Bearsden Academy Triumph at Donald Dewar Debating Competition

That the Parliament congratulates the debating team from Bearsden Academy on winning the final of the 2019 Donald Dewar debating competition, which took place in the Parliament on 6 June 2019; acknowledges that the team faced tough competition from three other school teams and that Bearsden’s speakers, Matthew Burton and Michael Dunn, argued against the motion, “This house believes the Scottish parliament should have an appointed second chamber”; thanks the Law Society of Scotland for organising the competition; considers that debating is a valuable skill for young people to practice and develop; affirms that the Parliament exists for the people of Scotland and that its use by school pupils is a positive example of this, and wishes all participants the best in future debating and public speaking competitions.