Christine Grahame
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the United Kingdom Government regarding whether any of the support announced in response to the increased cost of heating oil will help the agriculture sector and other rural industries in Scotland that are dependent on that fuel. (S6O- 05695)”
“At a recent First Minister’s question time, I raised the matter of the successful prosecution against the Hamiltons, who are part of the cruel puppy- farm trade. That case was concluded after a five- year investigation by the SSPCA that started when 33 puppies were found in dreadful conditions.”
“Of course, some can go online or use an app, but there will be many who cannot, and for them, it is essential that they speak to a real person at the bank, not a chatbot. Therefore, I would impress upon the Bank of Scotland the need for it to take up my suggestion of reintroducing mobile services, which I understand it abandoned in 2024.”
“My first prize at school was for an essay on animal welfare, but being a vet was out of reach for a girl from a council house scheme. However, I got to the right place at last, chairing the cross- party group on animal welfare for more than a decade, with two acts of Parliament—the Control of Dogs (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Welfare of Do…”
“I made my first speech in June 1999, and one Mary Scanlon, a Conservative, broke my peroration—I thought that I was doing rather well—with a point of order that challenged the relevance of my contribution to the motion. I was devastated, but I ploughed on.”
“The Scottish Sentencing Council is developing guidelines for environmental and wildlife crime, but companion and farm animal welfare cases, which make up the vast majority of investigations, are not included.”
The complete record
Every one of 727 lines we hold for Christine Grahame, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 11 of 15.
“However, as has been mentioned already in the debate, a legislative consent motion went to committee this morning that was about mandating community engagement. None of those are delivered by CARES. CARES is about supporting communities that want to have a community energy project. Given that Christine Grahame has said that she has not been able to find any examples of its work in her constituency, I would advise her to look into Local Energy Scotland, which has dedicated staff for her area. They might be able to advise her on what is already happening, and she can put her constituents in touch with those staff if they want to support any new developments. Christine Grahame: Lesson learned, cabinet secretary—thank you very much for that.”
“Projects in my constituency that have come from community benefit funding, such as the Oxton Community Shop and the redevelopment of the Crook Inn and associated buildings high in the hills at Tweedsmuir, are examples that come immediately to mind, but they have been going for some time now, and involve very skilled members of those communities. Therefore, I am pleased to read that under CARES, the Scottish Government is committed to updating the good practice principles for negotiating community benefit. I would be interested in hearing from the Government what the updating will be, why, and whether the principles will be simplified. Gillian Martin: I can provide Christine Grahame with some clarity. We have put out our good practice principles—they are out now.”
“I admit that I find this area—communities finding varied routes to benefit from green energy projects such as turbines, solar panels, battery storage and hydro— quite confusing. Maybe that is just me. However, I have a suspicion that the communities that could benefit will not, as I have said before, be in deprived areas, where folk could do with cheaper energy or funding for their area through the community benefit system. With the exception of community benefits from wind farm developments that have been negotiated by communities with developers, I do not know of any communities that have utilised those routes. I will continue my investigation.”
“I move amendment S6M-17648.3, to insert at end: “recognises that community consent needs to be at the heart of energy production; notes with concern that pylons and other electricity infrastructure are increasingly being built without the support of residents, and calls on the Scottish Government to give these communities more say over local energy production.” 14:49”
“The Scottish Conservatives want our local communities to be empowered to grow energy schemes in a proportionate way, with sensible planning and community buy-in to the process. We want them to be properly funded and assisted to not only propose schemes that are advantageous to them but oppose schemes that are detrimental to them. We do not want to see monster pylons littering our countryside with little regard for local concerns, scenery, agriculture or economic growth. It is time for this devolved Government to listen to communities and not sideline them so as to appease its renewable energy company chums.”
