Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates NHS Borders specialist care baby unit (SCBU) team on being awarded Team of the Year by the Scottish Neonatal Nurses Group; understands that this national award celebrates excellence within neonatal services and is open to all neonatal units across Scotland; notes that, to be considered for the award, teams must be nominated by someone who recognises their outstanding contribution, and that the winner is then selected by an independent panel; understands that the NHS Borders SCBU team stood out for its dedication to delivering outstanding and compassionate neonatal care; believes that the team’s commitment is reflected not only in this award win, but also in the positive parent feedback that it received and in the team’s 100% achievement rate in 13 out of the 15 standards assessed during their UNICEF stage 3 accreditation, and pays credit to the SCBU team on receiving this well-deserved national recognition of its dedication, compassion and professionalism.

That the Parliament notes the Service Delivery Review consultation exercise currently being conducted by the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS); believes that it sets out detailed service cuts at community fire stations across Scotland; understands that the consultation proposes a major reduction in fire cover at Lochgelly fire station, with a reported decrease in firefighter numbers from 45 to 25, fire appliances from two to one and the withdrawal of the rope rescue unit; believes that this will have a major impact on the ability of the service to respond to major incidents; further believes that it will increase the reportedly already rising incident response times, and put lives, homes and businesses at greater risk; notes that these latest proposals come after what it sees as 12 years of sustained cuts, which, it understands, have seen 1,250 firefighter jobs lost, £56 million removed from the revenue budget and fire appliances withdrawn; calls on the Scottish Government to stop hiding behind the statement that cuts are "operational matters" for the SFRS, and to take responsibility for its budget decisions, and further calls on MSPs from all parties to make representations to the Scottish Government to express opposition to what it sees as a dangerous and backwards step.

That the Parliament warmly congratulates Fr Chris Furmage on his ordination to the Catholic priesthood on 3 July 2025, the Feast of St Thomas the Apostle, at St Augustine’s Church in Coatbridge; notes that the ordination was conferred by the Bishop of Motherwell, the Most Reverend Joseph Toal; further notes that Fr Chris celebrated his first mass the following day, on 4 July, in the same church where he was ordained; believes that this joyful occasion is the fruit of many years of prayer, academic study and spiritual formation undertaken by Fr Chris in preparation for a life of service to the church and the local community; commends what it sees as his commitment to answering the call to priesthood in a time when vocations are particularly precious; believes that Catholic priests make a significant contribution to community cohesion, social outreach and spiritual care across Scotland, and offers Fr Chris every blessing as he begins his priestly ministry in the Diocese of Motherwell.

That the Parliament celebrates what it believes to be a landmark moment in Scotland’s heritage regeneration journey, with the formal transferral of a 200-year-old church in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency to the local community; understands that Campsie High Kirk, at the heart of Lennoxtown, is to be transformed into a community arts hub for the benefit of local people; notes that the move is the culmination of a flagship case for the new ownerless property transfer scheme (OPTS), which was launched in 2024 by the King’s and Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer (KLTR); believes that the church, one of Scotland’s best known kirks, was officially handed over by KLTR, John Logue, to East Dunbartonshire Provost, Gillian Renwick, at a public ceremony on 9 July 2025; praises community organisation Friends of Campsie High Kirk for its tenacity in putting forward the case to rescue the church, which had lain empty without an owner for years after a fire in 1984, which led to the community organisation acquiring the building from the KLTR for the sum of £1 in May 2025; recognises the role of the OPTS in providing opportunities for properties that have fallen to the Crown, as ownerless, to be brought back into purposeful use for the benefit of local communities, therefore empowering local people, and sends its very best wishes for the future of the former kirk to boost the Lennoxtown area, both culturally and economically.

That the Parliament celebrates the National Museum of Flight's 50 years of service to preserving aviation history; notes that the museum, which is based at East Fortune airfield, hosts a collection that features a world-class showcase of civil and military aviation; believes that the museum is an outstanding example of Scotland's widely acclaimed heritage sector; congratulates the museum on reaching this hugely important milestone; gives thanks to each and every member of staff, volunteer and donor who has contributed to the museum's continued success, and wishes the museum lasting success long into the future.

That the Parliament warmly welcomes the announcement that the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) has been awarded significant funding through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council’s (AHRC) Doctoral Focal Awards programme; recognises that this investment will support the creation of a distributed doctoral training college in collaboration with the Open University and Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), enabling 20 PhD researchers to be recruited from across Scotland’s rural and island communities; commends the GSA’s vision, "A Golden Thread: Crafting the Creative Economy from Scotland’s Highlands, Lowlands & Islands", which aims to strengthen the craft sector, which is a predominantly women-led industry contributing an estimated £70 million annually to the Scottish economy; notes that the programme aims to embed enterprise, innovation and wellbeing support into doctoral training, while addressing regional inequalities and underrepresentation in higher education, and believes that this initiative represents a transformative step in harnessing Scotland’s creative potential to drive inclusive economic growth and cultural enrichment across rural communities.

That the Parliament congratulates karate instructor Derek Hazlett on being named Sports Coach of the Year at the Argyll and Bute Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025; understands that this is in recognition of his volunteering work in the Arrochar community, running the JKS Arrochar Karate Club; believes that Derek has enriched the local community by reviving and running the JKS Arrochar Karate Club after the COVID-19 pandemic; understands that, by maintaining high-quality coaching and community spirit, he has improved the wellbeing of the area, and believes that, by ensuring that the club's services are affordable and inclusive, Derek supports all members of the area and promotes wider access to sport.

That the Parliament welcomes the decision by Glasgow City Council, on 12 June 2025, to sell the former Martyrs’ School building in Townhead, which was designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and completed in 1898, to the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland; believes that this will preserve an early and significant example of Mackintosh’s architectural legacy; notes that the building’s new function as a public museum for Scottish Catholic archives and office space will bring renewed public access, meaning there will be no more prolonged vacancy of this heritage building; believes that the museum will safeguard and showcase Scotland’s Catholic cultural and religious heritage, while creating a historic and educational focal point linked to St Mungo’s Church; further believes that this project represents a sustainable and community-focused reuse of a vacant Category A listed structure, and calls on the Scottish Government to support and encourage similar initiatives that bring unused listed buildings back into active public use, fostering heritage preservation and community engagement.

That the Parliament congratulates the Brig and Barrel, in Dunbar, on its recent win of Best Pub/Inn of the Year at the Scottish Hospitality Awards; notes that the Brig and Barrel previously won Best Pub/Inn of the Year for the South East in 2023 and was nominated for Best Pub/Inn of the Year in 2024; recognises that the Scottish Hospitality Awards highlight excellence in the Scottish hospitality industry, and wishes the Brig and Barrel team continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Garelochhead Seniors Club secretary Evelyn Smith on being named Regional Hero for Helensburgh and Lomond at the Volunteer of the Year Awards 2025; understands that this is in recognition of her 42 years of weekly volunteering work; believes that by leading activities for older people in Garelochhead, Evelyn is reducing isolation and loneliness among this group, and understands that her work as club secretary has made her a cornerstone of the local community in Garelochhead.