Terms and Conditions are:
1. Closing date for entries is 5.00pm Friday October 9th, 2009.
2. Unless otherwise stated, the competition is open to all residents of Scotland aged 16 to 25 only, except employees of Times Newspapers Limited ("TNL") and their associated, affiliated or subsidiary companies, and their families, agents, or anyone connected with this competition, including the third party promotional partners.
3. One entry per person. The winner is responsible for ensuring they are able to accept the prize as set out and in accordance with these terms and conditions, in the event they are unable to do so then the TNL reserves the right to rejudge the prize.
4. Entry is free but entrants should be aware that they may be subject to local call charges depending on their own individual arrangements for Internet access.
Advertisement
5. An eligible entrant must be an individual and must submit an entry in the form provided by TNL under this promotion including their name, address and e-mail address.
6. By entering, all eligible entrants agree to abide by each and all these terms and conditions. TNL reserves the right, with or without cause, to exclude entrants and withhold prizes for violating any of these terms and conditions. TNL reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any amendments will be published on the Website.
7. The competition has two age categories 16 to 18 and 19 to 25 only. Entered essays must be the original work of the entrant. The essay's title will be "Political Accountability in Scotland. How can we ensure that our politicians are answerable and effective in the light of the debate on devolution and the crisis at Westminster?". By submitting an essay entrants represent and warrant that the essay is their own, has not been previously published and that their entry does not infringe copyright or any other rights of any person. The essay should be no more than 1,500 words long and should be sent by post together with photocopied proof of age and address, to the following address: Reform Scotland/Sunday Times Scotland Essay Competition, The Executive Centre, 7 - 9 North St David Street, Edinburgh EH2 1AW. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned so entrants are advised to retain a copy.
8. One winner and one runner up for each age category. The winning essays will be those, who in the opinion of the judges, which put forward original ideas based on research and show a clear understanding of the economic, political and philosophical issues at stake. Detailed knowledge of the current mechanics of Scotland's constitutional settlement will be held to be less important than well thought through arguments. The winners will be notified by 31st December 2009 and may be announced in The Sunday Times. All reasonable endeavours will be made to contact the winners during this time. If the winner cannot be contacted or is not available, TNL reserves the right to select another winner from the eligible entries which were received before the closing date.
Advertisement
9. Each category winner will be offered a two-week work experience placement at the Sunday Times Scotland, and a one-week work experience placement with Reform Scotland. The work experience must be taken by the end of 2010 at a time of mutual convenience agreed between the parties. The work experience is unpaid and no expenses or costs will be reimbursed. In addition, each winner will also receive a cheque for £300 and one year's subscription to the Sunday Times. Each category runner up will receive a cheque for £100 and one year's subscription to the Sunday Times. Cheques will be made payable in the winner's name only.
10. TNL reserves the right to publish all or parts of entries other than the finalists and/or winning entry, and publication does not necessarily mean that the entrant has won a prize. TNL reserves the right to edit entries in its discretion for publication. Entrants will retain copyright in their submitted entries; however, by entering, all entrants give TNL a worldwide royalty free perpetual licence to edit, publish and use all or segments of each entry in any and all media (including print and online) for publicity and news purposes. In particular, all entrants license TNL the right to print their entry on thetimes online and in print in the Weekend Supplement.
11. There is no cash or other alternative to the prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions.
12. The winner may be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prize.
13. The judge's decision is final and binding on the entrants. No correspondence will be entered into.
Advertisement
14. TNL will not be liable for technical, hardware, or software failures of any kind or lost or unavailable network connections which may limit or prohibit an eligible entrant's ability to participate in the competition. Other than death or personal injury arising from the acts or omissions of TNL, or their employees, TNL will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of the winner enjoyment of the prize
15. By entering, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow the free use of their names, photographs and general locations for publicity and news purposes during this and future promotions by TNL or any associated or subsidiary company of News International Limited.
16. Uses of personal data received by TNL in the course of the promotion are subject to the privacy policy found on the Website. Winners' names may be published on the Website.
17. Completion and submission of a registration slip or e-mail will be deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions.
18. TNL reserves the right at any time to cancel, modify or supersede the competition (including altering prizes) if, in their sole discretion, a competition is not capable for being conducted as specified. TNL reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal value in the event that circumstances beyond their control make this unavoidable.
Advertisement
19. The promoter of this prize draw is Times Newspapers Limited (address below)
20. For a list of winners, please send a stamped, addressed envelope to Essay Competition, Sunday Times Scotland, 6th floor, Guild Hall, 57 Queen Street, Glasgow, G1 3EN