School pupils to debate right to be forgotten in Donald Dewar final

It is the culmination of a tournament that involved 128 teams from schools across Scotland. Along the way, pupils have debated subjects ranging from the introduction of measures to promote women in government to the criminalisation of tobacco smoking.

Deputy Presiding Officer, Linda Fabiani MSP will chair the final in Holyrood’s debating chamber and the teams taking part are:

Speaking ahead of the final, Ms Fabiani said: “I am looking forward to welcoming the finalists, their supporters and competition organisers to the Scottish Parliament for what promises to be an exciting evening of debate.

“All of the finalists deserve congratulations having come through a tough series of heats and semi-finals. It will be a pleasure to host the Grand Final of the Dewar Debating competition in Holyrood’s Debating Chamber.”

The event will be webcast live on the Parliament’s website from 18.30 to 21.50 (www.scottish.parliament.uk/tv) on Thursday 9 June.

Established in 1999, Scotland’s largest annual schools debating tournament is open to pupils in all Scottish secondary schools. The competition aims to promote an understanding of the importance of debate, advocacy and communication to the legal profession, democracy and society at large. Organised and run by the Law Society of Scotland, the tournament is dedicated to the memory of the late First Minister Donald Dewar MSP.

Eilidh Wiseman, president of the Law Society, said: “It has been a fantastic tournament once again and all four teams who have reached the final are to be congratulated, particularly when you consider just how many teams took part in the opening rounds and the calibre of our competitors. They have done incredibly well.

“It’s a real honour to be able to host the tournament final in the debating chamber of the Parliament again this year and I’m sure it will be an experience our finalists will never forget.”

The winning school will receive a trophy and prize of £1,000, donated by the Law Society of Scotland, and runners-up will receive £250, donated by the Glasgow Bar Association. All finalists receive individual quaichs and certificates to commemorate their success.

This year’s sponsor, Hodder Gibson, is donating educational books to the value of £500, to be shared by the winning and runner-up school.

In addition to this a prize of £50 worth of book vouchers will be awarded for the best floor speech of the night.

The judges for the event are:

Katy Cameron, from the Law Society’s education and training team, said: “This is now the largest schools debating tournament in Scotland. Winning a place in the final is no small feat and the teams have done tremendously well.

“All of our finalists have excelled in presenting their arguments at each stage of the tournament and should be very proud of what they have achieved.”