Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Maggie’s on its 30th anniversary and Maggie’s Fife on 20 years of supporting people affected by cancer; recognises the invaluable work of Maggie’s Fife, which is based in the grounds of Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, in providing free practical, emotional and psychological support to people living with cancer and their families and friends; notes that this includes providing expert information, benefits advice, support groups and help with the emotional impact of diagnosis and treatment, with no appointment or referral required; welcomes the anniversary celebrations taking place on 5 November 2026 as an opportunity to reflect on the charity’s achievements and to thank those who have supported its work; commends the dedication of its staff, volunteers, fundraisers and supporters, and wishes Maggie’s continued success in helping people affected by cancer.

That the Parliament notes the extraordinary life and career of Sir Patrick Stewart, legend of stage and screen, following the sad news of his death at the age of 86; recognises the longevity and distinction of his acting career, which spanned seven decades, including his time with the Royal Shakespeare Company, blockbuster success in Hollywood and his iconic starring role as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek franchise; further recognises his many accolades throughout an illustrious career, including Laurence Olivier Awards, his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and his knighthood for contributions to drama; commends his social conscience and activism as well as his advocacy for social justice, for women and children who experience domestic violence, for animal welfare and for human rights and equality; notes his socialism, internationalism and public allyship to LGBT people, and extends its condolences to his family and friends and all those fans that he inspired and entertained around the world.

That the Parliament expresses its profound sadness at the passing of Sir Patrick Stewart, aged 86, on 28 October 2026; pays tribute to his extraordinary contribution to theatre, television and film across a distinguished career spanning more than six decades; recognises his acclaimed work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and his portrayal of Professor Charles Xavier in the X-Men franchise; particularly celebrates his iconic portrayal of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Picard, through which he inspired generations to imagine a future founded on co-operation, equality, exploration and peace; acknowledges that, through Picard, Sir Patrick brought to life a vison of leadership defined not by power or authority, but by wisdom, compassion, diplomacy, moral courage and an unwavering commitment to doing what is right even in the face of adversity; recognises the profound influence of a character who challenged prejudice, defended the dignity of others and demonstrated that humanity’s greatest strength lies in its capacity for understanding and progress; commends Sir Patrick’s lifelong advocacy for human rights, survivors of domestic abuse and veterans’ mental health; believes that his portrayal of Captain Picard will endure as a reminder of the better future that humanity can aspire to build if we “make it so”, and extends its deepest condolences to his wife, Sunny, his family, friends and the millions of people across the world whose lives he touched, both as an extraordinary actor and a man of compassion and principle.

That the Parliament notes that the A90 is a major route linking Dundee, Angus and the Mearns with Aberdeen and is vital to commuters, hauliers and businesses; considers that repairs to the road are necessary to keep it safe; understands that some motorists in Angus and Aberdeenshire are frustrated by repeated roadworks, temporary traffic management and delays on the route; believes that drivers, who already pay significant taxes to use the road network, should not face constant disruption without clear justification; considers that these delays add cost for commuters and hauliers and harm local businesses; calls on the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland to review how works are planned, co-ordinated and communicated, to complete them as quickly as possible and to minimise disruption to motorists; notes that average speed cameras have operated on the 51.5-mile stretch between Dundee and Stonehaven since 31 October 2017; considers that enforcement at the A90/A937 junction at Laurencekirk is important for road safety pending delivery of the planned grade-separated junction, however, believes that motorists are entitled to know whether camera enforcement on the remainder of the route remains justified, and calls on Transport Scotland to publish collision data from before and after their installation and to report on whether the cameras remain proportionate.

That the Parliament notes that Movember is an annual global campaign held each November to raise awareness of and funds for key men’s health issues, including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention; recognises that men’s health outcomes in Scotland remain a serious concern, with male life expectancy the lowest of any UK nation, more than 35 men dying prematurely every day and men around 50% more likely than women to die before the age of 75; understands that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men, with thousands of new cases and around 1,000 deaths each year in Scotland, while suicide continues to claim the lives of hundreds of men annually, with the large majority of suicide deaths being male; believes that campaigns such as Movember play a valuable role in breaking down stigma, encouraging men to seek help earlier, and funding vital research and services; considers that greater public awareness, earlier detection, better access to support and coordinated action are essential to improve outcomes, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue supporting men’s health awareness initiatives, including Movember, to work with stakeholders to strengthen prevention, early diagnosis and mental health services and to take steps toward a dedicated, fully-costed Men’s Health Action Plan that addresses the scale of the challenge across Scotland.

