A DEBATE on the resources of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) determined the final three teams in the grand final of the Courier/Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland Junior Schools Debating competition last night.

The debaters met at Morrison’s Academy, Crieff, to discuss the motion “This house believes the IMF should institute an emergency fund to combat environmental disasters.”

Proposing the motion were Ryan Milne and Frances Smith of Carnoustie High School; Ben Thomson and Jenny Lovegrove of Morrison’s Academy C team; and Carol Roberts and Ruth Cameron of Dollar Academy.

Opposing them were Catherine Lovegrove and Marianne Inglis of Morrison’s Academy B; Ethan Baird and Niall Connor of St John’s High School, Dundee; and Kirsty Brown and Sarah McLuckie of Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry.

The proposition focused on the IMF’s ability to enact the policy, which was well-expressed by Ruth Cameron who said, “The IMF has the clout and willingness to reposition itself globally.”

The need for inter- national action was shown by Ben Thomson, who s aid, “For an international problem there needs to be an international response because problems like oil spills cross boundaries.”

The opposition rebutted them with claims individual nations ultimately have economic responsibility, before questioning the environmental remit of the IMF.

Marianne Inglis said, “The IMF don’t have to justify their actions to anyone, so we can’t hold their spending to account.”

They then suggested there are more important factors in determining aid than purely economic responses.

After an excellent debate the house rejected the motion by 39 votes to 15.

Grove Academy, Carnoustie High and Morrison’s B go to the grand final, to be held in St Andrews on March 2.

The speaker for the evening was Rachael Whitbread of the St Andrews University Union Debating Society, and the judging panel were Catherine Smith of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland, Catriona MacInnes, the features editor of The Courier, Doug Cochran of the St Andrews University Union Debating Society and Kirsty Russell, the tournament convener of The Courier.

The competition has seen pupils from all over The Courier’s area make excellent speeches on a range of challenging issues.

Also in the final are teams from Grove Academy, Kinross High and Wallace High School, Stirling.

They will challenge each other’s arguments with the aim of winning a trip to America.