Information between 30th April 2023 - 24th January 2026
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Note: Cited speaker in live transcript data may not always be accurate. Check video link to confirm. |
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4 Mar 2025, 4:40 p.m. - House of Commons "the late Lord Douglas James Hamilton, and George Reid. " Patricia Ferguson MP (Glasgow West, Labour) - View Video - View Transcript |
| Parliamentary Debates |
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Economy, Welfare and Public Services
151 speeches (47,061 words) Monday 22nd July 2024 - Commons Chamber HM Treasury Mentions: 1: Alex Easton (Ind - North Down) outstanding development, spearheaded in the early 17th century by two distinguished figures: Sir James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
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Adequacy of the Scotland Act 1998
5 speeches (3,889 words) Thursday 18th July 2024 - Commons Chamber Scotland Office |
| Early Day Motions |
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Tuesday 12th September 400th anniversary of Presbyterianism in Bangor 3 signatures (Most recent: 16 Oct 2023)Tabled by: Stephen Farry (Alliance - North Down) That this House recognises the 400th anniversary of the establishment of a Presbyterian presence in Bangor as marked by a recent service in City Church Bangor, formerly known as First Bangor Presbyterian Church; notes the settlement of Scottish Presbyterians in the Bangor area under the invitation of James Hamilton, 1st … |
| Department Publications - News and Communications |
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Friday 14th June 2024
Ministry of Defence Source Page: The Military division of The King's Birthday Honours List 2024 Document: The Military division of The King's Birthday Honours List 2024 (webpage) Found: The Queen’s Royal Hussars Major Andrew John THACKWAY, The Royal Logistic Corps Major Timothy James Hamilton |
| Scottish Committee Publications |
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Thursday 1st June 2023
Report - This report covers the work of the Finance and Public Administration Committee during the parliamentary year from 13 May 2022 to 12 May 2023. Annual report of the Finance and Public Administration Committee 2022-23 Finance and Public Administration Committee Found: SGHHC Committee) published in March 2021 and two other related reviews by Laura Dunlop QC and James Hamilton |
| Scottish Written Answers |
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S6W-32786
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Independent - Inverness and Nairn) Tuesday 28th January 2025 Question To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the judgement of Lord Pentland in the case of The Scottish Ministers v The Scottish Information Commissioner (case reference number XA10/23), which states that the Scottish Ministers accepted that they (or their officials) could gain access to the information held by James Hamilton, whether it will provide, where possible, the names of any of its officials that (a) had such access and (b) used such permissions to access the inboxes of secretariat members, as stated in the judgement. Answered by Forbes, Kate - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic As set out in the information disclosed by Scottish Government on 26 October 2024, several Scottish Government officials had permissions to access the mailbox used by Mr Hamilton’s secretariat. The reason they were granted access was for business continuity purposes, for example if there were an urgent business requirement in the case of unexpected absence. The individuals who had permissions to access the mailbox were permanent civil servants. To comply with data protection principles the names of those civil servants are not disclosed. |
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S6W-32785
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Independent - Inverness and Nairn) Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Question To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to the fifth supplementary question to question S6T-02254 by Jamie Hepburn on 17 December 2024, when the Minister for Parliamentary Business will issue the response that he stated would be provided "in due course". Answered by Hepburn, Jamie - Minister for Parliamentary Business In his question to me in the chamber on 17 December, the Member asked about the handling of a Freedom of Information request made to the Scottish Government in April 2021, which sought information regarding James Hamilton's investigation under the Ministerial Code (see: https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-report-by-james-hamilton-on-the-first-ministers-self-referral-under-the-scottish-ministerial-code/). The Member has corresponded with the Scottish Government on a number of matters relating to this issue. On 17 December I was aware that the Member was awaiting the Scottish Government’s response to his letter of 20 November, specifically regarding the costs of legal advice in relation to these matters. The Scottish Government’s response to the Member’s letter of 20 November was subsequently issued on 19 December. This is the response referred to in my answer. |
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S6W-29395
Asked by: Baillie, Jackie (Scottish Labour - Dumbarton) Monday 30th September 2024 Question To ask the Scottish Government on what dates it has met with the independent advisers on the Scottish Ministerial Code to discuss the recommendations of the Hamilton Report since it was published in March 2021. Answered by Forbes, Kate - Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic Following his appointment as First Minister, Humza Yousaf met with James Hamilton on 27 July 2023 and with Lady Dame Elish Angliolini on 2 August 2023. Scottish Government officials have also engaged with the First Minister's independent advisers on a number of occasions in the course of routine business, including to consult them on the 2023 edition of the Code prior to its publication. |
