Claire Baker MSP

That the Parliament congratulates Citizens and Rights Fife (CARF) on reaching its 20th year; understands that the service provides free information, advice and assistance to the local community on a wide range of subjects, including benefits, housing, law and rights, discrimination, debt, money and tax and employment rights; considers that the service aims to help clients through providing solutions to problems and advises on the available options for those who are experiencing issues; notes that the service also uses the information provided by users as evidence to identify the problems that people are facing; understands that the data is used at local and national level through partnership working with Citizens Advice Scotland to highlight issues and to campaign on current policy changes that are required; recognises and highly commends the hard work of the staff and volunteers who have provided a vitally important and valuable advice service to Fife’s communities, and extends its very best wishes for the upcoming celebrations.

That the Parliament congratulates Citizens and Rights Fife (CARF) on reaching its 20th year; understands that the service provides free information, advice and assistance to the local community on a wide range of subjects, including benefits, housing, law and rights, discrimination, debt, money and tax and employment rights; considers that the service aims to help clients through providing solutions to problems and advises on the available options for those who are experiencing issues; notes that the service also uses the information provided by users as evidence to identify the problems that people are facing; understands that the data is used at local and national level through partnership working with Citizens Advice Scotland to highlight issues and to campaign on current policy changes that are required; recognises and highly commends the hard work of the staff and volunteers who have provided a vitally important and valuable advice service to Fife’s communities, and extends its very best wishes for the upcoming celebrations.

As an amendment to motion S5M-06031 in the name of Michael Matheson (Human Trafficking and Exploitation, Making Scotland a Hostile Place for Traffickers and Providing Effective Support for Victims), insert at end “; notes the role to be played by local authorities in tackling human trafficking, and believes that they, along with Police Scotland, must be properly resourced and funded to tackle trafficking and exploitation in communities.”

As an amendment to motion S5M-06031 in the name of Michael Matheson (Human Trafficking and Exploitation, Making Scotland a Hostile Place for Traffickers and Providing Effective Support for Victims), insert at end “; notes the role to be played by local authorities in tackling human trafficking, and believes that they, along with Police Scotland, must be properly resourced and funded to tackle trafficking and exploitation in communities.”

As an amendment to motion S5M-05733 in the name of John Swinney (Safe, Secure and Prosperous: Achieving a Cyber-resilient Scotland), insert at end “; supports investment in public services to ensure that they are well resourced and flexible to withstand future attacks, and calls for the Scottish Government to work with partners across the UK to ensure that Scotland has the capabilities, knowledge and resources to keep people safe and secure online.”

As an amendment to motion S5M-05733 in the name of John Swinney (Safe, Secure and Prosperous: Achieving a Cyber-resilient Scotland), insert at end “; supports investment in public services to ensure that they are well resourced and flexible to withstand future attacks, and calls for the Scottish Government to work with partners across the UK to ensure that Scotland has the capabilities, knowledge and resources to keep people safe and secure online.”

That the Parliament notes with concern the findings of the report, The state of the UK’s birds 2016, produced by the British Trust for Ornithology, RSPB and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, which concludes that more than a quarter of the UK’s regularly occurring bird species are now red listed, including some of Scotland’s most loved species; understands that eight of these species are now at risk of global extinction, including the puffin; notes that there have been some remarkable success stories, including the national survey of golden eagles, which highlighted that numbers have increased by 15% since the previous survey in 2003 and where all breeding pairs are found in Scotland, and a number of species having moved from the red list to the amber or green lists, most notably the red kite, which was once one of the UK’s most threatened species and is now on the green list thanks to the efforts of conservationists and landowners through reintroductions at four locations in Scotland, and considers that this overall success demonstrates that there is cause for hope for other red listed species and that targeted conservation action can make a real difference for those that are threatened.

That the Parliament notes with concern the findings of the report, The state of the UK’s birds 2016, produced by the British Trust for Ornithology, RSPB and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, which concludes that more than a quarter of the UK’s regularly occurring bird species are now red listed, including some of Scotland’s most loved species; understands that eight of these species are now at risk of global extinction, including the puffin; notes that there have been some remarkable success stories, including the national survey of golden eagles, which highlighted that numbers have increased by 15% since the previous survey in 2003 and where all breeding pairs are found in Scotland, and a number of species having moved from the red list to the amber or green lists, most notably the red kite, which was once one of the UK’s most threatened species and is now on the green list thanks to the efforts of conservationists and landowners through reintroductions at four locations in Scotland, and considers that this overall success demonstrates that there is cause for hope for other red listed species and that targeted conservation action can make a real difference for those that are threatened.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) Young Carers Identification Card; understands that PKAVS Carers Service has worked in partnership with NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council to deliver the card; recognises the hard work and commitment of these partners; welcomes that the card has been introduced as the result of a positive consultation with young carers, and that it will support self-identification of young carers so that schools and healthcare services can provide the vital support that they may require; notes that the identification card in Perth and Kinross follows successful pilot schemes in Fife and Stirling; believes that the card will encourage positive progress in ensuring young carers are supported in their responsibilities and provided the opportunity to receive respite, support and respect from relevant services for their vital role, and extends its best wishes for the success of the project and the future of young carers across Perth and Kinross.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service (PKAVS) Young Carers Identification Card; understands that PKAVS Carers Service has worked in partnership with NHS Tayside and Perth and Kinross Council to deliver the card; recognises the hard work and commitment of these partners; welcomes that the card has been introduced as the result of a positive consultation with young carers, and that it will support self-identification of young carers so that schools and healthcare services can provide the vital support that they may require; notes that the identification card in Perth and Kinross follows successful pilot schemes in Fife and Stirling; believes that the card will encourage positive progress in ensuring young carers are supported in their responsibilities and provided the opportunity to receive respite, support and respect from relevant services for their vital role, and extends its best wishes for the success of the project and the future of young carers across Perth and Kinross.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support GP surgeries in Fife.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to support GP surgeries in Fife.

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to support the tourism sector in Fife.

To ask the Scottish Government what steps it takes to support the tourism sector in Fife.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the responsible selling among retailers and wholesalers of (a) quad bikes and (b) other similar single person-operated vehicles.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to promote the responsible selling among retailers and wholesalers of (a) quad bikes and (b) other similar single person-operated vehicles.

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) mean and (b) median annual salary is in each constituency in the Mid Scotland and Fife parliamentary region, also broken down by (i) gender, and (ii) age.

To ask the Scottish Government what the (a) mean and (b) median annual salary is in each constituency in the Mid Scotland and Fife parliamentary region, also broken down by (i) gender, and (ii) age.

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have received cumulative funding in excess of £250,000 through the Climate Challenge Fund, broken down by the (a) (i) number and (ii) amount of grants received and (b) percentage of grants allocated (A) by funding round and (B) in total.

To ask the Scottish Government which organisations have received cumulative funding in excess of £250,000 through the Climate Challenge Fund, broken down by the (a) (i) number and (ii) amount of grants received and (b) percentage of grants allocated (A) by funding round and (B) in total.