“Campaign groups feel ignored—that is what it is coming to—as Government ministers refuse to meet them but are happy enough to cosy up to developers. It is a David versus Goliath situation. That is why the proposed reduction from three months to six weeks of the time limit to lodge an objection to onshore energy is a disgrace. The cabinet secretary cares more about pleasing renewable energy companies than she does about standing up for local communities. We therefore make the call again and ask the Scottish Government when it will not only put more money into community schemes but actually resolve the systemic issues that are preventing communities from standing up to large-scale developments that are ruining our countryside.”
“The record will show that I said in committee this morning that the right to a public inquiry stays. Mr Lumsden is deliberately misleading the chamber. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Cabinet secretary, could I ask you perhaps to rephrase that last comment, please? Gillian Martin: From what Mr Lumsden has said, I fear that he is not taking on board the facts that I laid out this morning at committee. The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you. That was not a point of order. Please continue, Mr Lumsden. Douglas Lumsden: I am sure that everyone knows that the right to an automatic public inquiry is being removed from our local communities. That is what is set out in the new legislation that is coming through, and shamefully so. This devolved Government should hang its head in shame.”
“The response from Scotland Against Spin says: “we are not going to waste our time making the same arguments that have already been ignored once and which will no doubt be ignored again.” Gillian Martin: I said to Mr Lumsden this morning that the legislative consent memorandum actually mandates community engagement, whereas at the moment that is voluntary. It puts in law the need for companies, developers and transmission owners to engage with communities. Douglas Lumsden: Once again, the cabinet secretary takes the bits that she likes but ignores the other parts. The Government is taking away the right to a public inquiry and reducing the time limit. This devolved Government should hang its head in shame. Campaign groups feel ignored as Government ministers— Gillian Martin: On a point of order, Presiding Officer.”
“We recently had a debate in the chamber on bringing Scotland into line with the Aarhus convention, in which we called for legal aid for communities and an environmental court to give communities a greater say when it comes to such developments, but the cabinet secretary seems to think that we are in compliance with the Aarhus convention. This morning, I asked the cabinet secretary about changes to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill and how it will affect communities. Community groups have written in and said that they will no longer take part in Scottish Government consultations as they feel ignored.”
“As part of its pathway to 2030, Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks is proposing to build 500km of monster pylons throughout some of the most scenic areas of Scotland, and Scottish Power is planning an 80km route through the Borders, which is almost as scenic. Deeside Against Pylons spokesman John Rahtz said: “Our communities feel that the North of Scotland is bearing a disproportionate cost for this short-sighted proposal which is driven by cost.” Tracy Smith of Save our Mearns said that SSEN is “bulldozing through the north east”.”
“There is a gold rush, with developers rushing in to make a fortune by buying cheap energy and then selling it for a fortune when the wind is not blowing, and there seems to be little regulation or control. If sites are being inflicted on communities against their will, why not give those communities a stake so that it is not only the energy finance companies that benefit and communities can benefit, too? I have spent much of my speaking time looking at the Government’s motion, whose wording the amendments do not seek to amend but only to add to. I want to address the main point of our amendment, which is about how the energy is transferred into the grid.”
“The planning process for a small community wind farm is the same as for a major wind farm, and the planning process for a small hydro or tidal scheme is the same as for a big scheme. There is no proportionality in our local authority planning system. The Scottish Conservatives want local communities to have much more say over energy projects in their area and far more proportionate planning guidance for community-owned schemes. I wonder whether the cabinet secretary agrees that the Government should consider that area in the future. The Government’s motion focuses on generation, but why not encourage more community ownership of energy storage? We are seeing an explosion in battery storage, but most schemes are being pushed through against the wishes of local communities.”
“I never thought that I would hear myself saying this, but I agree with Douglas Lumsden. It is quite difficult for certain communities to navigate their way through the processes before us. It must be extremely difficult to benefit from these schemes in areas where people are less privileged. Douglas Lumsden: There is more that we can do; if we can give our local authorities more help so that they, too, can help in that process, that would be a good thing. Thirdly, there is a lack of community input. As I said earlier, many local energy projects are not community projects and can lack community input. Companies or housing developers are acting to develop schemes but are not including the views of the local community in their plans. I previously mentioned the time that it takes for energy schemes to go through the planning process.”
