Chamber and committees

That the Parliament honours Graham Meacher for receiving the Sir James Gildea Global Award in recognition of more than 25 years of exceptional voluntary service as the chairman of the armed forces charity The Soldiers and Sailors Families Association; notes that, after joining the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1971, his service took him to West Germany, then the unified Germany, as well as other short overseas deployments, before being awarded an MBE in 1994 in recognition of his service to the Ministry of Defence; understands that, following his retirement in 2000, he went on to become a volunteer in multiple roles, including as a caseworker, fundraising and awareness officer, branch vice-chair and chair, regional chair, and convener of the Scottish Resource Committee; recognises Graham's dedication and hard work and the real difference he has made to the lives of veterans and their families.

That the Parliament notes the operation of the Safer Drug Consumption Facility pilot in Glasgow; further notes reports of concerns expressed by members of the public and stakeholders regarding the level of usage, the cost of the facility, and its impact on reducing drug-related deaths, public drug use and drug-related crime; believes that, to date, the pilot has not demonstrated sufficient evidence of success to justify wider expansion; calls on the Scottish Government to publish a comprehensive, independent evaluation of the pilot, including data on attendance, health outcomes, referrals into treatment and rehabilitation, community impact, value for money and any effect on public safety; and further calls on the Scottish Government to prioritise investment in prevention, recovery services, residential rehabilitation, mental health support and community-based addiction treatment to reduce what it considers to be Scotland's unacceptable level of drug-related harm.

That the Parliament notes with deep sadness the death of John Douglas, founder, songwriter and guitarist of the Trashcan Sinatras; recognises that his exceptional songwriting abilities and musical talent were widely admired by audiences, fellow musicians and critics alike; notes that the band released six acclaimed studio albums, beginning with Cake, originally issued in 1990 and re-released in 2023, when it finally reached the UK Top 10 some 33 years after its debut; further notes his recent performances as a solo artist and alongside his wife, the love of his life, Eddi Reader; recognises that, at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Eddi Reader famously performed Wild Mountainside, written by John Douglas; believes that his music has made an enduring contribution to Scotland's cultural life and international musical reputation; expresses its sincere condolences to Eddi Reader, his family, friends, bandmates and all who knew and loved him; considers that his passing is a profound loss to the Scottish and wider music industry, and further believes that, while he will be sorely missed, his remarkable songs and musical legacy will continue to inspire and be cherished for generations to come.

That the Parliament believes that violence against women and girls is a fundamental violation of human rights and encompasses a range of behaviours, including domestic abuse, sexual violence, stalking, forced marriage and female genital mutilation; notes concerns regarding reported evidence that violence against women and girls remains prevalent across Scotland and that, over the last decade, recorded sexual crimes and domestic abuse incidents have increased; is concerned that women and girls are disproportionately affected by such violence and abuse, and that the majority of victims know the perpetrator; considers that violence against women and girls is rooted in gender inequality and that effective primary prevention requires long-term action to address harmful attitudes, behaviours and structures that enable such abuse to occur; believes that promoting gender equality, challenging harmful gender stereotypes and encouraging respectful relationships can contribute to preventing violence before it occurs; commends the work of Zero Tolerance, the Scottish charity established in 1992 to end men’s violence against women by tackling its root cause, namely gender inequality, and recognises the impact of its pioneering public awareness campaigns in bringing the issue of violence against women into public consciousness and promoting the message that such violence is never acceptable.

That the Parliament recognises the group “Crafty Grannies”, based in Kirkcaldy, which is made up of roughly 20 people from the local area who, for 18 months, have been running an intergenerational community club focused on combatting social isolation; commends the fact that the group have contributed a huge amount to the local community, for example, by making 1,500 poppies to represent every name on the Kirkcaldy War Memorial, running knitting and crochet clubs for senior residents, cooking food for locals in need, and making handcrafted hearts for local funeral directors in cases where a young child has passed away; wishes the group well for their upcoming play “Inspirational Women” which tells the story of how the group was formed; celebrates their continued good work in the community and wishes the club and its members every possible success going forward.

