin, it is the people who are running the business who actually know what they are doing, and they recognise that the methodology is completely un...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

I agree with Stephen Kerr about how disappointing it was to see only three SNP back benchers here earlier. SNP members obviously got the text: now there are an extra three.Members who have worked in hospitality know that it is an excellent career, and it was good to hear that ...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Does the minister recognise that the methodology for the valuation of hospitality businesses is entirely different from the methodology for other businesses, and that the methodology puts pressure on them because of their high turnover and low profitability?

Rachael Hamilton Con Chamber

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

The Scottish public support the bill, but the opposition to the bill on the part of the SNP and the Greens sets a dangerous precedent. Tonight, we should come together, support women and back the bill.

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con Chamber

Prostitution (Offences and Support) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1

Thank you, Presiding Officer, for the opportunity to speak. I also express my gratitude to Ash Regan.The Scottish Government has had plenty of time to consider the bill. It was introduced nine months ago, and it has had plenty of sitting days to look at it. It had a choice, bu...

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Chamber

Meeting of the Parliament 09 June 2026 [Draft]

09 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Growing Scotland’s Economy

Hamilton, Rachael Con Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire Watch on SPTV

Earlier, I failed to register my interest as a shareholder in a hospitality business. I draw members’ attention to my entry in the register of interests. I am not clear whether the register of interests has been published, but I am doing this just in case.

In the same item of business

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S7M-00290, in the name of Stephen Flynn, on growing Scotland’s economy. I call Stephen Flynn to speak to and ...

The Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport (Stephen Flynn) SNP

When I made the decision to stand for election to this Parliament, I did so because I believe that our nation’s future is full of potential and that it is ou...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

Will the member accept an intervention?

Stephen Flynn SNP

They are the generations that entered the world of work during a global financial crisis and lived through the austerity years of Cameron and Clegg that foll...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

I remind the member of the convention that interventions are not taken during a first speech and that this is Mr Flynn’s first speech.

Rachael Hamilton Con

I apologise, but I am grateful to Stephen Flynn for taking the intervention. Does Mr Flynn agree with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, whi...

Stephen Flynn SNP

There is an irony in Rachael Hamilton intervening when I was making a point about austerity when we consider the damage that was done by her party to the Uni...

Craig Hoy (Dumfriesshire) (Con) Con

Will Mr Flynn take another intervention?

Stephen Flynn SNP

I am sure that Mr Hoy is away to apologise for Liz Truss.

Craig Hoy Con

I thank our newbie for giving way during his maiden speech. Will he now take the opportunity to apologise to the tens of thousands of oil and gas workers in ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark) Lab

Mr Hoy, I remind you that you must treat all members with courtesy at all times.

Stephen Flynn SNP

I gave Mr Hoy the opportunity to apologise for Liz Truss, but I notice that he chose not to do so, which is something that I have no doubt will sit heavily o...

Willie Rennie (Fife North East) (LD) LD

Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?

Stephen Flynn SNP

—and that is why, thirdly, we will back the industries of the future.Talking about the future, I will give way to Willie Rennie.

Willie Rennie LD

He is a charmer, is he not?On the point about skills and the workforce, what is the cabinet secretary’s answer to the high levels of economic inactivity in t...

Stephen Flynn SNP

The point that Mr Rennie rightly makes is incredibly important, and it is no surprise that he chose to make it. I tried to reference in my remarks the import...

Graham Simpson (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Reform) Reform

The cabinet secretary has made a good point about speeding up the planning system; however, we have been talking about that for years. Does he have any speci...

Stephen Flynn SNP

If Graham Simpson has been talking about it for years in the chamber but not been able to deliver it, that may be a reflection on his abilities. However, I a...

Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab) Lab

I am not sure whether I have had the chance before to welcome you to your place, Deputy Presiding Officer, but I do so now. I also welcome the cabinet secret...

Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I am listening carefully to the member’s point. He will presumably acknowledge that the Labour Government’s ban on new exploration and production will not he...

Daniel Johnson Lab

The member completely fails to acknowledge the bodged process that the previous UK Government put in place, which is why those licences ended up in the Supre...

Craig Hoy Con

Made a request to intervene.

Daniel Johnson Lab

I apologise, Mr Hoy; I would like to make a little bit of progress.For all three things, we have the powers here, but we fail to focus on them. On place, if ...

Duncan Massey (North East Scotland) (Reform) Reform

I extend my congratulations to Stephen Flynn on his new role as cabinet secretary. I very much welcome the debate on growing Scotland’s economy, because I be...

Craig Hoy Con

Will the member take an intervention?

Duncan Massey Reform

I will move on with my arguments first, thank you.That is a national failure and one that must be addressed by growth and coupled with reform of the benefits...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

Will the member take an intervention on that point?

Duncan Massey Reform

George Adam SNP

Surely, to use the member’s metaphor that the biggest purchase that an individual will make will be their Government, we could say that, every five years, we...

Duncan Massey Reform

I am not sure that it was overwhelming, and I am not sure that it was a vote on the tax system of Scotland.Anyway, we heard last week, thanks to the Mandelso...