Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates The Machan Trust charity of Larkhall for having hosted a free breakfast with Santa on 13 December 2025 for over 160 families from Larkhall and the surrounding area; recognises what it sees as the important role that the staff and volunteers of the organisation played in organising this wonderful event, and congratulates Morrisons Bakers in Larkhall, Warburtons in Bolton, Lancashire, and the Larkhall Rangers Supporters Club for donating substantial amounts of food and gifts and helping to make the event a fantastic success for all those who attended.

That the Parliament congratulates STEP Business Centre in Stirling on being named Business Support Provider of the Year 2024-25 by Corporate Livewire Global Awards in recognition of its longstanding and distinctive commitment to business wealth building, which includes reinvesting 100% of its profits back into the community; recognises its ongoing commitment to empower and inspire businesses to shape a thriving Stirling, and wishes it continued success.

That the Parliament celebrates Kirkcaldy Orchestral Society (KOS) being shortlisted for the Royal Philharmonic Society's Inspiration Award, which champions amateur music across the country; appreciates KOS for its longevity, operating as a community orchestra in Fife for 150 years; recognises that KOS is the only nominee from Scotland and is one of four music groups shortlisted for the national award; notes that the winners of the award, which is decided by public vote, will be announced at a ceremony in London in March 2026; extends its very best wishes to everyone at KOS, and wishes it continued success, included at the upcoming final.

That the Parliament commends the Levenmouth Academy pupils who were successful in a national STEM competition; understands that the group of students, under the team name, Enable, represented the school and came second in TechFest’s Innovation in Action competition by developing a multi-featured walking cane to help visually impaired people; believes that the contest aims to inspire secondary school pupils across the country to design creative solutions to improve life for visually impaired people; notes that 19 teams from 12 schools took part in the final of the competition; extends its very best wishes to the Levenmouth Academy team, and applauds everyone involved for all their hard work.

That the Parliament welcomes the planting of more than 6,000 native trees in Sauchie to create a new woodland; understands that this is part of the wider Forth Climate Forest project, which is led by the University of Stirling and aims to plant 16 million trees by 2033 to help the Forth Valley adapt to the climate crisis; recognises that the project will have multiple climate benefits, including supporting local biodiversity and wildlife, absorbing CO2 from the atmosphere, creating canopy cover in towns and cities and generating social and health benefits; congratulates the Conservation Volunteers for beginning the work of planting these trees during National Tree week, and wishes the project continued success.

That the Parliament notes the launch of They’re Someone’s…, which is a joint antisocial behaviour campaign by Borders Buses, Scottish Borders Council and Police Scotland; recognises the clear message of zero tolerance for abuse towards transport staff; acknowledges concerns about rising levels of abuse against frontline transport workers, particularly during the festive period; agrees with the challenge to the misconception that antisocial behaviour is linked only to young people or the under-22 free bus travel scheme; commends Borders Buses staff, who feature in the campaign, for highlighting that transport workers are valued members of families and communities, and welcomes efforts to promote a safe and respectful public transport network for all.

That the Parliament congratulates the projects across Mid-Scotland and Fife that have received awards from the National Lottery Community Fund to support their work; understands that 48 groups in the region have been awarded a total of £1.5 million,18 projects in Fife, 12 in Perth and Kinross, eight in Stirling, four in Clackmannanshire and a further six regionally; believes that these projects provide valuable services to their communities, and is pleased that this funding will aim to support them in their ability to continue their work.

That the Parliament congratulates John D’Ambrosio, head of coaching and development at Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion, on winning the sportscotland Janice Eaglesham Disability Coach of the Year Award 2025; recognises John’s outstanding contribution to making sport accessible and inclusive for individuals with disabilities and additional support needs since founding Hamilton Judo Club Inclusion in 2019; commends his leadership in creating inclusive, adaptive judo sessions and the pioneering initiative, Falls prevention through judo, in partnership with NHS Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture; notes that the club now welcomes over 100 members each week and has delivered more than 400 inclusion sessions in 2025; applauds John’s commitment to training future coaches so that inclusion remains at the heart of community sport, and celebrates the social, physical and emotional benefits his work and Hamilton Judo Club have brought to participants and their families across Lanarkshire.

That the Parliament congratulates Woodland View ASN School, in Kirkintilloch, on being named School of the Year at the sportscotland Scottish Sports Awards 2025; applauds its remarkable achievement, which shines a spotlight on the school as a leader in inclusive sport and physical activity; commends the school’s commitment to providing a wide range of sporting opportunities for children and young people with additional support needs, including the recruitment of two young ambassadors, sporting games such as football, judo and boccia, yoga and rebound therapy; recognises the strong partnerships built with local sports clubs, coaches and governing bodies, as well as the leadership programmes that empower pupils to deliver festivals and after-school clubs, and wishes Woodland View ASN School continued success.

That the Finance and Public Administration Committee recommends that the Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (Investment Zones Relief) (Scotland) Order 2026 [draft] be approved.