Dave Thompson MSP

I would like to offer my condolences to the friends and family of the four climbers who were killed in a tragic avalanche at Bidean Nam Bian on the 19th January. Una Finnegan, Tom Chesters, Christopher Bell and Rachel Majumdar lost their lives when they were caught up in an avalanche at about 2pm, and my thoughts are with those closest to them who will be coming to terms with their loss.

I feel for the two survivors and hope that, of these, the one in hospital will see a speedy recovery. I am a keen hill walker myself and the beauty of the hills in all the seasons is a draw to many thousands of like-minded folk. It is clearly not risk free, but the risk is manageable and no one, thankfully, has suggested this tragedy should curtail the freedom of so many to roam, generally uneventfully, our majestic landscape.

I would also like to thank the police and the mountain rescue teams who attended, without their tireless work and dedication more lives would be lost.

On the 18th January I was delighted to meet with staff and pupils at Plockton High School to celebrate Crofting Connections. The event was to mark the launch of the second phase of the programme, which in its first phase has enabled 2,500 children to study the past and future of crofting.

A huge issue in rural and remote communities is ensuring there are opportunities to keep our talented young people in the area once they grow up, and renewed interest and opportunities in crofting are one way of doing this.

Crofting Connections has established an excellent working relationship between schools and crofters across the Highlands and Islands, an essential element in generating interest amongst our children.

The central aim of Crofting Connections is to promote a connection between children and the land, and how fundamentally important control, ownership and its use are. By offering children the opportunity to engage with crofting activities in a fun and interesting way, Crofting Connections helps to sustain an industry and way of life that is a crucial part of Scotland’s future.

By the time you read this Alex Neil, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Well Being, and myself, will have visited Ardnamurchan on Monday 28th January. During this visit we will cover as much of the area as possible, meeting Healthcare workers in Strontian at 10.30, Sunart Community Council at 11.30, Practice staff at Acharacle at 12.45 and then the Acharacle Community Council at 1.15, before heading out to Kilchoan for a presentation with the Emergency Responder unit at 3pm and finally a 3.30 meeting with West Ardnamurchan Community Council. I am pleased that we are able to cover so much ground, and this is a very welcome chance for local views to be put directly to the Cabinet Secretary. This visit was originally arranged by Nicola Sturgeon when she was the Cabinet Secretary for Health, and I am delighted that Alex has been able to honour the commitment so soon after taking on a challenging remit.

The section 30 order has been agreed which grants the power to the Scottish Parliament to organise the Independence referendum, and there are now only twenty months until the vote takes place. Campaigning is set to intensify, and Yes Highland will be outlining their positive vision of an independent Scotland across all the main towns and villages in the Highlands in street events such as the one held in Fort William on Saturday the 26th. I am confident that the people of Scotland will vote for a fairer, more prosperous Scotland in 2014, and I look forward to the campaign making much progress in the next year.