“However, as I said, most white meters charge a higher tariff for daytime usage, which will apply to many older people and disabled people. We end up with this technology, with too many of my constituents having to opt for a metering system that is more expensive. That is a bitter pill when the wind turbines around them are producing four times more electricity than the south of Scotland uses. They endure a landscape of pylons, but they pay more for the electricity that is generated on their doorstep. 18:39”
“People will have to send in manual readings and will not get the full benefits of a smart meter or any other kind of meter, but at least their heating will continue to work. The trouble is that most white meters charge a slightly higher daytime price compared with a standard tariff, so it is very likely that people will end up paying a lot more. That brings us beyond the technology to the fact that Scotland is doing badly out of this different system. In the event that it is not possible to install a smart meter, people will perhaps be paying more on the pre- programmed tariff. They have to be the kind of person who does not mind cooler water in the evenings. The system will heat most of their water at night and store it in a storage heater, so their hot water will be hot in the morning and coolest in the evening.”
“If someone does not have a smart meter and currently has an RTS meter, they may be on a tariff that charges them a different price for the electricity that they use for their heating and hot water than it does for the rest of their electricity, such as for lighting and appliances. Some tariffs also offer lower rates at specific times of the day. That is a good thing, but it all changes after June. After June, without a new meter, people’s heating and hot water will be affected. A smart meter would ensure that their heating was not disrupted but, if that is not possible, the provider— Scottish Power, for example—can install a white meter with the tariff pre-programmed. I emphasise that it is pre-programmed.”
“Scottish Power, for example, has advised that it will install instead a white meter. Meters must change because, without a new meter, people’s heating and hot water will be affected. They may find that their heating and hot water are always on or off, or that charging happens at the wrong time of day. Their electricity supplier will not be able to confirm how much electricity they have used for heating and other uses, which means that electricity costs could be much higher for them than before. If someone’s area has a poor signal, their supplier must still replace their RTS meter to ensure that their heating is not disrupted. I am back in the technical maze again.”
“Here, as in the north of England, there is a long-range radio signal. What I do not understand is why, when the radio teleswitch service is switched off at the end of June, it will be replaced with another long-range radio signal. In Scotland, smart meters will run on that new radio signal and not on the public internet or wi-fi. I hope that that is so far so good, because my head is already birling. What is the impact? Currently, more than 6,000 households in the Borders and more than 700 in Midlothian have yet to switch. That is bad enough. Besides that, the impact on too many of my constituents is that, even if they want to, they will not be able to connect to a smart meter system, because they cannot receive the new radio signal in their location. I have many constituents in that position.”
“I congratulate Beatrice Wishart on securing this debate on the motion, to which I was a signatory. Much has been said about smart meters—often about their unreliability—but, as has been said, at the end of June, the radio teleswitch service that connects to some people’s meters is being switched off. Now I take myself and my head into the uncomfortable area, for me, of technology. Here we go. The difference between the position in Scotland and the north of England and that in the south of England is that in the midlands, Wales and southern England all smart meters use cellular technology, similar to mobile phones, to send data to energy providers. In the north of England and Scotland, the situation is different—I say to Tim Eagle that it is the same in the north of England.”
“We need a strong European Union, with an independent Scotland as a partner and member state, not simply for economic reasons but as an international political force in order to counterbalance and challenge the new world order. We cannot leave it to contractual politics— to Putin, Netanyahu and Trump, to name but three international villains. It is not just about economics.”
“That is better than nothing but, in the meantime, Russia’s occupation creeps further into, and embeds itself deeper in, Ukraine’s sovereign territory. On Gaza, the European Council has called for “an immediate return to the full implementation of the ceasefire-hostage release agreement”; it cites “the importance of unimpeded access and sustained distribution of humanitarian assistance at scale into and throughout Gaza” and calls for a “two-state solution”. Is that enough? I do not think so. It is better than nothing, but it is certainly not enough. Brexit was not just bad for the UK and Scottish economies; it reduced the UK’s and Europe’s status and influence in world affairs.”