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S6W-25078
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Independent - Inverness and Nairn) Thursday 7th March 2024 Question To ask the Scottish Government, in light of Decision 004/2023 of the Scottish Information Commissioner, whether it will list the (a) name and (b) job title of each of its civil servants that were appointed to the secretariat that assisted James Hamilton in his investigation into whether the former First Minister had complied with the Scottish Ministerial Code, as described in the Commissioner's decision; whether any of the civil servants appointed to this secretariat were special advisers, and, if so, and in the event that any special advisers were involved in the process of deciding what parts of the Hamilton Report to redact, whether it will propose the scheduling of time for a ministerial statement on this matter. Answered by Robison, Shona - Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government The Scottish Government seconded one individual to provide a Secretariat function to the Independent Advisor on the Ministerial Code while he conducted his review. Ahead of publication, Mr Hamilton requested additional secretariat support. Four additional permanent civil servants below the grade of Senior Civil Service were seconded to support the Secretariat from the SG Organisational Continuity Team (OCT) for a limited period from 15 March 2021, primarily to support the redaction and publication process. None of those civil servants was a Special Adviser and Special Advisers were not involved in the process of deciding what parts of the Hamilton Report to redact. Please note we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested relating to names. This information is personal data of a third party, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Article 5(1) of the General Data Protection Regulation and Section 34(1) of the Data Protection Act 2018. |
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S6W-25079
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Independent - Inverness and Nairn) Thursday 7th March 2024 Question To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide full details of the timetable leading up to the redacted version of the Hamilton Report being issued to the public on 22 March 2021, including (a) when the report was delivered to it by James Hamilton, (b) when information was redacted from the report and (c) whether there was more than one process of redaction. Answered by Robison, Shona - Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government In preparation for issuing Mr Hamilton’s report, civil servants seconded to the Secretariat applied draft redactions in the period 15 to 21 March 2021. The Scottish Government received Mr Hamilton’s final report on 22 March 2021 at 00:02. The report was then redacted by civil servants in the Organisational Continuity Team for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the court orders made by Lord Woolman and Lady Dorrian and to remove any personal data where processing of personal data would not be lawful under data protection law. The report was published on the same day, 22 March 2021, in line with the commitment given to Parliament on 4 March 2021 by Nicola Sturgeon , at https://www.gov.scot/publications/independent-report-by-james-hamilton-on-the-first-ministers-self-referral-under-the-scottish-ministerial-code |
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S6W-25081
Asked by: Ewing, Fergus (Independent - Inverness and Nairn) Wednesday 6th March 2024 Question To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish any record of correspondence, notes, emails, text or WhatsApp messages, as well as the documents themselves, in the month of March 2021, between or on behalf of James Hamilton and civil servants or Scottish Government ministers, regarding the redactions made to the version of the Hamilton Report that was published on 22 March 2021. Answered by Robison, Shona - Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Mr Hamilton’s report was published on 22 March 2021. In his letter, which is published alongside the report, Mr Hamilton makes clear that redactions were necessary in order to comply with the court orders in place (made by Lord Woolman and Lady Dorrian), in order to avoid the risk of jigsaw identification. It would not be appropriate to publish further material that was provided in confidence to Mr Hamilton for the purpose of his investigation. Following a Freedom of Information request for the full text of the Hamilton Report, the Scottish Government provided the Scottish Information Commissioner with the full text of the report, and, in Decision 135/2022 , the Commissioner confirmed that he was satisfied that disclosing the information would lead to the identification of complainers, either directly or indirectly, contrary to the civil and criminal orders, and that the Scottish Government had complied with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act in responding to that request. |
| Scottish Parliamentary Debates |
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First Minister’s Question Time
71 speeches (41,976 words) Thursday 22nd January 2026 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Swinney, John (SNP - Perthshire North) Government has handled nearly 90—nine zero—freedom of information requests and reviews relating to the James Hamilton - Link to Speech 2: Ewing, Fergus (Ind - Inverness and Nairn) But what the First Minister has not said is that, when James Hamilton produced his report, he himself - Link to Speech |
