Scotland will be going to the polls on May 1st to elect Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) for the second term of the devolved government. For all of us resident in Scotland, and over the age of 18, this is our once in four-year chance to boot out the sick, retain the healthy and bring in some new blood. Well, democracy goes something like that. Doesn't it?

To help mountaineers decide whom to vote for the MCofS decided to organise a Mountain Issues Election Hustings in which we put the same question to each of the parties, and asked them to answer in no more than 300 words. We have been totally fair and equitable in our treatment of each party. They were all sent the same letter on the same day and given the same deadline. Furthermore, we are making no comment on their responses, just printing them as received for you to read and draw your own conclusions. So here's the question:

“What would your party do to promote the increased protection of Scottish mountains during the next term of the Scottish Parliament, and what importance do you place on people's enjoyment and appreciation of our finest mountain areas?”

And here are their answers:

Scottish Green Party	Scottish National Party	Scottish Conservatives
Scottish Socialist Party	Scottish Liberal Democrats	Scottish Labour Party

The MCofS and Scottish Environment LINK organised a Scottish Election hustings meeting in Perth on Wednesday 23rd April. The meeting was chaired by Guy Wedderburn, of the SNH East Areas Board. The candidates sitting on the panel were Bob Ball (Labour), Chas Booth (Green), Thomas Burns (Independent), Gordon Campbell (LibDem), Roseanna Cunningham (SNP), Jock Penman (SSP) and Alexander Stewart (Tory).

An audience of 48 turned out to grill the candidates and flush out their knowledge, or lack of it, of their views and policies on a number of environment related issues. Mike Dales of the MCofS asked for the panelists views on the Cairngorms National Park boundary, to which each candidate spoke in favour of Highland Perthshire being brought within the Park at the earliest opportunity. Bob Ball, the Labour candidate for the Perth constituency, went as far as to say that the exclusion of Perthshire should be reviewed by the new Parliament within the next 18 months.

One of the most passionate issues discussed was the Land Reform Act, which was driven by a question from Felicity Martin of the Outdoor Writers' Guild. Alexander Stewart, the Tory candidate for the Perth constituency, said his party would repeal parts 2 and 3 of the Act (Community and Crofting Rights to Buy), whilst Roseanna Cunningham said the SNP wouldn't repeal one iota of it, because it didn't go far enough. Thomas Burns, the Independent candidate felt it was a bad Bill, but Jock Penman of the Scottish Socialists said it was a step in the right direction, Gordon Campbell of the LibDems warmly welcomed the Act and Chas Booth of the Greens said it was not perfect, but was still a good Act, and thought that opposition to the access provisions would die out in time as the new system settled in and began to work on the ground.

For further Scottish Election information, check out the Everyone Can campaign on www.everyonecan.org and the MCofS Election Special feature in The Scottish Mountaineer 17.

Environmental issues are often low on the agenda during election time. However, topics like planning and greenbelt land, air pollution, waste and recycling, and public transport are all local constituency issues with great relevance to people's everyday lives. National policies and targets on all of these are set by the politicians currently trying to woo the voters.

The Scottish Environment LINK network has organised a number of 'Question Time events', or hustings meetings, at locations around Scotland. As the political tension rises in April, party political candidates will be out and about in their constituencies on the campaign trail.

Jessica Pepper, LINK's Parliamentary Officer said "This kind of grass-roots event allows politicians to find out what issues really matter to the general public. It also provides an important platform for politicians to reach their potential constituents and answer their concerns."

Details of other meetings of this type can be found on the Everyone website.

Also on the LINK Everyone campaign website, here, select your constituency, you will get a template letter automatically addressed to all your local candidates which you can edit and adapt to raise issues you feel most passionate about. Alternatively you can e-mail your constituency or list candidates.

Take the opportunity to question your candidates on environmental issues, and let them know how important they are to you.