On Monday 29 February 2016, fourteen intrepid reporters who form the BBC School Report team left Knox Academy armed with video cameras, tripods and questions to meet with Iain Gray MSP at the Scottish Parliament.

Accompanied by Mrs Prime DHT, Miss Bulloch, Modern Studies teacher and Mrs Fraser, ASN Learning Assistant they boarded the 104 Lothian service bus and arrived at Holyrood after a short walk at 11am.

Iain Gray’s assistant, John Erskine met us and showed us to the room that had been set aside for our interview purposes and the filming crew set up their cameras, while the investigative team rehearsed their questions.

Iain Gray was charming and affable and spoke in a relaxed and uncomplicated way about his feelings with regards the extensive building that is happening in East Lothian. He is not in disagreement that housing should be provided but he is angry that the developers are being given the green light by Ministers even after the local council has rejected planning applications for certain sites in and around Haddington, which is the focus of the BBC School Report Team. The biggest concern is that the infrastructure hasn’t been embedded and so there is a real fear that schools, health centres and surgeries will not be able to cope. Meanwhile busier roads and parking issues will continue to cause problems for local residents.

The BBC School report team have also interviewed some local businesses who, while welcoming the possible increase in footfall and revenue are concerned that the infrastructure hasn’t been properly considered.

After the interview, Iain Gray kindly took time out of his busy schedule to show us around the parliament building and was an excellent raconteur, making the visit personal and particularly relevant to East Lothian. The concrete came from Dunbar and the seats in the Debating Chamber were crafted in East Lothian.

All pupils behaved impeccably and are excellent ambassadors for Knox Academy.

The BBC School report team will now edit their videos, with the help of Mr Dempster and Mr Plain to create a 3-4 minute news item which will be submitted to the BBC School Report website which goes live on Thursday 10 March 2016.

C Prime