A seven-year-old schoolboy is set to become the youngest person ever to bring a petition before MSPs at the Scottish government.
Callum Isted, from Livingston, West Lothian, has won praise from first minister Nicola Sturgeon after calling on the Scottish government to do away with the disposable bottles of water given to primary school pupils with their lunches. He wants to replace them with reusable metal bottles.
Ms Sturgeon described the idea as a “really laudable aim and ambition”, and promised she would try to speak to Callum.
Callum will make his case when he speaks to MSPs on Holyrood’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee next week.
Committee convener Jackson Carlaw highlighted Callum’s campaign as conveners from all the Scottish Parliament committees questioned Ms Sturgeon yesterday.
Mr Carlaw told the first minister: “Next week the Parliament is going to welcome its youngest-ever petitioner to the Parliament.”
He said Callum had set up a petition to “provide every primary school child in Scotland with a reusable water bottle”.
Mr Carlaw told the first minister: “He has been very active in his own schools... and he is now looking in his petition to find a means by which this can be rolled out to schoolchildren across all of Scotland.
“I am sure he would be delighted to hear you commend him on his initiative.”
Ms Sturgeon said: “I would commend Callum. Seven years old, the youngest petitioner ever. Well done to him.”
She said she will try to “catch a word” with Callum to “learn more about his efforts to get a reusable water bottle to every young person”.