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First Minister’s Question Time
71 speeches (41,976 words) Thursday 22nd January 2026 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Swinney, John (SNP - Perthshire North) Government has handled nearly 90—nine zero—freedom of information requests and reviews relating to the James Hamilton - Link to Speech 2: Ewing, Fergus (Ind - Inverness and Nairn) But what the First Minister has not said is that, when James Hamilton produced his report, he himself - Link to Speech |
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Subordinate Legislation
244 speeches (87,431 words) Wednesday 17th December 2025 - Committee Mentions: 1: Carson, Finlay (Con - Galloway and West Dumfries) George Burgess, director of agriculture and rural economy; Debbie Kessell, policy manager; and James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
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Subordinate Legislation
95 speeches (50,111 words) Wednesday 3rd December 2025 - Committee Mentions: 1: Carson, Finlay (Con - Galloway and West Dumfries) McCollin, head of the good food nation team; Lisa Nowak, policy officer, good food nation team; and James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
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Subordinate Legislation
40 speeches (15,995 words) Wednesday 24th September 2025 - Committee Mentions: 1: Carson, Finlay (Con - Galloway and West Dumfries) following Scottish Government officials: Darren Cormack, policy manager, livestock products; James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
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National Good Food Nation Plan
70 speeches (44,851 words) Tuesday 9th September 2025 - Committee Mentions: 1: Burgess, Ariane (Green - Highlands and Islands) She is joined by Scottish Government officials: James Hamilton, solicitor; Laura Hunter, procurement - Link to Speech |
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National Good Food Nation Plan
224 speeches (150,064 words) Tuesday 2nd September 2025 - Committee Mentions: 1: Haughey, Clare (SNP - Rutherglen) She is accompanied by James Hamilton, lawyer; Tracy McCollin, head of the good food nation team; Jo Mitchell - Link to Speech |
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Scottish Information Commissioner
41 speeches (23,294 words) Tuesday 29th October 2024 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Swinney, John (SNP - Perthshire North) On 3 August 2020, acting as Deputy First Minister, I set out the remit for James Hamilton to examine - Link to Speech 2: Findlay, Russell (Con - West Scotland) A Scottish Government official was transferred to work for James Hamilton while he investigated allegations - Link to Speech 3: Hamilton, Rachael (Con - Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) form of contact with Nicola Sturgeon in any of her roles while she was under investigation by James Hamilton - Link to Speech 4: Stevenson, Collette (SNP - East Kilbride) Will the First Minister clarify whether it is the case that, in cases such as the James Hamilton inquiry - Link to Speech |
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Programme for Government
103 speeches (93,591 words) Wednesday 4th September 2024 - Main Chamber Mentions: 1: Baillie, Jackie (Lab - Dumbarton) What about the recommendation from James Hamilton KC that special advisers should be subject to elements - Link to Speech |
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Subordinate Legislation
124 speeches (81,089 words) Wednesday 28th February 2024 - Committee Mentions: 1: Wishart, Beatrice (LD - Shetland Islands) and Islands, and her officials: Lisa Nowak, policy officer for the good food nation team, and James Hamilton - Link to Speech 2: Gougeon, Mairi (SNP - Angus North and Mearns) Lisa Nowak or James Hamilton might have more information on that. - Link to Speech |
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Scottish Information Commissioner
125 speeches (57,235 words) Thursday 22nd February 2024 - Committee Mentions: 1: Kerr, Stephen (Con - Central Scotland) approach than might have been the case previously.In that respect, I am thinking of the example of James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
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Public Administration in the Scottish Government
104 speeches (54,075 words) Tuesday 16th May 2023 - Committee Mentions: 1: None undertaken by Laura Dunlop on behalf of the then permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, and the report by James Hamilton - Link to Speech |
| Scottish Calendar |
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Wednesday 17th December 2025 9 a.m. 36th Meeting, 2025 (Session 6) The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room and will be broadcast on www.scottishparliament.tv. 1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Fruit and Vegetables) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/draft) from— Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, George Burgess, Director of Agriculture and Rural Economy, James Hamilton, Lawyer, and Debbie Kessell, Policy Manager, Scottish Government. 2. Subordinate legislation: Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity to move—S6M-19989—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Fruit and Vegetables) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/draft) be approved. 3. Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: (In Private) The Committee will consider a draft Stage 1 report. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Emma Johnston on 85225 or at [email protected] View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Wednesday 24th September 2025 9 a.m. 26th Meeting, 2025 (Session 6) The committee will meet at 9:00am at T4.40-CR2 The Fairfax Somerville Room. 1. