Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Olivia Watson of Douglas Academy on being one of two finalists in 2026's Scottish Schools’ Young Writer of the Year competition; further congratulates Amy Valentine of St Peter the Apostle High School on being commended; understands that the competition is held every year by the charity, Young Programme, and is open to all pupils in Scottish schools who are between the ages 15 and 18; congratulates Olivia and Amy on this fantastic achievement, and commends them both for their hard work.

That the Parliament celebrates the return of the Heritage and Hope sculpture to Springburn railway station after more than 20 years in storage; understands that the bronze statue, created by the artist, Vincent Butler in 1989, depicts a railway worker and his daughter and serves as a powerful symbol of Springburn’s proud locomotive-building heritage and its aspirations for the future; commends the tireless efforts of local artist, Mandy McIntosh, in partnership with Network Rail, ScotRail, Springburn Shopping Centre and Springburn Unity Network in ensuring that the sculpture was preserved and restored; notes that the sculpture has been installed in a prominent position on platform one, where it will be seen by tens of thousands of passengers every year; acknowledges what it sees as the importance of public art in reclaiming local history and fostering community pride, and wishes the people of Springburn continued success in their ongoing efforts to preserve and celebrate the area’s unique industrial and cultural history.

That the Parliament congratulates several young curlers from Moray on their successes at recent national competitions; understands that Elgin Academy pupil, Lillia Clarke, won the Scottish Junior Championships in Aberdeen in November 2025, alongside her teammates as part of Team Archibald, as well as the Under-21 Slam Series in January 2026; further understands that Fraser Rankin, also from Elgin, won the Scottish Pairs Championships in Stranraer in March 2026, alongside his curling partner from Kinross; recognises the increasing popularity of curling and the growing successes of young curlers from across Moray; believes that the Elgin Ice Rink, which was saved from closure in September 2025, will play a critical role in developing the next generation of curlers, and wishes every young curler from Moray and across the Highlands and Islands region well for future competitions.

That the Parliament congratulates a care home service for autistic adults in Alloa that has been commended by inspectors for delivering warm, person-centred support that is transforming lives; understands that Scottish Autism’s central Scotland area services supported accommodation, based at Hilton House in Alloa Business Park, was visited by the Care Inspectorate during an unannounced inspection completed on 23 January 2026; believes that the service, which supports 26 autistic adults in small, community-based homes and one bespoke care home, was rated very good for people’s wellbeing, the quality of its setting and how care and support are planned; acknowledges that inspectors reported that staffing levels were consistently strong and that staff showed “strong motivation to deliver high quality care and support”, with leaders and frontline staff displaying “very good values”; notes that people using the service were seen experiencing “consistently warm, respectful, and nurturing interactions with staff”, and that the values of the organisation were found to be “clearly embedded in practice”, resulting in person-centred and responsive support, and wishes everyone involved, including staff, service users, friends and relatives, all the very best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Simon Community Scotland on achieving the Foundations LGBT Charter; recognises the hard work and dedication of pupils and staff in achieving this prestigious award from LGBT Youth Scotland; acknowledges the introduction of training and a review of policies, practice and resources that aim to ensure that Simon Community Scotland goes beyond meeting legislative needs and is as inclusive as it can be for pupils, staff, parents and the wider community, and wishes everyone involved well in all future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates Rabi Maharajan and all the staff of De Buddha Authentic Nepalese Restaurant and Bar on their success in winning the Unsung Hero of the Year 2025 for the Nepalese Community at the South Asian Network Awards; understands that the restaurant, which opened in Johnstone in November 2023, has received acclaim from critics in the past, with it receiving not only Best Dining Experience at the Scottish Hospitality Awards in June 2025, but also Best Nepalese Restaurant at the Scottish Spice Awards in September 2025; commends Rabi and his hardworking staff on their deserved awards for all the continued hard work and passion that they put into their fantastic cuisine, and hopes that they enjoy many more successes in the future.

That the Parliament celebrates the 125th anniversary of the Royal Albert Cycling Club based in Larkhall; acknowledges that the club's founding was closer to the invention of the bicycle than to today; recognises that the club is still thriving with over 70 adults in the Royal Albert Cycling Club and over 200 young people in the junior section, and wishes the club the best for its continued expansion and passion for cycling as a fun way of staying active at all ages in South Lanarkshire.

That the Parliament congratulates the community of Scotstoun on the area being named in the guide, The Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2026, which recognises its place among the eight best places to live in Scotland this year; notes what it sees as Scotstoun’s growing appeal as a highly desirable residential neighbourhood, which is often described as the “West End for grown-ups”; believes that this reflects its strong sense of community, excellent amenities and attractive balance of urban life and family-friendly living; considers that Scotstoun represents a compact microcosm of Glasgow, bringing together diversity, character and a welcoming atmosphere; notes the increasing number of families choosing to make Scotstoun their home; believes that they have been drawn by its friendliness and quality of life, and commends all of its residents, organisations and businesses, whose efforts, it believes, continue to make Scotstoun such a vibrant and thriving place.

That the Parliament congratulates Anne Speake from Kingston in Moray, who was recently awarded Honorary Life Membership of Enable Scotland in recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the charity over the last 50 years; understands that Anne becomes only the fourth person to receive this honour in Enable Scotland’s 72-year history; notes that Anne has supported many individuals across the north of Scotland, particularly in Elgin for decades, where she has been a tireless campaigner for the human rights of people with learning disabilities; believes that Anne has supported generations of people in Elgin with learning disabilities through practical support, strong leadership of the local Enable branch, and by running regular social clubs that brought people together and helped build confidence and friendships; understands that the special meeting of the Elgin Branch to present Anne with her award saw many people Anne has worked with throughout their whole lives attend to give their personal thanks for her incredible service and support, and believes that this high honour is a fitting tribute to someone who has contributed so much to Enable both locally and nationally.

That the Parliament congratulates Bangin’ Pizza on being shortlisted for the Scotland’s Best Pizzeria category at the Scottish Italian Awards; understands that the Scottish Italian Awards aim to bring together the very best of Scotland’s Italian community; recognises that the awards are now in their 12th year; notes that Bangin’ Pizza opened its third store in Clydebank in 2025; celebrates the team at Bangin’ Pizza on this fantastic achievement, and wishes everyone involved all the best for the finals.