Chamber and committees

That the Parliament extends its warmest wishes for a joyous and peaceful Diwali to all those celebrating across the United Kingdom and around the world; notes that Diwali will be observed this year on 20 October 2025; recognises that the vibrant festival is celebrated by members of the Hindu, Sikh, and Jain communities, each with their own rich traditions and meanings; appreciates the immense contributions of these communities to Scotland’s cultural diversity, social harmony, and economy, and believes that the spirit of Diwali, with light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair, is a universal message that resonates across all communities.

That the Parliament offers condolences on the passing of Christopher Trotter, the renowned chef, food writer, businessman, and passionate ambassador for Scotland’s local and seasonal produce, who has died at the age of 68; recognises Christopher’s pioneering role in promoting sustainable Scottish food, from his early advocacy of local sourcing to his innovative vineyard project in Upper Largo; celebrates his career, which began at the Savoy Hotel in London and continued in France and Switzerland before Christopher returned to the UK to take up the role of head chef at a Michelin-starred restaurant; understands that, after later returning to Scotland, he ran the Portsonachan Hotel in Argyll, which was included in the Michelin Guide and The Good Food Guide, and The Grange Inn in St Andrews, and founded Scotland’s Larder, an innovative restaurant and farm shop with seasonal events and culinary demonstrations; acknowledges his legacy and his contribution as a Fife Food Ambassador and writer, and extends sincere condolences to his family and friends.

That the Parliament congratulates Dougie Imrie, manager of Greenock Morton FC, and his partner, Lauren McCreaddie, on raising and donating an incredible £18,000 to the neonatal ward at University Hospital Wishaw in memory of their baby daughter, Remi; understands that Remi was born 14 weeks early and received care from dedicated staff in the neonatal unit, described by her parents as “real-life angels,” for 20 days until she sadly passed away; further understands that the couple's generous donation was made to give back to the staff who provided care, compassion and support, and that it will go towards supporting the unit and helping other families whose babies require intensive care; acknowledges that the donation was made as the UK marked Baby Loss Awareness Week, from 9 to 15 October 2025, which, it believes, serves as an important time to remember and honour babies who have died, raise awareness of the impact of pregnancy and baby loss, and drive improvements in care and support; commends Dougie and Lauren for their extraordinary fundraising efforts and for their bravery in sharing their story and honouring Remi's memory in such a meaningful way, with the hope that it will help other bereaved families feel less alone, and offers its sincere thanks to the staff of the neonatal unit at University Hospital Wishaw for their exceptional work and compassionate care.

That the Parliament celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Children's Theatre Bo'ness in October 2025; recognises that, to mark the special occasion, the theatre held a celebratory performance on 4 October 2025 in Bo'ness Town Hall, with past and present members of the theatre participating; further recognises that, since its founding in 2000, the Children's Theatre Bo'ness has provided young people, aged 9 to 17, with opportunities to perform in a variety of shows, including pantomimes, musicals and cabaret; notes the theatre's aims to create a safe space for young people to develop their performance skills, to build their confidence, and to give them the joy of theatre performances; congratulates the theatre on this important milestone, and wishes it every success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Unami 17Ngon, a pan-Asian restaurant and takeaway located on Argyle Street in Greenock, on winning the prestigious Asian Street Food of the Year award at the Scottish Asian Street Food Awards 2025; notes that the restaurant was also shortlisted for Pan Asian Restaurant of the Year, which, it believes, reflects its growing reputation for culinary excellence; recognises the contribution of owner, Ben Egan, and his team in bringing diverse and innovative Asian cuisine to Inverclyde, with a menu that regularly features Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese and Chinese dishes; acknowledges the role of the Scottish Asian Food Awards in celebrating the creativity and dedication of Scotland’s Asian food sector, and commends Unami 17Ngon for what it sees as its positive impact on the local economy and cultural vibrancy of Greenock.

That the Parliament recognises that 11 October 2025 marked World Migratory Bird Day; notes that swifts, one of the most remarkable migratory bird species, have declined steeply in recent years and are now on the Red List of birds at risk of national extinction; recognises the cultural importance of swifts as birds that return each May and leave in August, marking the arrival and passing of summer; understands that swifts return to nest in locations near where they hatched, traditionally nesting in eaves of buildings, and that modern construction methods can have the unintended effect of reducing nest sites for swifts; believes that simple swift bricks installed in new buildings and extensions, along with swift boxes on existing buildings, can provide suitable nest sites for swifts and will help build resilience in swift populations, and expresses the hope that the construction industry can work with local authorities and communities to support swifts in Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Ryan Clark, founder and chief executive of Safer Group, on being named one of the Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders for 2025 by LDC; acknowledges his remarkable journey from taking a security guard job at the age of 18 to founding Safer Scotland in 2016, and later rebranding it as Safer Group with expansion into Europe; commends his dedication and resilience in overcoming adversity to build a successful business that has seen revenue quadruple in recent years; recognises his commitment to innovation within the security technology sector, particularly through the development of Safer POD systems, and wishes him continued success in his efforts to enhance national defence and infrastructure security.

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement of a £150 million investment by O-I Glass in its Alloa facility; understands that the investment includes over £100 million to rebuild and modernise one of the site’s existing furnaces with state-of-the-art, low-carbon technology, additional investment in a second new furnace currently under construction and £50 million for a new oxygen production facility adjacent to the site; notes that the Alloa site was first established in 1750 and is one of Scotland’s longest-running industrial facilities; recognises that this significant investment will help to secure over 500 jobs and ensure that Clackmannanshire remains a key centre for Scotland's manufacturing and innovation; further recognises that O-I’s continued presence in the town reflects the skill and dedication of the area's workforce, which has sustained glass production in Alloa for generations; believes that this investment supports Scotland’s green industrial transition by combining the area’s proud industrial heritage with modern, sustainable technology; commends O-I Glass for its long-standing contribution to employment in the Alloa area and its commitment to sustainability and community prosperity, and wishes the company every success as it continues to invest in Clackmannanshire's long-term future.

That the Parliament congratulates the North Glasgow Community Food Initiative's Milton Food Hub and Community Garden, in the north of Glasgow, on being awarded £157,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to support the purchase of St Andrew’s Methodist Church; acknowledges that this fund moves the Milton Food Hub and Community Garden closer to being able to secure the purchase of the church building it has operated from since 2019, retaining it under community ownership and allowing the building to be fully repurposed to become a multi-use space for food, wellbeing, training and social activities; recognises the hard work and passion of the organisers to achieve this milestone, and wishes them all the best in their development of the church building.

That the Parliament celebrates the AA Rosette Award for 2025–2026, which was awarded to Dhoom - Indian Streatery in Dunfermline; understands that this marks the fourth consecutive year that Dhoom has received such an honour; believes that the AA Rosette Award is one of the highest recognitions in the UK’s culinary world, celebrating restaurants that consistently deliver exceptional food, creativity and quality; acknowledges that the award is a recognition of the hard work, dedication and commitment of everyone at Dhoom in the delivery of authentic Indian street food with a modern, playful twist, using the freshest ingredients and serving every plate with passion and heart; acknowledges the commitment of the many customers who have supported and celebrated the culinary delights of Dhoom over the years in Dunfermline, and extends its very best wishes to everyone at Dhoom for continued success in the future.