Chamber and committees

As an amendment to motion S6M-17798 in the name of Kevin Stewart (Striking the Balance), leave out from third "notes" to end and insert "believes that this report is a damning indictment not only of the UK Government's reported policy of not granting any new North Sea licences, but also of what it considers to be the Scottish Government's failure to deliver an energy strategy or just transition plan; condemns the Scottish Government's presumption against new oil and gas developments, its vocal opposition to projects such as Rosebank and Cambo, and what it sees as its failure to deliver on its own commitments, having reportedly spent only a fraction of the promised £500 million Just Transition Fund; regrets what it considers to be the broken promise of £200 million in rail investment for the north east, which it believes is a betrayal that undermines economic growth and connectivity in a region that is already facing significant industrial uncertainty; calls on both the UK and Scottish governments to stop laying blame elsewhere and to instead work meaningfully with industry, workers and communities to deliver a joined-up, affordable transition that protects jobs, secures energy supply, and ensures that the north east of Scotland is not abandoned in the shift to net zero, and urges them to treat this report as a final wake-up call before any irreversible damage is done to Scotland's offshore energy workforce and wider economy."

As an amendment to motion S6M-17906 in the name of Kate Forbes (A Migration System that Works for Scotland), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “supports the move towards a more sustainable immigration system for the whole of the UK; regrets that the care sector has become overly dependent on low wages and exploitative working practices for migrants; believes that Scotland’s stagnant economy cannot be fixed through migration alone; calls on the Scottish Government to grow the workforce through using its devolved powers to build more housing, strengthen public transport, increase pay for social care work and incentivise skills development, and welcomes the UK Government’s deal with the EU, which includes increased trade, negotiation to rejoin Erasmus+ and co-operation on a youth experience scheme.”

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the vital work of the Scottish Borders Widowed Community (SBWC), a peer-to-peer voluntary support organisation operating across the Scottish Borders; acknowledges that SBWC provides sustained support for men and women who have experienced the bereavement of a partner, offering regular in-person meetings at Hope Central in Galashiels, online discussions, and social activities designed to tackle social isolation and loneliness; understands that the group is entirely volunteer-led, with all organisers themselves widowed, and that membership has grown to almost 480 people; commends SBWC for being the only group of its kind in the Scottish Borders exclusively for widowed people, and for offering long-term, compassionate support beyond the immediate period of bereavement; notes the group’s call to encourage more open conversations around death, including emotional, mental, physical, and practical preparedness, and believes that access to such support is essential to the health and wellbeing of those affected by the trauma of losing a partner in the Scottish Borders and elsewhere in Scotland.

As an amendment to motion S6M-17906 in the name of Kate Forbes (A Migration System that Works for Scotland), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “believes that there is an important policy balance to be struck between welcoming those migrants who make significant contributions to the economic, social and cultural life of the UK, and reducing the numbers of illegal migrants who place added pressures on the welfare system and public services, and believes that the future of migration policy across the UK should reflect the specific needs of different sectors of the labour market.”

That the Parliament is concerned by the availability of NHS dentistry provision, with specific concerns relating to some dental practices reportedly making the decision to no longer provide dentistry on the NHS for adult patients; understands that the operators of Breeze Dental Care in Fife have indicated their intention to restrict the NHS dental care that they provide to only those under the age of 26, affecting patients of both their Cowdenbeath and Cardenden practices; further understands that this decision has caused considerable stress for existing patients, who have reportedly been told that the only option to remain with the practice is to sign up to a private payment plan, which many cannot afford; regrets the reported anxiety that this has caused for some patients who have used the same dental practice for many decades of their life and are now unable to find any other dentists in their local area accepting new NHS dental patients; is troubled by situations such as this when a dentist decides to no longer offer NHS dental treatment, but existing patients have no recourse to move to another dentist due to a lack of availability in the provision; believes that this situation is unfair and risks disrupting continuity of care, which can be vital for people who have attended a local dentist for much of their life; understands that, in responding to this latest practice removing NHS provision, NHS Fife has said that "There is a national shortage of qualified dentists currently and this remains a significant issue impacting NHS dentistry across Scotland, including here in Fife", and that "Health Boards like NHS Fife have no means of compelling practices to provide NHS dental services, and with the shift over recent years from smaller NHS-run practices to larger corporate entities, we have very limited influence over practice decisions", and notes the belief that, as a result of many people across the Mid Scotland and Fife region, as well as across Scotland, finding it difficult to access NHS dentistry, the Scottish Government should review the availability of provision as well as what action can be taken to ensure that people remain able to access NHS dentistry.