That the Parliament congratulates the RCDS (Rapid Cancer Diagnostic Service), based at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, on its five-year anniversary; understands that this service provides a fast-track, nurse-led diagnostic pathway for people presenting non-specific symptoms that could indicate cancer but who do not meet the traditional urgent suspected cancer referral criteria; believes that the service helps to provide earlier diagnosis and reassurance for patients who are concerned about their symptoms; notes that the service has now accumulated more than 5,000 referrals since it was launched in 2021, providing timely investigations and quick diagnosis to identify the cancerous or non-cancerous treatment or care that patients need and enable them to access the correct service; recognises the RCDS for achieving this milestone, congratulates the team for successfully delivering one of Scotland’s first pilot services in this area, and wishes them all success in the future.

That the Parliament celebrates, on the 12th of August, the Glorious Twelfth; believes that grouse moor management makes a vital contribution to Scotland’s rural economy, biodiversity and wildfire resilience; further believes that the North East region has some of Scotland’s best grouse moors; understands that Scotland’s shooting sector is believed to contribute £780 million in gross added value to the Scottish economy; celebrates the culmination of what it considers to be a year of hard work undertaken by gamekeepers and land managers in promoting sustainable grouse moor management; takes the view that grouse moors boost biodiversity, providing important refuges and mosaic landscapes for many endangered ground-nesting birds, including lapwing, curlew and golden plover; further believes that, without careful management and predator control, the result would be biodiversity loss and harm to Scotland’s natural environment; further takes the view that active grouse moor management, including practices such as muirburn, and the management of vegetation, plays an important role in reducing fuel loads across Scotland’s moorlands, helping to reduce the build-up and continuity of combustible vegetation, thus mitigating wildfire risk; appreciates organisations such as BASC and its members in promoting the work of those who manage Scotland’s grouse moors and the benefits it considers they bring to Scotland’s countryside; and wishes all those involved in grouse moor management in Scotland and the North East region, the very best for the season ahead.

That the Parliament congratulates pupils across East Lothian on their achievements in the 2026 examinations; notes reports that East Lothian has recorded its highest proportion of pupils achieving five or more National 5 qualifications since 2022; recognises that 79% of National 5 candidates in East Lothian reportedly achieved A-C grades, exceeding the national average, and that Higher pass rates in East Lothian are reported to have remained above the national average for the second consecutive year; commends the commitment, determination and resilience shown by young people in attaining these results; acknowledges the vital contribution of teachers, support staff, parents, carers and wider school communities in supporting learners to achieve their potential; welcomes the increased number of qualifications achieved across the county; notes the importance of continuing efforts to address the attainment gap and ensure that all young people, regardless of background or circumstance, have equal opportunities to succeed, and wishes all pupils every success in their future education, training and career pathways.

That the Parliament notes with deep concern reports that 26 staff members and associates of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina have been summoned for questioning by Republika Srpska police in Zvornik; recognises what it sees as the vital role of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre in preserving the memory of the 1995 Srebrenica genocide through education, research, commemoration and public engagement; believes that many of those affected are themselves survivors of the genocide and continue to work in challenging circumstances marked by genocide denial, historical revisionism and the glorification of convicted war criminals; further believes that any intimidation of survivors, educators, researchers and memorial workers undermines efforts to uphold truth, justice and remembrance; reaffirms Scotland’s longstanding commitment to genocide education and to challenging hatred and intolerance in all its forms, including through support for the work of Beyond Srebrenica; expresses solidarity with the staff, associates and supporters of the Srebrenica Memorial Centre; condemns any actions that seek to intimidate those working to preserve historical truth and the memory of the victims of genocide; and calls on the Scottish Government to raise these concerns with the UK Government and international partners, while continuing to support initiatives that promote genocide education, remembrance and the defence of human rights.

That the Parliament congratulates Y2K on securing £10,022 in funding from Tyne Esk; notes that this funding will be used to deliver their brand new Wellbeing Matters project, providing a weekly safe space for young people to learn more about wellbeing while spending time with their peers, building confidence and resilience; thanks Y2K and all their staff and volunteers for their invaluable work and dedication to improving the lives of young people in Midlothian.