Chamber and committees

That the Parliament is aware that Whistleblowing Awareness Week occurs between 20 and 24 March 2023; considers that whistleblowing is crucial to a free and open society; understands that Whistleblowing Awareness Week is an opportunity to celebrate people who have courageously spoken up about various workplace issues and organisations that have promoted whistleblowing within their organisation, and notes the view that Whistleblowing Awareness Week is an opportunity to acknowledge that existing whistleblowing legislation requires root and branch reform.

That the Parliament celebrates the success of Niall Allison in being named JudoScotland’s Volunteer of the Year 2022; understands that Niall has been a volunteer with Orkney Judo since 2016; recognises that, as well as volunteering as an assistant coach, Niall is the club’s Secretary, Press Officer, Child Welfare and Protection Officer, and also organises trips away to competitions; understands that the Volunteer of the Year Award recognises the contribution that Niall has made towards the development of Judo in Orkney; congratulates Niall on what it sees as his well-deserved award, and thanks him for his commitment to his sport and community.

That the Parliament welcomes reports that Glasgow’s pollution hotspots have passed air quality tests for the first time; understands that Friends of the Earth analysed official air pollution data for 2022, which showed a reduction in pollutants on pollution hotspots which are monitored; understands that Friends of the Earth found that 2022 was the first year that Glasgow did not breach air pollution limits, excluding the impact of lockdowns in 2020; notes that, in 2021, Hope Street, which has been the most polluted street in the country, recorded an annual average above the legal limit for diesel pollution but, in 2022, has seen one of the biggest improvements; understands that The European Ambient Air Quality Directive set a limit for Nitrogen Dioxide (N02) of 40 micrograms per cubic metre and that in 2022 Hope Street recorded 39.24 micrograms, Byres Road had 27.53 micrograms, Dumbarton Road was 26.12 micrograms, Anderston was 21.5 micrograms, High Street had 20.96 micrograms and Great Western Road scored 19.75 micrograms; notes that the Scottish annual statutory standard for particulate matter (PM10) is 18 micrograms per cubic metre and that all pollution hot spots in Glasgow were below that number; understands that campaigners have claimed that this is due to initiatives like the Low Emission Zone (LEZ); considers that provisional data shows that the LEZ and the Scottish Government’s subsidies for operators to buy new buses are having a considerable and welcome impact; accepts that particularly in Glasgow, improvements still have to be made but that improvements to date are welcome, and thanks Glasgow City Council and partners for their concerted efforts in improving air quality across the City.

That the Parliament congratulates Aberdeen Cyrenians on raising nearly £40,000 in two festive fund-raising campaigns; understands that the north-east-based charity has spent more than 50 years at the forefront of service, care, and influence for Scotland's most vulnerable and socially excluded people; notes that, in recent years, the local charity has seen a 600% increase in referrals to its various services and has distributed 80,325 meals with the help of the community; further notes that the £39,742.50 raised will fund the charity's Direct Access Service, which, it understands, is an open-door service available to anyone, offering non-judgmental advice and support, access to a food store and other essentials; commends the work of Aberdeen Cyrenians, its generous partners and donors for its role in assisting vulnerable individuals and families during the cost of living crisis, and sends its best wishes to all for continued success in the future. 

That the Parliament recognises Asda Foundation's grant of £756 to Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts Community Club - Girls U12s; thanks the club for its ongoing work in the community, training young football players, and encouraging more young girls into football; understands that the Asda Foundation is a charitable company that provides grants to a range of good causes in Scotland, with each project nominated by local people and communities; notes that the U18 Better Starts Grant is focused on supporting local groups to deliver initiatives that improve the lives of children and young people, particularly those providing support during the school holidays; understands that the Asda Foundation invested more than £800,000 in community projects and good causes in 2022 in Scotland; wishes the team all the very best in its future matches, and thanks all those involved in supporting the players.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that a Clackmannanshire supermarket has marked a year of successful fundraising at the end of 2022; understands that Morrisons Alloa community champion, Jayne Lindfield, was delighted with the amount of charitable work throughout December 2022, rounding off a year of providing support to good causes in the area; understands that the store raised more than £1,500 by selling donated small Christmas treats, with the running total for the store's partnership with CHAS reaching £15,000; believes that this is the first shop in Scotland to reach the milestone; notes that this fundraising included making hampers for customers, donating selection boxes, hot dogs and rolls to a school, and crackers for the Wasp Community Club so that it could make hampers for older people as part of a Festive Friends initiative; further notes that one hundred oranges were donated to St Mungo's Parish Church in Alloa for its Christingle services, while Christmas puddings were sent to older people; acknowledges that Morrisons colleagues, a neighbouring business and emergency services personnel also received gifts, donations were issued to 16 families over the festive period, and mince pies, selection boxes, shortbread and more were given to customers on Christmas Eve; is enthused that schoolchildren were in-store to sing Christmas carols, along with members of Sauchie Community Choir; commends Morrisons in Alloa and Jayne as its Community Champion, as well as all the staff and beneficiaries for their sterling work, and highlights the success of large stores’ community champions who work tirelessly for the benefit of good causes and put so much goodwill back into local communities.

That the Parliament congratulates Lesley Paterson, who grew up in Stirling, on being nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 95th Academy Awards, commonly known as The Oscars, for the 2022 film, All Quiet on the Western Front; understands that Lesley Paterson has been nominated alongside Edward Berger and Ian Stokell for the German language adaptation of the novel by Erich Maria Remarque; notes that the film has been nominated for nine Academy Awards, which makes it the second most nominated film at the 95th Academy Awards; wishes Lesley Paterson and all those involved in the production of All Quiet on the Western Front well at the 95th Academy Awards, which will take place on 12 March 2023 at the Dolby Theatre, at Ovation Hollywood, in Los Angeles.

That the Parliament congratulates ex-Napier student, Erin Reid, for designing and developing portable period kits; understands that the concept was thought of when Erin took on the 96-mile West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William; notes that portable period kits are designed to be used outdoors when there is no access to toilets or handwashing facilities; recognises that the period kits contain reusable menstrual cup and antibacterial wipes, allowing the cup to be cleaned on the go, and wishes Erin the best of luck as she hopes to launch this product in 2024.

That the Parliament congratulates The Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice in Bellahouston Park on launching Dear Green Place, a six-part, behind-the-scenes series, as part of its 40th anniversary, to dispel what it sees as the myths surrounding palliative care; understands that the hospice is working with The Big Light on this exciting new series; notes that the podcast series offers a glimpse behind the scenes of the hospice with real stories from the people who have used the services and from those who provide them; understands that teams of dedicated staff and volunteers have been providing gold-standard palliative care to the people of Glasgow for 40 years and believes that this podcast series will hopefully help to dispel some of the myths around hospice care; further understands that the aim of the podcast is to break down the barriers in addressing issues around end of life, and how it believes people in society think and talk about death; notes that it is about how people who have a life-limiting condition, and their families, can approach using the services of hospices with a different mindset, and further notes that people can visit the The Big Light’s website to download the first episode.

That the Parliament recognises Asda Foundation's grant of £1,096 to Rosyth Community Projects Limited (EATs Rosyth); understands that the Asda Foundation is a charitable company that provides grants to a range of good causes in Scotland, with each project nominated by local people and communities; notes that the U18 Better Starts Grant is focused on supporting local groups to deliver initiatives that improve the lives of children and young people, particularly those providing support during the school holidays; understands that the Asda Foundation invested more than £800,000 in community projects and good causes in 2022 in Scotland; wishes all those involved at EATs Rosyth all the very best in their support that they are providing, and thanks them for doing so.