Given the huge success of the Galloway National Park Association’s conference and the overwhelming support from young and not-so-young constituents of Galloway and West Dumfries, will the First Minister recognise the association’s work and commit to initiating preliminary investigations into the feasibility of a kingdom of Galloway national park, which clearly has community and local authority support?

The First Minister:

I thank the member for raising an issue in which our late Presiding Officer took a close interest and that he worked hard to progress. I understand and appreciate the arguments for a Galloway national park. We want to give full consideration to the proposal, and I am happy to ask the relevant minister to engage with the member and others who have an interest on how we can take the matter forward properly.