Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Helen and Colin MacDonald, along with all the staff at Brown’s Tobermory, on being awarded the title of Best Village Shop/ Post Office at the Countryside Alliance Awards 2026; understands that these awards are sometimes called the Rural Oscars; notes that this iconic shop was established in 1830, at the heart of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull; understands that Helen and Colin are the fifth generation of owners within the Brown family, and wishes the team at Brown’s continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates the Strathmore Centre for Youth Development (SCYD) on its 21st birthday; understands that the Blairgowrie-based charity delivers crucial support to young people in Strathmore, providing a safe and welcoming space where youngsters can learn crucial skills, build confidence and participate in brilliant volunteering opportunities; believes that this organisation, and others like it, are essential to foster clearer and brighter futures for young people, and wishes all those involved with the SCYD a successful birthday celebration and many more years of nurturing positive futures for young people in Strathmore.

That the Parliament congratulates Scotland Transplant Active Football and all involved in organising the inaugural Four Nations Transplant Football Championship, which is held at the Global Energy Stadium in Dingwall on 29 and 30 May 2026; recognises the significance of this being the first international transplant football tournament to be hosted in Scotland; commends the efforts of Inverness heart transplant recipient Duncan McAuley in founding the Scottish Transplant Football team; acknowledges the support provided by Ross County FC, NHS Golden Jubilee Hospital and partner organisations in bringing the tournament to the Highlands; notes that teams representing Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland will compete in the championship in preparation for the 2026 Transplant Football World Cup in Frankfurt; recognises that organ donation is the ultimate gift that can save and transform the lives of recipients; further recognises the role events such as this play in raising awareness of transplantation, and wishes all participating teams every success in the tournament.

That the Parliament celebrates the vital contribution of community rail partnerships (CRPs) to the Highlands and Islands during Community Rail Week, which is taking place from 1 to 7 June 2026; notes that the Highland Main Line CRP, West Highland Line CRP and Far North Line CRP are among the nine CRPs across Scotland, which are engaging communities with their railways, promoting sustainable travel and strengthening the social, economic and environmental fabric of the regions that they serve; recognises what it considers to be the particular importance of these partnerships in a region where rail is not merely a transport choice but, for many communities, an essential lifeline connecting them to employment, education, healthcare and each other; commends the hundreds of volunteers across these partnerships who give their time to improve stations, promote their lines and deepen the bond between communities and their railways; welcomes the theme of Community Rail Week 2026, Journeys for All, as especially resonant in the Highlands and Islands, where geography and distance make inclusive and community-rooted rail particularly significant; notes with pride that, as part of Railway 200 celebrations at Boat of Garten in 2025, the Highland Main Line received a National Transport Trust red wheel plaque, recognising its outstanding contribution to transport heritage; commends the Friends of the Kyle Line organisation, which has championed the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh line since 1995, runs the Kyle Station Museum and makes the case to keep this remarkable route alive through what it recognises have been decades of challenge, and calls on the Scottish Government and ScotRail to deepen their support for community rail partnerships across the Highlands and Islands, to resource them adequately and to recognise the grassroots energy of the community rail movement as central to making Highland railways work for the communities they serve.

That the Parliament congratulates the Kinlochard community on the successful community buyout of The Field in Kinlochard, Stirlingshire; recognises the significant efforts of local volunteers and the Kinlochard Community Residents Association in securing more than £400,000 in funding following a two-year-long campaign; understands that the project aims to protect an important local green space and biodiversity-rich environment whilst supporting community regeneration and resilience; understands that there are plans to improve access and pathways, establish community food-growing spaces, support outdoor education opportunities and create opportunities for local businesses; acknowledges concerns regarding the loss of local services in Kinlochard that would have occurred without this buyout, and commends all those involved for their commitment to safeguarding the long-term future, environmental stewardship and community wellbeing of Kinlochard for generations to come.

That the Parliament commends Fife referee trainer, George Macdonald, from Kirkcaldy, for nine years of dedication to the development of refereeing for the Fife Referee Association; understands that for his last session, George arranged a special spin bike session in the Glenrothes Michael Woods Centre velo studio, giving 22 referees the chance to swap the whistle for the pedals; understands that from fitness sessions to support, guidance and encouragement, George has played a immense role in the development of many officials across the association; acknowledges George’s commitment and passion for refereeing; recognises that his contributions have had a lasting impact on refereeing in the Fife region; expresses its gratitude to George for all his time and dedication to training referees in Fife, and extends to George its very best wishes for the future.