That the Parliament notes the view that breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for babies and young children, supporting their health in the short and longer term, as well as benefiting mothers’ health, including through reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer; recognises that 2025 is the 20th anniversary year of the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005, which resulted from the Member's Bill lodged by Elaine Smith, former Scottish Labour MSP for the Coatbridge and Chryston constituency and the Central Scotland region, to support and promote breastfeeding; considers that this Act has had a positive impact in helping to increase the breastfeeding rates in Scotland, with the latest infant feeding statistics from Public Health Scotland showing a significant increase in breastfeeding rates over the past 10 years, both at first visit and at the six- to eight-week review; notes reports that the increase in breastfeeding rates over the past 10 years has been greatest among those groups with historically lower rates, such as younger women and those living in more deprived areas, meaning that inequalities in breastfeeding have reduced over time; expresses concern, however, that babies of white Scottish ethnicity were reportedly much less likely to be breastfed than any other ethnicity; believes that there is good evidence that interventions, including good quality of breastfeeding support for mothers, influencing public attitudes to breastfeeding, restricting any inappropriate promotion of formula milk and ensuring supportive employment practices, can work to improve breastfeeding rates, and notes the view that all staff working in the NHS and wider public service should promote and support breastfeeding mums, babies and families, including those in the South Scotland region.

That the Parliament notes Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s (SPT) proposals to develop bus franchising arrangements for the region and its recent consultation on how to create more affordable, reliable and environmentally sustainable bus services in Strathclyde; further notes the calls for SPT to proceed with the most ambitious approach to franchising, and for the Scottish Government to work constructively with SPT to make this possible; welcomes the report from Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC), The Next Stop: The Case for Publicly Owned Buses in Scotland; notes that it argues that moving local buses into public ownership would have a positive impact for local communities, allow local authorities to plan routes and cap fares, and return revenues to the public sector; understands that Scotland’s only publicly owned bus company, Lothian Buses, has returned a dividend of £36 million to its local authority shareholders over the last decade; congratulates Get Glasgow Moving on its continued campaigning work on this issue, and notes the calls for the Scottish Government to further commit to support the expansion of publicly owned bus services and deliver high quality, affordable and reliable bus services, integrated ticketing and higher standards of service across the SPT region and beyond.

That the Parliament echoes the "grave concerns" of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding the reportedly catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza; notes the calls, including from constituents in Glasgow Anniesland, for an immediate ceasefire and the safe release of all hostages, alongside the immediate and unconditional lifting of all restrictions on the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza, and further notes the belief that international recognition of a sovereign independent state of Palestine, as part of a two-state solution, is the fundamental pillar upon which a lasting peace in the Middle East depends.

That the Parliament recognises the dedication of Inverclyde ASN Parent and Carer Group in raising awareness of activities and services for local children with additional support needs (ASN); believes that the group has helped provide parents of children with ASN with a network that they can turn to for support and advice; welcomes the success of the group’s latest event, at which over 40 services from the NHS, health and social care partnership (HSCP), Inverclyde Council and third sector attended to highlight the support that they offer to local families; applauds Heather Reid, Elizabeth Kean Darroch, Monica Jackson, Siobhan Gray and Chelsea Stewart for founding the group, which now has over 600 members; understands that, in August 2025, there are seven P1 classes starting at Craigmarloch School, a specialist school in Inverclyde for pupils with ASN, and the number of pupils in mainstream schools that also require additional support is growing; considers that additional investment must be made to ensure that children with ASN have the opportunity to thrive, and wishes Inverclyde ASN Parent and Carers Group all the best in their efforts to ensure that children in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency and all across Inverclyde with ASN can access the support that they need.

That the Parliament commends P6 pupil, Annabelle, from Lochwinnoch Primary School on her plan to help tackle loneliness throughout the school; understands that Annabelle came up with the bright idea to create an area where her classmates, who did not have anyone to play with or converse with, could be seen by fellow classmates, who would show kindness and join them to play or chat; acknowledges that Annabelle’s idea came to fruition with help from the Design and Technology department at St Andrew’s High School, and that it became a pupil-built project from those in the first year woodwork club, and believes that it is a testament to not only Annabelle’s kindness, but the kindness showed by both schools in making this idea a reality.