It's probably harder than it looks to choose names for the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Who is "deserving" of such honours is, after all, a subjective thing.

But there are few who would argue that this year's stand-out Scottish recipients do not warrant commendation.

Among the most impressive is surely Gordon Aikman, the 30-year-old from Edinburgh who has spent the last year campaigning for better services for Motor Neurone Disease following his own diagnosis with this most cruel of conditions in 2014.

The British Empire Medal awarded to Mr Aikman recognises not only the £300,000 he has so far raised for research into the disease, but also his successful campaign to publicly fund and double the number of specialist nurses in Scotland.

Among the others is Lynne McNicoll, recipient of an OBE, who has raised more than £1m for children with cancer and their families through the charity It's Good 2 Give.

Also on this year's list is Ayrshire-born composer James MacMillan, who receives a knighthood. Sir James, as he will henceforth be addressed, is probably as well known for his outspoken views as his compositions, many of which are devotional. But there is little doubt that both have helped raise Scotland's profile in the classical world.

Our congratulations to them all.