That the Parliament recognises International Electricians Day, which is marked annually on 10 June; notes that the day was first proposed in 1986 by Polish and French electrical professionals in honour of André-Marie Ampère, a pioneer of electromagnetism; further notes that the day is recognised internationally and promoted by organisations such as EuropeOn to highlight the contribution of electrical professionals; acknowledges the vital role that electricians play across Scotland in designing, installing and maintaining electrical systems that keep homes powered, public services operational, hospitals functioning and businesses productive; recognises the contribution of SELECT, the trade association for the electrical contracting industry in Scotland, in supporting the profession, promoting skills development and maintaining high standards across the sector; further recognises that electricians are essential to delivering Scotland’s transition to net zero, including through the rollout of renewable energy, electrification of heat and transport and the modernisation of buildings and infrastructure; notes with concern the ongoing skills shortages within the electrical profession and the need to attract and retain new apprentices and adult trainees; welcomes the 2026 theme, Skilled hands, resilient Europe, and recognises its relevance to Scotland’s own economic resilience and energy security; commends electricians and electrical contractors working across Scotland for their contribution to communities and the economy, and notes calls for the Scottish Government, employers and training providers to continue to promote careers in the electrical trades and support apprenticeships and skills development to meet Scotland’s future needs.

That the Parliament believes that the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is one of Scotland's most iconic and culturally significant species; recognises that it is renowned for its extraordinary migration from Scottish upland rivers to the waters of Norway and Greenland and back again; notes with deep concern that wild Atlantic salmon are now classified as endangered in Great Britain by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, with a reported population decline of between 30 and 50% since 2006; acknowledges the cumulative pressures facing the species identified in the Scottish Government's Scottish wild salmon strategy, including habitat loss, barriers to river migration, declining water quality, rising temperatures driven by climate change as well as the impacts on wild salmonid populations of sea lice and escapes from salmon farming; recognises what it sees as the vital ecological role of Atlantic salmon as a keystone species, which supports other wildlife, including otters and the freshwater pearl mussel; further recognises the importance of the species to Scotland's rural economy through angling tourism, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure the full and timely delivery of the Scottish wild salmon strategy and its implementation Plan 2023–2028, affirming that bold and urgent action is needed now if this species is to be secured for future generations.

That the Parliament acknowledges the exceptional contribution to road and motorcycle safety made by the late Professor Alex Stedmon, who was a leading expert in human factors psychology; recognises what it considers to be his pivotal role in the development, trial and evaluation of the innovative Perceptual Rider Information to Maximise Enjoyment and Expertise (PRIME) interventions; understands that these measures have delivered significant improvements in motorcyclist behaviour and substantial reductions in collisions on Scotland’s roads; further understands that the PRIME project, developed and trialled on Scotland’s roads, has received national and international recognition, including the Prince Michael International Road Safety Award and is now being adopted by road authorities across Scotland, the UK and beyond; commends Professor Stedmon’s commitment to applying behavioural science to improve road safety outcomes, including his dedication to completing and publishing his final research findings following a terminal diagnosis; considers that his work represents a lasting legacy that will continue to save lives, and expresses its deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

That the Parliament welcomes the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) to Aviemore for its Forty-Third annual meeting, which is taking place from 2 to 5 June 2026; recognises that NASCO is the international body responsible for the conservation and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon across the North Atlantic; believes that Scotland, as one of the most significant wild Atlantic salmon nations, has a particular stake in the outcomes of this gathering and that Scotland's participation in NASCO reflects a commitment to salmon conservation that extends beyond its own borders, across the full migratory range of the species; considers it fitting therefore that the meeting takes place in Aviemore, within the Cairngorms National Park, on the banks of the River Spey, which is one of Scotland's most celebrated and important salmon rivers; acknowledges that wild Atlantic salmon reportedly now inhabit just 34% of Scottish river systems in good conservation status; recognises what it considers to be the profound importance of healthy salmon populations to the communities, economies and landscapes of the Highlands and beyond; notes that NASCO is embarking on its fourth reporting cycle in 2026, making this a particularly significant moment to review progress and strengthen international commitments; believes that international cooperation of the kind fostered by NASCO is essential to addressing the wide range of pressures facing wild salmon across their migratory range, and wishes all delegates a warm Scottish welcome and every success in their deliberations.