Chamber and committees

As an amendment to motion S7M-01838 in the name of Tom Arthur (Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market), insert at end “; is concerned by figures indicating that as many as one in six young people in Scotland are not in education, work or training; believes that there is a need to simplify vocational qualifications, to create lifelong learning pathways and to support the development of flexible courses that can be tailored to individuals and businesses, and calls on the Scottish Government to draw up proposals to devolve funding for lifelong learning and skills to regional leaders to bring together colleges, employers and training providers, to ensure that people are equipped with the skills industry needs and that local communities share in the benefits of investment."

As amendment to motion S7M-01838 in the name of Tom Arthur (Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market), leave out from first “welcomes” to end and insert “is concerned that thousands of young Scots remain detached from employment, education or training, despite years of Scottish Government promises; expresses concern that the Scottish Government has been unable to produce comparative not in education, employment or training (NEET) figures for all 16- to 24-year-olds in Scotland, instead relying on more favourable data from a narrower age range; notes that the Annual Population Survey indicates that one in six 16- to 24-year-olds in Scotland has NEET status; believes that a generation is being failed by a system that too often leaves young people without purpose, direction or hope for the future; recognises that work must be the surest route to financial independence and prosperity for young people, and believes that people should keep more of the money they earn and that every young person should have a clear pathway from education to productive employment, financial independence and economic security.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-01838 in the name of Tom Arthur (Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market), leave out from first “welcomes” to end and insert “notes that, despite high rates of positive destinations, the proportion of school leavers entering employment has fallen; believes that the best way to support young people into work is to create a strong economy in which businesses can afford to hire and invest; regrets the decline in Modern Apprenticeship starts and the reduction in college-based skills training in Scotland despite continued employer demand for skills; questions the ambition of a target for 150,000 apprenticeships over the current parliamentary session, given that this is close to what the existing annual provision would already deliver; calls on the Scottish Government to reduce the cost of doing business, to expand apprenticeship opportunities and to rebuild vocational education, and believes that employability support should focus on helping those who face genuine barriers into work rather than imposing further costs and interventions on employers.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-01838 in the name of Tom Arthur (Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market) insert at end "; agrees that the UK Government must act immediately to end age-based minimum wage discriminatory bands to ensure that young workers are paid a fair wage, and notes the need to establish a minimum standard for apprenticeships to ensure effective quality control and fair treatment for apprentices."

As an amendment to motion S7M-01838 in the name of Tom Arthur (Supporting Young People to Participate in the Labour Market), insert at end “; notes with concern that the number of 16 to 24-year-olds who are economically inactive because of health reasons reached 26,300 in 2024-25, more than double the figure recorded a decade earlier; further notes that the number of modern apprenticeship starts fell to 24,849 in 2025-26 and remains below pre-pandemic levels despite a shortage of skilled workers constraining Scotland’s economy; recognises the need for improved data to better understand the barriers preventing many young people from participating in the labour market, and further recognises the importance of improving mental health services and neurodevelopmental assessment and support in order to enable young people to achieve their potential.”

That the Parliament notes Scotland's weak economic growth, stagnant living standards and persistent fiscal deficit; believes that successive Scottish Government decisions to increase public spending and impose higher tax burdens have failed to deliver sufficient economic growth, productivity improvements or rising prosperity; recognises the need to support more young people into work, to improve business productivity, to help Scottish firms grow and scale up, and to strengthen food and energy security, and calls on the Scottish Government to present to Parliament detailed proposals to create more wealth, capture more value from Scotland's economy and retain more of that wealth for the benefit of the people and businesses of Scotland.

That the Parliament notes the ongoing debate across Scotland regarding the wearing of full-face coverings, including the burqa and niqab, in public places; recognises that legislation in Scotland already provides police with powers to require the removal of face coverings in specified circumstances where there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are being used to conceal identity in connection with criminality or disorder; notes the Scottish Government’s current position that existing police powers are sufficient; further notes that a number of European countries have introduced restrictions on face coverings in public places, and notes calls for the Scottish Government to set out its assessment of the potential benefits of introducing further restrictions on full-face coverings in public places, including consideration of public safety, individual liberty and community cohesion.

That the Parliament congratulates the now multi-award-winning Tee’s Treats bakery in Rutherglen on being named Best Bakery at Scotland’s Business Awards, which were recently held in Glasgow; understands that this achievement comes after the independent coffee shop and bakery was crowned Best Bakery in the Glasgow Region earlier in 2026; considers that, after opening in Rutherglen less than two years ago, the business has gone from strength to strength, regularly attracting queues and selling out of its innovative and seasonal creations, including its Hallowe’en-themed Spider Web Smores Cookies, and wishes Taylor and the rest of the Tee’s Treats team all the best for their continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates the Open University (OU) in Scotland on holding degree-awarding ceremonies at the Royal Concert Hall in Glasgow, on 22 and 23 October 2026; understands that the OU in Scotland has over 200,000 alumni; recognises the hard work and sacrifices of the almost 1,000 students participating in the ceremonies; further recognises the support provided, and sacrifices made, by their families during their studies; notes that 32% of the participating students reported having a disability, 48% are the first in their family to study at higher education level and 64% were in receipt of the Part-Time Fee Grant; understands that the youngest graduate is aged 19 and the oldest is aged 88; commends the OU for its geographical reach, with students graduating from as far north as Shetland and as far south as Stranraer, and wishes all celebrating students every success for the future.

That the Parliament celebrates the official unveiling of the restored Category B-listed Overtoun Park bandstand in Rutherglen on 31 October 2026, following severe damage in a fire in June 2024, which Police Scotland treated as a deliberate act; acknowledges the rich heritage of the bandstand, which was originally erected in 1914, featured at the Glasgow Garden Festival in 1988 and has historically served as a cherished focal point for local memories and events, including Landemer Day; welcomes the £300,000 funding commitment by South Lanarkshire Council that ensured that the damaged structure was preserved and repaired; commends the expert craftsmanship of heritage restoration specialists Covanburn Contracts, working alongside David McGregor of McGregor Patterns and Laings Foundry, who meticulously recreated missing cast-iron elements and pattern moulds; notes that the design research drew upon archival photographs, Glasgow City Archives, East Dunbartonshire Archives and Historic Scotland’s 2009 publication, MacFarlane’s Castings, to match structural details against historical catalogues from Glasgow's renowned Saracen Foundry in Possilpark, the original manufacturer of the bandstand; welcomes the installation of a new octagonal base mosaic created in collaboration with pupils from Stonelaw High School, which incorporates Rutherglen’s town motto, Ex fumo fama ("fame from smoke"), and marks the town's 900th anniversary as a Royal Burgh, a status originally granted by King David I in 1126; recognises what it sees as the vital advocacy of local charity Grow73 and the deep emotional connection of the local community to the historic structure, and congratulates all involved in preserving this cherished historic landmark for future generations to enjoy.