“Christine Grahame: Yes, certainly, if I may have my time back. Patrick Harvie: I am strongly pro-Europe, as I have made clear, but does Christine Grahame agree that this is an area in which the European Union has failed? It took a strong position on sanctions against Russia following the occupation of Ukraine, but the same strong position should have been taken against the occupation of Palestine and has not been. Christine Grahame: The member has pre- empted where I am going with this narrative. Entire communities have been destroyed in the West Bank and refugee camps have been depopulated. The world’s press is banned—that is no wonder. What is Europe saying? On Ukraine, we have the “coalition of the willing”.”
“For more than 10 weeks, nothing has entered Gaza: no food, medicine, water or tents. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians have been forcibly displaced and confined to ever-shrinking spaces, because 70 per cent of Gaza’s territory is either within Israel’s militarised zones or under displacement orders. Every single one of the 2.1 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip faces the risk of famine and one in five risk starvation. The few hospitals that have somehow survived bombardment are overwhelmed, and the medics who have somehow survived drone and sniper attacks cannot keep up with the trauma and the spread of disease. Appalling violence is also increasing on the West Bank, where the situation is the worst it has been in decades. Patrick Harvie: Will the member accept an intervention?”
“I see President Trump as symbolic of that order, but he is not the cause of it, although he is giving it his blessing with a scratch of his Sharpie. His bizarre, fractious and fluctuating politics has at last woken up Europe and NATO to the chaos and fragility around them. I move from Putin to Netanyahu, because the issue extends beyond Europe’s boundaries to Gaza. Too many have apparently accepted Netanyahu’s genocide, even if tacitly. I can do no better than refer members to the extraordinary and heartfelt submission that was made just days ago to the United Nations Security Council by the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, Tom Fletcher, who said that Israel is “deliberately and unashamedly imposing inhumane conditions on civilians” in Gaza and the West Bank.”
“It is sadly ironic that, just as the UK commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE day, which was celebrated on 8 May 1945 and marked the end of the second world war in Europe, we see a European nation—Ukraine—still being bombarded by Russia in an illegal occupation that is now in its third year. That is referred to as a war in this new world order, but it is an occupation. It is also being suggested that Ukraine must surrender part of its sovereign territory to Russia and that, in order to secure military aid from the Trump regime, it must surrender some of its minerals to the United States. That is termed “contractual politics” and I want nothing to do with it. That is the new world order for you.”
“Stephen Kerr: I am sure that Christine Grahame would not disagree that we have high levels of worklessness in Scotland and throughout the United Kingdom and that we should not use mass immigration as an excuse for not investing in our own population and equipping them to do the jobs that we currently seem to expect migrant labour to perform. Christine Grahame: First, the member must accept that we have an ageing population and that we do not have enough national births to provide a sufficient workforce. I certainly want people who come from elsewhere to work here to be decently paid and I do not want them to be underpaid, but we simply do not have the right population balance. I also mourn the loss of European influence not only because we quit the EU but more broadly.”
“We lost freedom of workforce movement across Europe, which has had an impact across the Scottish economy and particularly in the hospitality, care and horticultural sectors, and is now exacerbated by the UK hike in the cost of employer national insurance, which is a tax on jobs if ever there was one, and by ill-considered comments and policies on legal migration from Sir Keir Starmer. We need migrants here because we know that we have an ageing population and a decreasing available workforce, so we cannot separate Scotland’s domestic needs from what the UK and Europe do or from the world’s wider conflicts. Stephen Kerr: Will Ms Grahame accept an intervention? Christine Grahame: The target arises.”
