Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes that the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce has released the results of its latest Quarterly Economic Survey; understands that the survey states that only 14% of firms in the north east reported increased sales in the final quarter of 2025, which is less than half of the overall UK figure, and that almost half expect orders to fall in the months ahead; further understands that the region has recorded its lowest level of employment growth since 2020, with more than a quarter of firms reportedly expecting their workforce to shrink over the next three months, and that almost half are forecasting falling profits, which is nearly 20% higher than the overall UK position; understands that the number one constraint on growth cited by firms was taxation, followed by inflation; believes that these results highlight the damaging effect that the Energy Profits Levy is having on the north east economy, which is having real-world consequences on jobs, investment and future growth prospects, not just in oil and gas businesses but across all sectors; agrees with the report’s authors that “the north east is being hit harder than any other part of the UK” and that “policy decisions are actively working against the businesses that underpin our economy, not dissimilar to what we saw in mining communities in the 1980s”, and calls on the UK Government to finally reconsider its position, look at the data, take action to abolish the Energy Profits Levy and stop any more jobs and investment being lost in the north east.

That the Parliament congratulates Clyde Garage Doors Ltd of Kirkintilloch on its triumph in the recent Scottish Home Improvement Awards 2025; recognises its success in winning the Best Door Company award and being highly recommended in the Outstanding Customer Service category; understands that the business, which was set up in 2022 and operates from an office and showroom in Kirkintilloch, was developed in response to customer demand in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency area for high-quality garage and, subsequently, house door solutions; praises the dedication and leadership of its directors, David Torrance and Cameron Henderson, along with staff member, Danielle Mawhinney, on ensuring that the company provides strong focus and reliable service and customer satisfaction in the local and surrounding, community; applauds the Kirkintilloch-based team on employing locally and supporting suppliers from the area for materials and services where possible; understands that the Scottish Home Improvement Awards are held annually to celebrate and recognise the excellence of businesses in the home improvement and trades sector in Scotland, and recognises the awards' importance in providing a platform for companies to showcase their skills and technical expertise, boost their public visibility and strengthen their reputations among clients and peers.

That the Parliament recognises that 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the first publication of economist Adam Smith’s An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations; understands that his work sought to explore what made or caused nations to be wealthy, and subsequently became a foundational text in classical economics, introducing key concepts, such as the division of labour, productivity and the invisible hand of free markets; recognises the work as one of the most outstanding products of the Scottish Enlightenment, the 18th century intellectual movement that saw Scotland produce an exceptional array of influential thinkers and works through the promotion of reason and empirical inquiry; regrets that the concepts that Smith railed against, such as protectionism and mercantilism have re-emerged across Western polities, and believes that the anniversary provides an important opportunity to reflect on Smith’s legacy, as well as Scotland’s enduring contribution to economics.

That the Parliament notes the 100th anniversary of the first demonstration of a mechanical television system by the Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird, on 26 January 1926; acknowledges that Baird, who was born in Helensburgh on 13 August 1888 and studied at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, went on to develop the first publicly demonstrated colour television system and the first viable purely electronic colour television picture tube; understands that the demonstration in his London laboratory marked a significant milestone in the development of modern television technology and that images of "Stooky Bill", the head of a ventriloquist’s dummy created by Baird, were the first to be successfully transmitted by television; recognises that Baird’s work contributed to worldwide advances in audiovisual communication and remains a source of scientific and cultural importance to Scotland, and considers that the anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on Scotland’s longstanding and global contribution to innovation and engineering.

That the Parliament notes that 29 January 2026 marks Stroke Prevention Day; understands that many strokes can be prevented and people are encouraged to recognise how to reduce their risk of stroke; notes that high blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke and can be reduced through lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, stopping smoking, reducing alcohol intake and getting more exercise; encourages people to know what their blood pressure is; notes that on average someone has a stroke in Scotland every 49 minutes and that stroke is Scotland’s third biggest killer; recognises that stroke is the leading cause of complex adult disability, leaving around 6,600 out of 11,038 Scottish residents who had a stroke in 2024 with a disability; notes that around 8,200 people who had a stroke in Scotland in 2024 are likely to have had their mental health and sense of wellbeing impacted following their stroke; understands that, whilst primary prevention is crucial in reducing the number of strokes which happen, more needs to be done to support Scotland’s committed, expert NHS and social care staff and invigorate stroke services across the country, including by establishing a national 24/7 thrombectomy service; joins the Stroke Association in calling for prioritisation of this crucial national health improvement service, as well as increased post-stroke rehabilitation provision, including psychological and emotional support for everyone who needs it, and commits to doing everything it can in the remainder of this session to help reduce the risk of strokes across Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes the return of NuArt Aberdeen in April 2026, the theme of which will be Poetry Is In The Streets; notes that this outing of the festival is expected to be a departure from the format of large-scale colourful murals of the previous festivals, with more emphasis on smaller, human-scale pieces scattered throughout the city; understands that this will be the world’s first poetry and text-based street art festival; believes that NuArt Aberdeen is an important celebration of human creativity that has brought colour and imagination to the streets of Aberdeen, and hopes this year’s festival is as successful as all the previous ones.

That the Finance and Public Administration Committee recommends that the Budget (Scotland) Act 2025 Amendment Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament congratulates the winners announced at the inaugural awards at The British Horror Studio in Kirkcaldy; notes that the studio was founded by local filmmaker Lawrie Brewster, writer and producer Sarah Daly and producer Paul William Kelly and specialises in gothic and folk horror; acknowledges that more than 5,000 votes were cast by horror fans worldwide and film industry peers, with winners selected by an independent jury; notes that there was a newly introduced category of Best Indie Horror Artist of the Year to recognise individuals making exceptional contributions to the independent sector; acknowledges that there have been more than 1,200 new members recently and a patron community of over 3,500; notes that the studio has produced a number of feature films in Scotland, and is set to produce another three, and commends this growing concentration of talent and activity in Scotland.

That the Education, Children and Young People Committee recommends that the Care Leaver Payment (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament welcomes the recent publication of polling that shows public support for a just energy transition in Scotland and a clear majority of people in Scotland opposing new North Sea fossil fuel extraction in favour of a transition to clean energy; understands that the polling was conducted on behalf of Uplift and polled 2,352 adults from November to December 2025; notes that two thirds of respondents to the survey believe that climate action to address the climate crisis must be a high priority for the Scottish Government; further notes that three quarters of young respondents oppose new fossil fuel drilling in favour of clean, renewable energy; agrees with the findings that the investment and development of renewable energy will provide the best opportunity for workers in the Scottish energy sector, including in the North East, and that a renewable-based energy system is most likely to result in a secure and affordable energy supply, and calls on the Scottish Government to recognise the importance to young people of ambitious, transformative energy and industrial policies that decarbonise Scotland’s economy and society and power a just energy transition to renewable energy and a just energy system fit for the future.