Parliament promotes meeting at Alness Academy

From the Scottish Parliament web site

A record number of people are expected at Alness Academy when the Public Petitions Committee meets there on Monday 21 September.

Alness Academy" class="pageSectionImageRight" align="right" height="120" width="250">More than 100 primary and secondary school children from Alness, Dingwall, Invergordon and Dornoch are expected to attend the meeting alongside members of the public.

As well as considering petitions on safety measures on the A96, out-of-hours GP cover and free public transport for young people, the committee will hear from Alness Academy fifth-year pupils Andrew Page and Andrew Dannet, who have lodged their own petitions on payments for blood donations and equity in funding of school trips.

Committee Convener Frank McAveety said: “This is the first time a committee of the Parliament has met in Alness and it looks as if we will break all records for public attendance, which is great news.

"We hope everyone from members of the public, community groups and school children come along to watch a committee of their Parliament at work and take part in a question-and-answer session with committee MSPs about petitions, what the Parliament does and how to engage with it.”

Commenting on the Public Petitions Committee meeting, fourth-year pupil Miranda Strachan said: “It is good to know that our voices can be heard and taken seriously by the Parliament at our own school.”