First, I congratulate my friend and colleague Liz Smith on securing the motion for debate in the chamber. It gives me great pleasure to be speaking in it. I welcome members of the Black Watch, along with many others, to the gallery.

Three hundred years is a fantastic milestone for the Black Watch, and it is only right and proper that we highlight its achievements in the Scottish Parliament. The Black Watch, founded in the Jacobite rebellion, has been a stalwart of Perthshire, Fife, Angus and Dundee for centuries. Its ancestral home is at Balhousie castle in Perth, which, as we heard from my friend Murdo Fraser, is now also the home of the Black Watch museum.

I am not unique in quoting a line from the regiment’s website that embodies its ethos, because Alexander Stewart and Emma Harper have used the same quote, but I will say it anyway.

“‘In a Highland regiment every individual feels that his conduct is the subject of observation and that, independently of his duty, as one member of a systemic whole he has a separate and individual reputation to sustain, which will be reflected on his family and district or glen.’”

It goes on to say that those words

“are as relevant today as when they were written by a 19th century Black Watch historian. They lucidly illustrate that The Black Watch boasts a history of honour, gallantry and devoted service to King, Queen and country.”

It is that devotion to country and community that I will highlight today.

It would not be a contribution from me if I did not focus on the perspective of the younger generation and the Black Watch’s links with young people. While other members have mentioned the many laudable accomplishments and historical background of the Black Watch, I would like to bring us right up to date and applaud the work that it has done to empower the young people of Scotland.

The Black Watch has a long and proud association with the young people in the area through utilising the army cadet force. It has two affiliations: one is with the Angus and Dundee Battalion, which covers the county of Angus and the city of Dundee, and one is with the Black Watch Battalion, which covers Perth and Kinross and Fife. Boys and girls can join as cadets from 12 years old.

While I do not wish to encroach too much on the subject of the second of Ms Smith’s debates today, I note that the range of outdoor pursuits and lifelong skills that our young people can gain from joining the cadets is exceptional. Each battalion provides instruction on many subjects, including first aid, map and compass work, orienteering and fieldcraft, adventurous training and leadership. Those skills are invaluable in boosting a child’s confidence and self-belief. Cadets can take part in on-site experiences and in the Duke of Edinburgh’s award scheme. They have opportunities to travel abroad, play sport and take part in a range of other activities that support their mental wellbeing and physical agility.

If music is their thing, young people can join one of two pipe bands—one for each battalion—or the regimental wind and brass band. The opportunities that the Black Watch affords to young people are testament to how the regiment views its communities and its neighbours. If any adult fancies joining as an instructor, they can give a little back and join the children.