By Steve Bargeton, political editor

PUPILS FROM Angus and Perthshire were honoured on the floor of the chamber at Holyrood yesterday as they swept the boards in the annual National Youth Parliament Competition.

With MSPs looking on, First Minister Jack McConnell and Presiding Officer George Reid presented youngsters from Montrose Academy, Morrison’s Academy, Crieff, and Belmont Academy in Ayr with certificates and prizes.

The National Youth Parliament Competition is designed to bring to life the process of politics and government by offering young people the opportunity to set up and video their own parliamentary session.

For the last 10 years Scottish schools have been involved in the Westminster parliamentary model, and were this year offered the chance to recreate the Scottish Parliament instead of the House of Commons.

Chosen by a panel of MSPs, Montrose Academy, was named the overall winner and also picked up individual awards for three of its pupils in the roles of best backbench MSP, best opposition spokesperson (question time) and best First Minister.

Morrison’s Academy won the prize for best minister and Belmont Academy won best question time, as well as awards for best opposition spokesperson and best Presiding Officer.

At the prize-giving ceremony Mr McConnell and Mr Reid congratulated all the young people who took part, as well as the winners.

In the debate section of the competition the prize winners were: Best minister—Catherine Lovegrove (Morrison’s Academy); best opposition spokesperson—Clark Russell (Belmont Academy); best backbench MSP—John Thompson (Montrose Academy); best presiding officer—Frazer McKinstry (Belmont).

In Question Time the prize winners were: best First Minister—Kelly Waterson (Montrose Academy); best opposition spokesperson—Matthew Valentine (Montrose).