“I will begin with Brexit, but I am not lingering there, because Stephen Kerr is too easy a target and, indeed, delights in being a target. Not only did 62 per cent of Scots reject Brexit at the EU referendum almost 10 years ago, but the percentage who reject it has risen throughout the rest of the UK, so that 55 per cent now think that Brexit was a mistake and only 30 per cent think that it was a good idea. Members do not need a PhD to know why that is the case. We face higher costs and more red tape, and we do not have £375 million extra a week to redirect to the NHS, as was blazoned on the side of a bus—and that is just for starters.”
“As the welcome summer months approach, we enter the season of gala days and common ridings across the Borders, Midlothian and throughout rural Scotland. The British Horse Society has launched a “Dead Slow” campaign, which is aimed at motorists, in order to prevent injuries and even deaths for riders and horses. Will the First Minister encourage drivers— particularly city drivers—to remind themselves of their obligations under the highway code on how to drive when there are horses on the roads in rural areas? I declare an interest as convener of the cross-party group on animal welfare.”
“I will support the bill and I hope that those who have yet to make up their mind will vote for it to pass tonight, so that, at the very least, we have the opportunity and time as it progresses through stages 2 and 3 to rigorously test it further and to take on the legitimate concerns that others have raised. 18:01”
“If protections need strengthening, let us try to do that. There should be choice by Christine Grahame for Christine Grahame. No one else has that right for me, nor do I have it for anyone else. Throughout my adult life, I have been able to choose which medicines and treatments to take. I already do that. I can even sign an advance DNR—do not resuscitate—form. Until death itself, I have the final say. I am in charge of my own body. I therefore find it bizarre that I cannot choose, in closely defined circumstances and in the knowledge that I am terminally ill, the time and manner of my death, with capacity, consent, compassion and, I hope, my family. For me, that is a backstop; it is a choice only—an option that is not compulsory for the individual or the professionals.”
“The family were then told by the charge nurse that, “with increased levels of morphine to kill the pain, her death would surely be accelerated.”—[Official Report, 1 December 2010; c 31071-2.] We thanked him. Fifteen years on, my support has never wavered. I am nearly 81 and am therefore probably more aware of my mortality than most of us here. At this age, many of my friends have gone. For some, death was kind; for others, it was really cruel. For Margo—bless her courage—who was supported by Macmillan nurses, it was Parkinson’s that finally ended her life. She did not need assisted dying; she simply wanted choice. I say to Pam Duncan-Glancy and others that if I thought for one moment that the bill’s provisions would inevitably put pressure on the disabled, the vulnerable and the elderly, I would not vote for it even at stage 1.”
“The death of both my much-loved parents in recent years made me focus on my own mortality and the manner of people’s deaths, which is something many of us choose to avoid.” I reflected on the marked contrast between my mother’s lingering, heavily sedated hospital death—she was too ill to be moved to a hospice— and that of my father, with his digestive biscuit and cup of tea by his side, in his own chair in his own home, among generations of family photographs. I added: “Incidentally, when my mother was taken as an emergency into hospital for those final weeks, my sister and I were asked out of the blue, little realising then how dire her condition was, who had authority not to resuscitate.” My mother’s life or death was for us, and not her, to decide. She was resuscitated.”
“I, too, commend Liam McArthur and all speakers in the debate for their thoughtful, heartfelt and sensitive contributions. I also thank all my constituents who have taken the time to write to me with their views. I will support the principle of assisted dying for terminally ill adults at stage 1. I first spoke in support of that principle in the debate on Margo MacDonald’s bill on 1 December 2010, and I quote from that: “I have changed my view on the issue, from being opposed in principle—I stress it is in principle, which is what stage 1 is about—to support in principle.” “Why have I changed my view?”
“On the issue of the timeline, the review of the guidance is under way and ministers will consider the findings when they are available. I am happy to commit to providing Ms Grahame with a further update once those timings are available. Galloway National Park 4.”
