Dave Thompson MSP

I was delighted to host the Scottish Young Consumer of the Year final in the Scottish Parliament, with special praise going out to Fortrose Academy who flew the flag admirably for the Highlands.

The competition was organised by the Trading Standards Institute and its Consumer Education Liaison Group; allowing teams of four 14-17 year olds to compete in a knockout consumer quiz.

The quiz generated a lot of enthusiasm and in particular, I congratulate Fortrose Academy for their sterling efforts, which earned them third in the competition.

The team can hold their heads high having made the Scottish final, managing to finish a very credible third in the competition; an invaluable experience which I am sure will stand them in good stead for victory next year.

Being immersed in a competition such as this teaches school children many wonderful life lessons, such as team working, and critical thinking. It also sets pupils up for the times in life when they do well but it also teaches them how to cope with disappointment too, and the ability to be gracious in victory and in defeat.

This is not the first time I have hosted this wonderful event and if I am asked, I will gladly do so again.

I recently took part in a debate in the Parliament on the A9 speed camera scheme and I am thankful that the recent evidence is pointing towards the scheme being successful.

It is gratifying to have been part of the campaign to bring average speed cameras to the A9 in order to reduce accidents and save lives.

I long remember, as far back as the 1960s, when I first passed my driving test, avoiding many head on collisions as folk travelled at ridiculous speeds, endangering the lives of themselves and those who were obeying the speed limit too.

Now we have sufficient evidence to show us that the scheme has been successful and I hope that the level of accidents will remain lower than was the case before the speed cameras were introduced.

It is fantastic news for the Highlands that the £150 million fleet of Caledonian sleeper trains, will be arriving in 2018, which will provide a huge boost to the Highland tourist experience.

The plans will bring luxury to our rail line like we have never seen before and with fantastic catering on offer, it will showcase the best of food and drink that Scotland has to offer.

I used a Rural Affairs Climate Change and Environment Committee (RACCE) meeting to propose to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment, Richard Lochhead that dairy breaks for primary school kids should be introduced in Scotland and I have since written to the big supermarket retailers to ask for a financial contribution to the proposal.

This initiative, whilst fortifying a child’s body and mind, would help the dairy sector too, which is vital to Scotland’s farming and food industry.

It is encouraging that the Minister for Health and Wellbeing supports the provision of milk in schools as part of a children’s diet and I was encouraged to see that this has been included in the Dairy Action Plan.

However, decisions rest with Local Authorities to consider how best to use their financial package to meet the needs and circumstances of their local area.

For this reason some Local Authorities choose to offer a school milk scheme in their schools and others do not. Highland council currently do not take up the subsidy, therefore I will be contacting the council again as part of my milk campaign to encourage them to do so.

I welcome the Scottish Government’s Diary Action Plan, which was debated in Parliament on 31 March.

The action plan aims to improve the resilience of the Scottish dairy sector and provide the right platform to ensure the entire sector can thrive in the context of volatile market prices.

The plan could not come at a more apt time, as we get ready to celebrate Scotland’s year of food and drink and I wish it every success.

It has been over a year since the death of 16 raptors and those who care about birds, including myself, are still looking for answers.

I have therefore written to the Police Scotland Divisional Commander for the North, Chief Superintendent Julian Innes to ask for an update on the matter and I will continue to press for a review into the investigation of the death of these birds of prey.

I recent attended two lively meetings in Cromarty and Avoch with Ian Blackford, the SNP Westminster candidate for Ross, Skye, and Lochaber.

We were met with good questions from those assembled at both and I appreciate the warm welcome received.

Ian is a highly intelligent and affable man who I am confident will make a fantastic MP. I wish him all the best in the next six weeks of the exciting Westminster campaign