Chamber and committees

That the parliament notes the departure from STV of longstanding STV News at Six North lead anchor Norman Macleod; understands that Macleod's career with the station spanned 39 years, beginning in 1987; pays tribute to Macleod's work over the period with the station, which saw him cover major and local events across the country, viewed by tens of thousands of households across the North and North East of Scotland; celebrates Macleod's work in Gaelic language media, beginning his career as a bilingual trainee with STV's northern predecessor, Grampian Television; regards the decision by STV to cancel its regional news programming in the North and North East of Scotland, reportedly resulting in the loss of jobs, as a mistake; calls on STV to reverse this decision, believing this would save the jobs of many journalists, and wishes Norman all the best in his future career.

That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at reports of the proposed closure of Dundee Botanic Gardens, as part of what it considers to be ill-thought cost-cutting measures by the University of Dundee; notes that the gardens are located in 9.5 hectares overlooking the Tay and contain a wide range of plants and trees that provide a significant botanical resource that contributes to conservation, science and education; recognises that the gardens contribute greatly to the wellbeing of over 80,000 Dundee residents and visitors to the city who, each year, experience the peace, tranquillity, art and ecology these gardens provide; further recognises almost 20,000 people have signed a petition concerning the potential closure of the gardens, and believes that current cost-cutting could result in further significant job losses and other service closures; calls on university leadership team, Dundee City Council and the Scottish Government to work collaboratively with staff, students and the citizens of Dundee to secure a sustainable future for what it considers to be a vital part of infrastructure in Dundee.

That the Parliament congratulates all those involved in the Preston Tower project in East Lothian on receiving a 2026 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Award for architectural excellence; understands that the project, designed by architecture and design studio GRAS, has been recognised by RIAS for its outstanding contribution to Scotland’s built environment; notes that the restoration and enhancement of the historic Preston Tower site has been praised for its careful stewardship of heritage, combining architectural rigour with social and community benefit; recognises the importance of preserving and celebrating East Lothian’s rich historic environment for future generations; commends the contribution of the project team, local partners and the wider community in bringing the project to fruition, and wishes everyone associated with Preston Tower continued success as this nationally recognised landmark continues to inspire residents and visitors alike.

That the Parliament congratulates Gavin Lockhart of Port William on reaching the remarkable milestone of 30 years’ voluntary service with the Port William Inshore Rescue Service and Coastcare (PIRSAC); notes that Gavin joined the organisation at the age of just 16, becoming its youngest crew member, having been inspired by watching rescue launches in Port William harbour as a child; recognises his dedication in spending his early years assisting with the launch, recovery and maintenance of rescue equipment before progressing to active service at sea; acknowledges that, over three decades, he has witnessed and contributed to the development of the service from the original PIRSAC rescue boat through to PIRSAC II and the current PIRSAC III, while embracing major advances in rescue technology and communications; commends his role as one of the helmsmen of PIRSAC III and his attendance at hundreds of incidents in all weather conditions in support of those in distress in Luce Bay, Wigtown Bay and the wider area; recognises the vital contribution made by PIRSAC, an independent lifeboat and search and rescue service established in 1979 and operated year-round by volunteers, to the safety of local fishermen, sailors, residents and visitors; thanks Gavin for his outstanding commitment, bravery and community spirit over the past 30 years and wishes him, his fellow volunteers and everyone involved with PIRSAC continued success in the years ahead.

That the Parliament notes with concern reports that Creative Scotland intends to sell the Grecian Chambers building formerly occupied by the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) at 350 Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow, which has been in continuous public ownership since it was purchased by the Scottish Arts Council in the early 1970s; recognises that the CCA has been a key focal point for Glasgow’s cultural sector since it was established in this building in 1992 and that it has played an important role in driving forward the city’s creative economy; further notes with concern that the CCA reportedly faced significant financial challenges prior to its closure in January 2026; regrets the loss of employment for the 39 staff members who were reportedly made redundant along with many freelance workers who it understands lost employment; acknowledges the concerns raised regarding the reportedly poor level of communication with staff during this process, and calls on the Scottish Government to safeguard the Centre for Contemporary Arts Archive collection and to ensure it is transferred into the safekeeping of an appropriate public archive; as an alternative to proceeding with the sale of what it considers to be a key public asset, believes that a clear, actionable timeline should be established to facilitate the reopening of the CCA as a vital cultural asset for Glasgow, governed by a new operating body while being retained under public ownership, and calls on the Scottish Government to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that the site is preserved for the public and the arts community as a functioning cultural space under public ownership.

