'Young' Politicians.

Visiting the Scottish Parliament was very useful for us as a Petitions committee, especially with regards finding out about their e-petitioning system and floating the idea of allowing people to text in support for various petitions. The visit, for those who are interested, was also an attempt to formulate our terms of reference and best practise as a committee.

The Parliament was buzzing with people, and I am informed by colleagues in the SNP that they are enjoying their Governmental responsibilities immensely. While I was there, they were launching the conversation on the future of trident in Scotland, which has managed to wind the Unionist parties up quite successfully. I hope that they are successful in their attempt to make Scotland a nuclear arms free country.

I also met with Jamie Hepburn who is one of the youngest SNP MSP's while I was there. Obviously the Parliament is much larger in numbers than our National Assembly, and now there are a fair few young elected representatives.

As an aside, ITV are doing a programme on young politicians as a reaction to the fact that Tony Benn's grand- daughter has declared her intention to stand when she is 19 years old. They contacted us in Plaid for young politicians to take part in the scheme, but I was duly told that I am now too old!!! Great!