“The minister has alluded to the fact that, two weeks ago, the First Minister said that the Government was reviewing the guidance. Given that Conservative- led Scottish Borders Council has already made decisions on nurseries—although it has compromised and does not intend to go ahead with what it originally decided to do—can the minister provide a timeline for when the revised guidance will be available to the public? If she cannot do so today, I ask her to do so as soon as is practicable. Natalie Don-Innes: I appreciate Ms Grahame’s and other members’ concerns about the matter. As the First Minister highlighted, it is important that greater clarity is provided on whether mothballing is the appropriate action to take.”
“I introduced myself with the words, “Is this where the speed dating takes place?” It more than broke the ice, but disappointingly I am still unattached—I will leave it at that. There are many more examples of support for those who are suffering. For example, as I know members will be aware, there are groups providing support for baby loss, suicidal thoughts and drug and alcohol addictions. I know of many such groups across the Borders—there are too many to mention, but I know who they are and I thank them, as they do much to help people through the mental stresses that they meet in today’s modern world. 17:28”
“Looking across to the other part of my constituency, there are men’s sheds—we are all aware of those. For example, there is one in Penicuik that brings men together to chat, taking them away from their isolation once they are no longer working in teams. They make useful items—for example, they have made a bench and bird table for Broomhill day centre, which in turn provides support to keep elderly people away from loneliness and isolation by providing not just lunches but company and a chat. There is the Kellock club at North Kirk church in Penicuik—that is not easy to say—where men meet for an afternoon tea and chat. They often have a speaker; I was one such at their inaugural meeting.”
“Losing Sean so suddenly and unexpectedly was devastating to me, but the Scottish Borders widowed community gave me hope for the future and brought me so much joy.” Being widowed is very different from other losses and is widely recognised as one of the most traumatising and stressful life events. Having access to that type of support locally is, therefore, crucial to the health and wellbeing of the community’s members. There is also an online service called Togetherall for residents in the Borders aged 16 and over, which provides an anonymous peer forum offering self-assessment for anxiety and depression. There is a 24-hour service for online chat, with wellbeing advisers to support people to maintain their mental health and wellbeing. There are what matters hubs offering drop-in sessions across the Borders.”
“For example, I did not previously know about the Scottish Borders widowed community, which is a peer support group for men and women in the Borders who have lost a partner. It offers a mix of private online discussions, in-person meetings of the widows hope group in Galashiels and social activities, giving widowed people a chance to give and receive support through their grief in a trusted safe space as well as making friends and combating social isolation and loneliness. The Scottish Borders widowed community has been described by its members as a lifeline, being the only group in the area that is exclusively for widowed people. One said: “I joined the group in 2023, five weeks after I lost my husband Sean.”
“How do your looks conform to fashion? Are you too fat? Bullying follows you into your bedroom, and is at your fingertips in the ever-present social media. For the single parent, there are money worries; for the pensioner, there are money pressures, loneliness, failing health and mobility limitations, with family perhaps far removed or even estranged. Those are just some examples. So, how to cope and where to find support? I accept that there are huge pressures on those across all age ranges, for which I do not have solutions. However, there are well-known agencies such as Citizens Advice Scotland, for debt support; bereavement services that are run by the national health service and Samaritans Scotland; and more localised help, too.”
“I congratulate the member on securing the debate. These days, issues with our mental health or wellbeing are recognised as having a status and significance equivalent to that of physical illnesses. Of course, that was not always the case. I am referring not to the bad old days of asylums, which were not so long ago, but to the general acceptance now that it is no longer a weakness or an embarrassment for someone to admit or recognise that their mental health is not in a good place. That change will have contributed to more people identifying as having mental health issues. The Covid-19 pandemic must also have exacerbated mental health issues for many people, perhaps as a result of isolation, illness, the loss of a loved one or financial worries, or a combination of any of those. For the young, there are the pressures of social media.”
“I have heard from Opposition members the false claim that Scotland has the highest income tax in the UK. In fact, most here pay less than in England, and the same is true of council tax, which is some 30 per cent lower here.”
