That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the outstanding contribution of Scotland’s residential outdoor education centres, including PGL Dalguise in the Mid Scotland and Fife region, in developing key life skills for young people, including confidence, independence, teamwork and resilience; considers that the will of the Parliament has been expressed on the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill, with a majority of MSPs, including those representing all political parties, agreeing to the general principles at stage 1 on 27 March 2025; notes that the Scottish Government must lodge a financial resolution by 26 September 2025 or the Bill falls; further notes that the Member in Charge of the Bill has produced a series of policy proposals and associated costings for consideration by the Scottish Government that, it believes, would mean the Bill would cost significantly less; understands that the Scottish Government is yet to provide a view on any of these policy proposals and that it is yet to identify at what level of cost it considers the Bill would become "affordable" to enable a financial resolution to be lodged; further understands that the Scottish Government has not produced financial modelling with associated draft amendments on any proposals on affordability despite what it considers a commitment from the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise when appearing before the Education, Children and Young People Committee to share draft amendments with the Member in Charge by the start of July 2025; notes the calls by members from all political parties, the outdoor education sector, and children and young people from across Scotland for the Bill to proceed to stage 2 for further scrutiny, and further notes the associated calls for a financial resolution to be lodged.
Supported by:
Jeremy Balfour, Miles Briggs, Sharon Dowey, Pam Duncan-Glancy, Tim Eagle, Annabelle Ewing, Fergus Ewing, Russell Findlay, Murdo Fraser, Meghan Gallacher, Dr Pam Gosal MBE, Jamie Greene, Ross Greer, Dr Sandesh Gulhane, Craig Hoy, Liam Kerr, Stephen Kerr, Douglas Lumsden, Edward Mountain, Douglas Ross, Alexander Stewart, Annie Wells, Tess White, Martin Whitfield, Brian Whittle