Chamber and committees

That the Parliament considers that people experiencing homelessness alongside mental ill health and/or problematic substance use can face multiple barriers when trying to access health, social care, housing and support services, including in the Uddingston and Bellshill constituency; notes the belief that people with complex needs can fall between the gaps when responsibility for their care moves between different services; welcomes the Scottish Government’s work through the National Mental Health and Substance Use Protocol, the Discharge Without Delay approach and forthcoming homelessness prevention duties; notes the view that continued work is required to ensure that this guidance is consistently followed across Scotland and that people are not discharged from hospital or other healthcare settings without proper consideration of their mental health, substance use, housing situation, safety and ongoing support needs; further notes the view that closer working between NHS boards, Health and Social Care Partnerships, local authorities, housing and homelessness services, mental health and substance use services and the third sector is required to provide joined-up support, with clear arrangements for follow-up and continuity of care, and notes the belief that an approach is needed where people with complex needs are supported through services rather than passed between them because their circumstances do not fit neatly within one service.

That the Parliament welcomes the £1.2 million award from the National Lottery Heritage Fund towards the redevelopment of the Hebrides People Visitor Centre in Northton, South Harris, as part of an £8.25 million investment package; recognises the importance of the community-owned centre in preserving and celebrating the history, genealogy, Gaelic language and cultural heritage of the Outer Hebrides; notes the plans for expanded visitor facilities, interactive exhibitions, Gaelic classes and educational and community engagement programmes, with a particular focus on young people, families and those with limited access to transport; believes that community-led heritage projects can play an important role in strengthening local identity, supporting tourism, creating economic opportunities and encouraging young people to engage with their local heritage; recognises the potential benefits of the redevelopment for South Harris and the wider Outer Hebrides; congratulates the Northton Heritage Trust, its volunteers and partners on securing this significant investment, and calls for greater recognition and support for community-led heritage and cultural projects across the Highlands and Islands.

That the Parliament congratulates the Kirkcaldy Wizards running group on its 10-year anniversary; recognises what it sees as the group's amazing achievements, including its recent participation in the annual Kirkcaldy Parks Running Festival; notes that its weekly training sessions, which include both hill- and track-based training, are led by a qualified Level 2 running coach and are open to people aged 16 and over of all levels of experience; acknowledges the time and dedication required to organise and run such a successful group; believes that its runners continue to impress by earning medals and other accolades, and hopes that the group continues its efforts in supporting people to develop as runners and making the town of Kirkcaldy proud.

That the Parliament congratulates Stonehaven & District Men’s Shed on being named Scotland’s Men’s Shed of the Year 2026; recognises the outstanding contribution that it makes to the local community through promoting friendship, wellbeing and skills-sharing; understands that it has grown from a small group of volunteers in 2016 into one of Stonehaven’s most valued community organisations, with over 180 members, providing support for local events, environmental projects and community initiatives; commends its philanthropic endeavours through the Prosthetic Limbs for Africa project, which recovers reusable components from hospitals across Scotland, and wishes everyone involved continued success in the future.

That the Parliament recognises the campaign and petition, led by Ramblers Scotland, to uphold access rights to walking routes in Glen Lyon; understands the North Chesthill Estate has advised people to seek alternative routes for the whole of September and October 2026 during the deer stalking season; notes that while the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and associated guidance allow estates to advise walkers to vary nearby routes on specific days and and in specific locations where stalking is taking place, it does not endorse such prolonged and blanket restrictions; understands that such restrictions are not used by other estates in Scotland; notes concerns that these restrictions prevent visitors and local people from exercising responsible access, with an impact on the visitor economy, especially given the popularity of the four Munros on the estate; believes that concerns regarding access management in Glen Lyon are a long-standing issue and that there is a consistent pattern of the estate being at odds with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, and calls on all relevant stakeholders to work together to ensure that Scotland’s world-renowned access rights and the Code are upheld.

That the Parliament notes the publication of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government, Ambitious for Scotland, which commits to renewing Scotland’s public services through prevention, integration and reform; recognises the Programme for Government’s focus on public service reform and commitment to ensuring that decision-making and service delivery sit at the level best placed to improve people's lives; agrees with the need to empower communities and regions to make the decisions that improve delivery; further agrees with the need to reduce NHS waiting times, support the shift of care from hospitals into communities through strengthened primary care, digital innovation and expanded community services; welcomes the need for action to tackle health inequalities, improve population health, and treat substance misuse as a public health priority, and agrees that public service reform must be shaped by and with the workforce, while delivering better outcomes for people and communities across Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Baljaffray Parish Church on its 20th anniversary; notes that the church was raised to full congregation status on 27 August 2006 and will hold an anniversary service on 30 August 2026; recognises what it considers to be the significant contribution that the church has made to the local area through its charitable endeavours and community events; notes that the anniversary celebrations will include a BBQ, petting zoo, bouncy castle, games, crafts and sumo wrestling, and wishes the church, its congregation and parish all the very best for the future.

That the Parliament welcomes Dr. Nóra Murray-Cavanagh to her new role as chair of the British Medical Association’s Scottish Council; wishes her well during her three-year term of office; acknowledges that she is the first woman elected to the position in over 60 years; believes that her commitment to addressing health inequality is of the utmost importance; further believes that her experience as a GP in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, will bring an invaluable perspective to the role, and joins her in calling for unity across stakeholders in NHS Scotland to work towards the shared goal of delivering an effective health service for all.

That the Parliament congratulates the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) on reaching its 60th anniversary; understands that the association aims to promote, preserve and present all the music and song traditions of Scotland through local branch and national activities; notes that the association's origins date back to the 1966 Blairgowrie Folk Festival, through St Andrews Folk Club members and students, to support Scots trad music and song; is grateful to the association for its important work to preserve, foster and promote Scotland’s rich and unique musical traditions; notes the success of the recent Patrons’ Concert at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 22 August for a special celebration of 60 years of the Traditional Music & Song Association in Scotland featuring Barbara Dickson, Sheena Wellington, Margaret Bennett, Jack Beck, Jimmy Hutchison, Geordie Murison, Scott Gardiner, Alastair Hardie, Natalie Chalmers, Neil Sutcliffe, Roo Geddes, Eoin Taylor, Ian & Hamish MacGregor, Clelland Shand, Finn MacPherson, and Aly Bain; expresses particular appreciation to Sheena Wellington and Margaret Bennett for all their hard work in ensuring that the concert was a fantastic night celebrating musicianship, traditional music and song, and extends its very best wishes to everyone at TMSA.

That the Parliament notes the forthcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI by Rockstar Games; recalls that the series originated in Dundee, where DMA Design developed the original Grand Theft Auto, which was released in 1997; notes that the company’s first office was at 134b Nethergate; remembers that DMA Design’s success with Lemmings helped establish Dundee as a centre of the UK games industry, and that the studio later became Rockstar North; recognises Scotland’s continuing contribution to video game development, including at Abertay University and Rockstar Dundee; congratulates the original DMA Design team and all who have since worked on the series, and wishes Rockstar Games every success with Grand Theft Auto VI.