“It is really imaginative. I might have a go—although not in the competition, as that would be unfair. What a challenge it would be for us to try it. I look forward to seeing the imaginative entries that engage children, not just to keep Scotland beautiful—which it is—but to contribute to the sustainability of the planet. Good luck to St Andrew’s and St David’s. I hope that you will give them your votes. 17:08”
“Previous pocket gardens have been displayed at the “Gardening Scotland” fair in Edinburgh, where they have been visited by the BBC “Beechgrove Garden” team and the Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform. All winners will also be judged for three discretionary awards: interpretation of the themes, wildlife friendly and food for people. The garden needs to be ready to be photographed in the week beginning 26 May 2025, when it should look at its best. It should be grown without using pesticides and fungicides, be peat free and use renewable materials. The gardens are truly pocket sized, with a rectangular footprint of 120cm by 100cm or, in old money—which I need to talk in—3 feet by 11 feet. That really is a pocket-sized garden. They can be any shape and any material can be reused to create them.”
“The St Andrew’s design was called “Our heritage mining garden”, because Gorebridge has a huge mining history. St Andrew’s also won a certificate of recognition in the 2023 competition. The competition links to Eco-Schools Scotland’s work on food and the environment, biodiversity, school grounds, climate action, health and wellbeing and the new heritage topic. Participation in the pocket garden competition can be part of their green flag application. Winners will be invited to display their pocket garden in the online showcase—not in their pockets; they are not that small—so that people across Scotland can enjoy them and vote for their favourite three.”
“They represented the work of whole classes and schools, they all demonstrated fantastic imagination and they were creatively linked to the 2025 theme, “our heritage, our future”. The designers of the 32 winning entries have now been invited to build and grow their garden at their schools before filming or photographing it to be displayed as part of an online garden showcase in June, where people will be able to vote for their favourite garden. The winning designs will be turned into real mini-gardens. Adding to the green flag award, which I mentioned, two Midlothian schools have been selected to enter the competition to design the perfect pocket garden—schools have to get selected to enter the competition; they cannot just go in it. Those schools are St David’s RC primary school in Dalkeith and St Andrew’s RC primary school in Gorebridge.”
“The second is supporting the less fortunate, which they are doing by collecting and cleaning crisp packets, which are then sent to a homeless charity, where they are repurposed into blankets for those who are in need. I have no idea how to repurpose a crisp packet into a blanket, but I will need to find out. I have not googled it; maybe the information is there. Earlier this year, in partnership with the garden for life forum, nursery and school pupils aged three to 18 were invited to design a miniature, pocket-sized garden. Those provide food for people, they are good for wildlife and they reuse something. More than 130 entries from 18 local authority areas were submitted.”
“The green flag award is a visible indication of a school’s commitment to learning for sustainability; it is an internationally recognised accreditation for excellence in sustainable education. The Scottish Government funds and promotes Eco-Schools Scotland as part of its education and sustainability strategy and is seen as a leader in the Eco-Schools initiative. St Andrew’s RC primary school previously earned the green flag award through the Eco- Schools programme. This year, it has established an eco squad comprising students from the nursery up to primary 6 and primary 7, under the auspices of class teacher Mrs Valentine. The students are focusing on two key areas. The first is caring for the earth—for example, by using donated trees to regenerate existing woodland in the school grounds, creating a dedicated outdoor learning space.”
“I thank all the members who signed my motion, allowing this debate to proceed, and the members who have stayed behind to contribute to it. Although the motion refers to St Andrew’s RC primary school in Gorebridge, we will all have examples that show how important eco-schools and green flag schools are in Scotland. It is the young who will inherit Scotland and this precious planet that is so at risk from the activities of previous generations. Eco-Schools is one of five international programmes operated by the Foundation for Environmental Education and it is delivered in Scotland by Keep Scotland Beautiful. It is the largest sustainable schools programme in the world, with 19.5 million children, young people and educators engaged worldwide in 74 different countries.”