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will take evidence on the Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (2025/draft) from— Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Scottish Government Darren Cormack, Policy Manager Livestock Products, Scottish Government James Hamilton, Lawyer, Scottish Government Joe Kirk, Poultry Unit Branch Head, Scottish Government 2. Subordinate legislation: Jim Fairlie, Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity to move—S6M-18747—That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Free-Range Poultrymeat Marketing Standards (Amendment) (Scotland) Regulations 2025 (2025/draft) be approved. 3. Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill: The Committee will take evidence on the Bill at Stage 1 from— Gary Campbell, Chief Executive, Crofting Commission Andrew Thin, Chair, Crofting Commission 4. Crofting and Scottish Land Court Bill (in private): The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Emma Johnston on 85225 or at [email protected] View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 9th September 2025 9:30 a.m. 22nd Meeting, 2025 (Session 6) The committee will meet at 9:30am at T4.60-CR6 The Livingstone Room. 1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 5, 6 and 7 in private. 2. Proposed National Good Food Nation Plan: The Committee will take evidence from— Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Scottish Government James Hamilton, Solicitor, Scottish Government Emma Henderson, Organics and Community Food Growing Policy Officer, Scottish Government Laura Hunter, Procurement Policy, Scottish Government Tracy McCollin, Head of Good Food Nation Team, Scottish Government 3. Pre-Budget Scrutiny: The Committee will take evidence as part of its Pre-Budget Scrutiny from— Nikki Bridle, Chief Executive, Clackmannanshire Council Malcolm Burr, Chief Executive, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Thomas Glen, Chief Executive, Perth & Kinross Council Ken Gourlay, Chief Executive, Fife Council Dr Dawn Roberts, Chief Executive, Dumfries and Galloway Council 4. Subordinate legislation: The Committee will consider the following negative instrument—Council Tax Reduction (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 4) Regulations 2025 5. Proposed National Good Food Nation Plan: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting. 6. Pre-Budget Scrutiny: The Committee will consider the evidence heard earlier in the meeting. 7. Reform of Energy Performance Certificates: The Committee will consider its approach to scrutiny of reform of Energy Performance Certificates. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Jenny Mouncer at [email protected] View calendar - Add to calendar |
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Tuesday 2nd September 2025 8:45 a.m. 21st Meeting, 2025 (Session 6) The committee will meet at 8:45am at TG.60-CR3 The Fleming Room. 1. Decisions on taking business in private: The Committee will decide whether to take items 4 and 5 in private. 2. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will take evidence on supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-S6-53b from— Tom Arthur, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing, Scottish Government Anne Cairns, Solicitor, Scottish Government Danny Duffy, Fair Work, Social Care, Scottish Government David Holmes, Fair Work, Economy, Scottish Government Rachael Thomas, Fair Work, Social Care, Scottish Government 3. Good Food Nation: The Committee will take evidence from— Mhairi Brown, Head of Food Futures, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission Scotland Anna Chworow, Deputy Director, Nourish Scotland Claire Hislop, Organisational Lead for Food and Physical Activity, Public Health Scotland Professor Lindsay Jaacks, Deputy Director and Personal Chair of Global Health and Nutrition, University of Edinburgh and then from— Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, Scottish Government James Hamilton, Lawyer, Scottish Government Tracy McCollin, Head of Good Food Nation Team, Scottish Government Jo Mitchell, Procurement Policy Manager, Scottish Government James Wilson, Population Health Strategy and Improvement, Scottish Government 4. Employment Rights Bill (UK Parliament legislation): The Committee will consider a draft report on supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum LCM-S6-53b. 5. Good Food Nation: The Committee will consider the evidence it heard earlier under agenda item 3. For further information, contact the Clerk to the Committee, Alex Bruce on 85229 or at [email protected] View calendar - Add to calendar |
| Welsh Government Publications |
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Tuesday 17th April 2018
Source Page: Written Statement - The James Hamilton Report (17 April 2018) Document: Written Statement - The James Hamilton Report (17 April 2018) (webpage) Found: Written Statement - The James Hamilton Report (17 April 2018) |
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Friday 15th December 2017
Source Page: Update on independent adviser on the ministerial code Document: Update on independent adviser on the ministerial code (webpage) Found: James Hamilton, who is an independent adviser to the Scottish Government on Ministerial Code issues, |
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Thursday 23rd November 2017
Source Page: Written Statement - Independent Adviser on the Ministerial Code (23 November 2017) Document: Written Statement - Independent Adviser on the Ministerial Code (23 November 2017) (webpage) Found: I have agreed with James Hamilton, a current Independent Adviser to the Scottish Government, to accept |