That the Parliament congratulates Glencadam Distillery on its outstanding success at the prestigious World Spirit Awards, where it was honoured with three Gold Awards; notes that these accolades include two coveted Double Gold awards for its American Oak Reserve and its 18-Year-Old expression casking, alongside a Gold award for its exceptional 10-Year-Old single malt; recognises that this international triumph follows having achieved the historic milestone of celebrating 200 years of world class whisky production in 2025, marked by the official opening of its incredible, world-class visitor centre in Brechin; notes that, since opening, this has provided new jobs for the people of Brechin, boosting the tourism sector in the region and putting the area on the map as a notable destination for visitors to the area and as part of the whisky trail; also commends their commitment to utilising exceptional local produce to craft a product of global distinction and wishes everyone at the distillery continued success as they showcase the very best of Scotland's traditional distilling heritage on the world stage. 

That the Parliament congratulates Jim Heaney of Irvine on reaching the remarkable milestone of 50 years as a karate instructor with Irvine Takeda Karate Club; recognises his longstanding dedication to promoting martial arts and supporting generations of young people in North Ayrshire; notes that he has supported the development of numerous national, British, European and world champions during his time as a coach; commends the positive impact that he has had on the lives of countless students and families, even teaching third generations of the same local families; acknowledges the support provided by his wife, Betty, throughout his five decades of involvement with the sport; understands that Jim has received a number of honours in recognition of his contribution, including a Civic Pride award from North Ayrshire Council and the award of a 6th Dan black belt; thanks him for his outstanding service to the Irvine community, and wishes him and the Irvine Takeda Karate Club continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates impROVise, which is a team of talented young engineers from Keith Grammar School, on representing Scotland at the MATE ROV World Championship in Canada; understands that the event was the international final of one of the world’s largest student underwater robotics competitions, bringing together teams from across the globe to design, build and operate Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to complete realistic underwater engineering missions; appreciates that the team qualified for the event after triumphing at the Scottish finals of the competition, held at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen in April 2026; recognises that the team displayed significant resilience and determination despite unexpected setbacks, and was highly commended for its technical documentation, presentation and safety analysis; notes that the team also made the most of the opportunity to forge connections and friendships with other competitors and industry professionals; celebrates the team’s impressive 29th-place finish out of 40 teams, and wishes every member of impROVise continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Ayrshire College on winning the accolade of UK Training Provider Skills Champion at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026; notes that the award recognises outstanding contributions to developing the engineering and manufacturing workforce through high-quality training and strong employer partnerships; recognises the college's Supporting the Engineering & Aerospace Skills Pipeline for Ayrshire initiative, which brings together industry, education and public sector partners to address skills shortages in what it sees as one of Scotland's key engineering and aerospace regions; acknowledges that the initiative provides pathways into employment through pre-apprenticeship programmes, modern apprenticeships, graduate apprenticeships and specialist upskilling opportunities; appreciates the importance of strong partnerships between colleges, employers and the public sector in addressing skills shortages and supporting Scotland's future engineering and aerospace workforce; commends Ayrshire College's work with employers to support learner progression, workforce development and regional economic growth; notes the important contribution that engineering and aerospace make to Ayrshire’s economy, and wishes Ayrshire College, its staff, learners and industry partners continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates The FitNest Fife, based in Burntisland, on reaching its first anniversary; commends husband and wife team, Liza and David Simpson, for the commitment, courage and entrepreneurial spirit that they demonstrated in leaving their previous careers to pursue their dream of establishing their own fitness business; recognises that, in a relatively short period of time, The FitNest Fife has become a valued part of the local community, offering a wide range of fitness classes, bootcamps and activities designed to be accessible to people of all abilities; notes that the business promotes fitness, wellbeing and healthy lifestyles in a supportive and inclusive environment, with a strong emphasis on community, encouragement and personal achievement; further notes that members describe the gym as having a welcoming, family atmosphere and a real sense of belonging, helping people to improve both their physical and mental wellbeing; acknowledges the contribution that independent local businesses such as The FitNest Fife make to the economy and social fabric of Burntisland and the wider Fife area; thanks Liza and David for their dedication to supporting the health and wellbeing of local residents, and wishes them every success as they continue to grow The FitNest Fife in the years ahead.