Mossneuk kids are backing Finn’s Law
This week I had the privilege of visiting Mossneuk Primary School to find out about their P6 politics project on Finn’s Law and to speak about “a week in the life of an MP”.
I was extremely impressed by their knowledge about politics, about the Scottish and Westminster parliaments and the passing of parliamentary Bills.
They have been doing a project on Finn’s Law, named after ‘Fabulous Finn’, a police dog who saved his owner PC Dave Wardell’s life but who was repeatedly stabbed in the head and chest and nearly died in doing so.
Thankfully, Finn survived, but prosecution of his assailant became very complex due to laws that recognise service animals as ‘property’ rather than as sentient beings.
The second reading of the Service Animals Offences Bill was recently postponed at Westminster – but I have now requested a debate on this issue and I very much plan to keep the momentum high.
The children were unanimous in their support for Finn’s Law and I understand that they and their teacher, Mrs Kelly, will be skyping PC Dave Wardell and Finn this week for the next chapter of their work, which will also involve meeting with service dogs at Police Scotland.
I was particularly delighted to be discussing this Bill with the children at Mossneuk Primary because it brings to life the importance of politics, the positive changes that can be made through concerted effort and because I chair the AllParty Parliamentary Group on dog welfare; and it is an issue close to my heart.
I was pleased to be able to meet with Dave and Finn in this capacity at the end of 2017, when they came together to Westminster to present at my parliamentary group – (dogs are not usually allowed into parliament unless they are guide or working dogs so we were able to get a special provision for Finn!)
I was very much moved by Dave’s account and I know that the children will be too.
Each child plans to write to the secretary of state for justice every day over a period of a month or more so that their support for Finn’s Law gets through.
I will keenly await to hear how things are progressing and will, of course, be doing all that I can alongside Mossneuk Primary, to progress Finn’s Law in Parliament.
Back to ‘a week in the life of an MP’ and since my last column, we have been undertaking our inquiry into the sugar tax and childhood obesity strategy.
We were able to question chef Jamie Oliver who explained that drinks companies have almost halved the level of sugar in Ribena and many more of their other formulas and suggested that the sugar tax should also be applied to children’s sugary milk drinks such as milk shakes.
It appears to be making a difference but much more must be done on clear package labelling, to encourage children to choose fruit and vegetables and to undertake exercise.
Perhaps this will be the next Bill to be spearheaded by our young politicians at Mossneuk Primary School!
I was very much moved by Dave’s account and I know the children will be too...