Donald Cameron
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
MSP for Highlands and Islands (Region) 2016 - present day
About Donald Cameron
Contact details
Contact at the Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament
Edinburgh
EH99 1SP
Phone: 0131 348 6989
Text relay calls welcome.
Committees
Donald is a member of 2 committees
Cross-party groups
Donald is a member of 9 cross-party groups
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Carers
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Chronic Pain
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Co-Operatives
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Crofting
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Dyslexia
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Gàidhlig
Deputy Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Health Inequalities
Co-Convener
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Life Sciences
Member
Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on MS
Deputy Convener
Parliamentary and Government Roles
Donald does not have any parliamentary or government roles
Party Roles
Donald has 1 party role
Party Spokesperson on Finance
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.
10 September 2019 - 25 February 2020
Culture Tourism Europe and External Affairs Committee
Member
03 September 2019 - 18 February 2020
Party Spokesperson on Europe and External Relations
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Land Reform
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Climate Change
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Election Co-ordinator
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2017 - 03 September 2019
Party Spokesperson on Environment
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
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
19 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Party Spokesperson on Sport
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
19 May 2016 - 28 June 2017
Party Spokesperson on Health
Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
28 June 2016 - 09 March 2017
Justice Committee
Substitute Member
Register of interests
Donald's register of interests
MSP's 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 09 June 2016.
Remuneration and related undertaking
I am 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 attend 5 board meetings per year, lasting half a day each, and receive remuneration of between £25,001 and £30,000 per annum. [Amended interest 31 July 2017]
I was a non-executive director of Slitco Ltd, a private limited investment company (of Lovat Estates Office, Station Road, Beauly, Inverness-shire, IV4 7DA). I attended one meeting per year (lasting half a day) until my resignation on 1 June 2016. For the month of May 2016 I was paid £575.38. Following my resignation as a director I will not receive any further remuneration.
Since becoming an MSP on 6 May 2016 up until 10 October 2018, I was a practising, self-employed Advocate and member of the Faculty of Advocates (Parliament House, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF). During this time period, I spent 8 days in total working as an Advocate and earnt £20,660, although a significant proportion of those earnings was in relation to other work undertaken before being elected on 5 May 2016 but paid after that date. As of 10 October 2018, I altered my status to that of “non-practising”, meaning I am unable to accept instructions and will accordingly undertake no further work as an Advocate during my time as a MSP. [Amended interest 6 February 2017, amended interest 6 April 2018, amended interest 30 October 2018]
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. [Amended interest 6 February 2017, Amended interest 11 December 2018]
Gifts
No registrable interests.
No registrable interests.
Overseas visits
No registrable interests.
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 £6,500,001 and £6,600,000. The property yields a gross annual income in the range £450,001 – £460,000. After costs and losses are taken into account, the net income from the business (for the year April 2016 to April 2017) was £0. Although this business trades in my name, I do not receive any taxable income from it. [Amended interest 6 February 2017, amended interest 6 April 2018]
Interest in shares
I own 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 are ordinary shares which have a market value of £700,000.
Voluntary
I am a trustee of Lochaber Rural Education Trust.
I am a trustee of Lochaber Rural Education Trust.
Biography
Overview
Originally from Lochaber, I graduated from the University of Oxford and City University London, before qualifying as an Advocate at the Scottish Bar in 2005. I practised across Scotland, focusing on public, agricultural and crofting law.
Prior to entering Parliament, I was appointed a Standing Junior Counsel to the Scottish Government from 2009 to 2016.
What motivated you to become an MSP?
I always took an interest in domestic and international politics, partly because my uncle – Michael Ancram – was a long-serving Member of Parliament and Minister under two Conservative governments.
I took a particular interest in the Scottish Parliament when I attended a debate in 1999, not long after it had been convened.
As a Highlander, I have seen governments of all political stripes fail to address the many unique difficulties our region faces. I want to provide a voice for those rural communities that feel left behind, and this drives me in what I do as an 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.
Economic Recovery
Donald Cameron made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 23 June 2020
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "As colleagues have intimated, we welcome the report’s publication, and we express thanks to Benny Higgins and others for putting it together so quickly…
Approach to the Committee’s Inquiry
Donald Cameron made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints - 22 June 2020
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "I echo what Jackie Baillie said about the importance of the committee meeting physically as soon as possible in August, in whatever way the Parliament and the members of the committee might deem suitable…
Brexit
Donald Cameron made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Finance and Constitution Committee - 19 June 2020
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "I have two questions on the continuity bill, cabinet secretary. The first is about the workload involved. I believe that the EU produces approximately 2,000 laws, directives and regulations per year…
Covid-19: Next Steps
Donald Cameron made 1 Contribution to this discussion
Chamber - 18 June 2020
Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "On a similar topic, hospitality businesses, be they pubs, cafes, hotels or restaurants, are in despair. They will be bitterly disappointed by the statement and the lack of detail in it. For that sector, every day matters at this time of year…
Covid-19 (Safe Reopening)
Donald Cameron made 2 Contributions to this discussion
Chamber - 18 June 2020
1. Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con): "To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update of its plans to safely reopen sectors of the economy. (S5O-04420)"
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.
S5W-30231 - Unanswered
24 June 2020
Cameron, Donald: "To ask the Scottish Government, with regard to the Corran Narrows ferry service, what its response is to The Highland Council’s position that councillors need to decide whether to “invest and retain the service in house or transfer responsibilities to Transport Scotland based on the principles set out in the Scottish Ferries…
S5W-29686 - Answered
05 June 2020
Cameron, Donald: "To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with the Association of Scotland’s Self-Caterers regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so."
S5W-29684 - Answered
05 June 2020
Cameron, Donald: "To ask the Scottish Government what safety measures and guidance it is putting in place to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so."
S5W-29685 - Answered
05 June 2020
Cameron, Donald: "To ask the Scottish Government what engagement it has had with local authorities regarding plans to allow self-catering accommodation businesses to trade again when it is safe to do so."
S5W-29687 - Answered
05 June 2020
Cameron, Donald: "To ask the Scottish Government whether it has an indicative date for (a) certain types of and (b) all self-catering accommodation to trade again."
See all of Donald Cameron's written questions submitted in Parliament