Two Glasgow schoolgirls have won a national debate at Parliament House.

Mairin Campbell-Thow and Rose Usher, both 13 from Holyrood Secondary School, are celebrating their triumph on the topic 'If you were the Equalities Minister for Scotland what is the first piece of legislation you would introduce and why?'

It comes after they took part in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service speaking competition, which saw them go up against Edinburgh Academy and Hamilton Grammar on June 8.

Glasgow Times: Mairin Campbell-Thow and Rose UsherMairin Campbell-Thow and Rose Usher

This year's competition involved 104 pupils from 38 schools across Scotland and is part of the service’s strategy to reach out to young people to engage them in discussion and debate on important issues.

Presenting the trophy to the winners, the Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain QC said: “Congratulations to all who took part in this year’s competition.

“Mairin and Rose have triumphed in the final but the standard of debate and presentation we have heard throughout the competition has been a real testament to the passion and skills of the young people who have taken part.

"It has been a pleasure to see pupils come together in the spirit of friendly competition to develop confidence in their public speaking skills and engage in spirited debate addressing important issues relating to diversity and equality.”

At the competition, the Lord Advocate was asked what guidance she would have given her 13-year-old self, and answered: “Don’t think that your potential and your ability is restricted or determined by your social or economic circumstances.

"With hard work, commitment and self-belief you can genuinely achieve what you want to in life.

“Mindset is critical to achieving the success you wish for. Think why you can do something rather why you cannot.

"Approach your future on the basis that it is not where you come from but where you are going that matters.”