That the Parliament wishes the Hindu community of Dundee, and all those celebrating, a happy and peaceful Diwali; welcomes the community celebrations that are being held in Dundee during November, including a Mandir ceremony, a Lakshmi Puja, a Diwali quiz, ball and Bollywood Night that will bring people together and encourage understanding of Hindu traditions; applauds the organisers of these events; recognises that Diwali celebrates the triumph of light overcoming darkness, knowledge over ignorance and good over evil, reflecting the Ramayana’s values of integrity, compassion and responsibility towards others; further recognises that Diwali also celebrates the expression of these values through friendship, hospitality, sharing and support for those experiencing hardships, loneliness or disadvantages, and hopes that Diwali inspires people of all faiths and none to build a kinder, more inclusive and peaceful community.

That the Parliament recognises Craigdhu Primary School in Milngavie for its recent accolades from UNICEF; understands that the school has been re-accredited as gold standard after also meeting the bronze and silver standards for promoting and respecting the rights of children; further understands that UNICEF uses Craigdhu Primary as a case study in resources for other schools across the UK; congratulates staff and pupils at Craigdhu Primary for this achievement, and celebrates all schools that are striving for sustainability and respect amongst teachers and pupils.

That the Parliament congratulates Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company on its 16th anniversary; recognises what it considers to be the significant contributions that the company has made to reduce waste, create local jobs and training opportunities and provide affordable, high quality, essential furniture to those who need it most; applauds its innovative mattress reuse scheme, which has saved hundreds of mattresses from landfill, and which numerous other charities across Scotland have now also adopted; notes that it is part of Circular Communities Scotland’s Reuse Consortium, which offers local authorities, housing associations and other public sector organisations easy access to a range of quality-assured reuse furniture and white goods from local social enterprises, and acknowledges the role that it plays in enabling communities to access affordable goods with dignity and keeping wealth within the community.

That the Parliament welcomes the End the Cleft Dental Care Crisis campaign, which is led by Cleft Lip and Palate Action (CLAPA); recognises that people born with a cleft lip and/or palate may require ongoing dental care throughout their lives; understands that CLAPA’s 2025 survey found that 49% of respondents reported difficulties accessing local dental services, 42% reported inadequate care linked to a lack of professional training or understanding, 38% reported cost barriers and 7% reported being refused care because of their cleft; commends the people in the cleft community who shared their experiences and helped shape the campaign; notes that more than 4,000 people signed its petition calling for guaranteed lifelong NHS dental care; welcomes the publication of practical guidance for primary dental care teams, led by the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry and developed with the Cleft Clinical Excellence Networks within the Craniofacial Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Restorative Dentistry UK and the British Orthodontic Society, in partnership with CLAPA; recognises the contribution of specialist cleft teams and general dental professionals across Scotland; supports the campaign’s aims of guaranteed lifelong access to NHS dental care, improved cleft education and training for dental professionals, better integration between general dentistry and specialist cleft services, and transparent reporting on access to care, and calls on the Scottish Government to work with CLAPA, NHS boards, dental professionals and the cleft community to advance these aims and promote the guidance across Scotland.

As an amendment to motion S7M-01796 in the name of Tim Eagle (The Cost of Running Down Nuclear Power in Scotland), leave out from “regrets” to end, and insert “welcomes the Scottish Government’s continued opposition to new nuclear power stations in Scotland, including small modular reactors; notes that nuclear power generates hazardous radioactive waste that, it believes, remains a burden for future generations and carries substantial construction, decommissioning and environmental costs; understands that the funding arrangements for Hinkley Point C in Somerset will leave electricity consumers supporting the project for decades after it begins generating power, potentially into the 2060s; recognises the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee’s conclusion that Sizewell C represents a “high-risk” project and notes its concerns that no comparable nuclear power station has been delivered on time and on budget; acknowledges concerns that investment in costly and unproven nuclear technologies will do little to reduce energy bills or strengthen energy security; welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to accelerate the deployment of offshore wind, solar and pumped-storage hydroelectric technologies, and believes that Scotland’s energy future should be built on clean, renewable energy rather than expensive new nuclear developments."