Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes the publication of Denis Law Legacy Trust's Impact Report 2025; understands that the Trust was established to honour the legacy of Denis Law, considered by many to be Scotland’s greatest football star and winner of the Ballon d'Or in 1964; welcomes the Trust's continued achievements, including the creation of what it sees as the lifechanging Denis Law Academy project, which offers targeted support for young people in Aberdeen City so that they can reach their full potential; commends the Trust's ongoing work, including its Streetsport programme, which offers sport activity sessions for young people at multiple locations across Aberdeen City on a weekly basis; appreciates Denis Law Legacy Trust's role in addressing anti-social behaviour among young people through the Streetsport programme, by offering a safe and healthy outlet for young people aged eight to nineteen; thanks the volunteers and staff who make the Trust's work possible; remembers Denis' contribution to Aberdeen following his passing in 2025, and commends the work of the Denis Law Legacy Trust into the future.

That the Parliament recognises the 20th anniversary of the Energy Ombudsman; understands that, following concerns about energy billing and switching processes, the Energy Supply Ombudsman Scheme was launched in July 2006; notes that the scheme was voluntary, applied only to the six largest energy suppliers, dealt solely with billing and switching complaints, and handled just over 2,000 complaints in its first year; further notes that, in 2008, participation became mandatory for all licensed energy suppliers, extending access to independent dispute resolution across all aspects of energy supply services; welcomes the subsequent expansion of the Energy Ombudsman's remit to include consumers using heat networks and small businesses with up to 50 employees; recognises what it sees as the vital role that the Energy Ombudsman plays in supporting consumer confidence in the energy market by providing a free-to-use, independent and impartial dispute resolution service while identifying systemic issues to help drive improvements across the sector; welcomes recent announcements designed to shorten complaint journey times, strengthen decision-making, improve access to the service and enhance consumer compensation, and congratulates the Energy Ombudsman on supporting more than one million energy consumers over the past two decades.

That the Parliament celebrates the 50th anniversary of St Peter’s Episcopal Church, on Townsend Place in Kirkcaldy; notes that the current church building was consecrated in 1976, although the congregation has been part of the Lang Toun for over 200 years; understands that St Peter’s is part of the Scottish Episcopal Church and a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion; further understands that it is a Eucharistic community, gathering each Sunday to share in the sacrament of Holy Communion; recognises the church’s long and significant history in Kirkcaldy, tracing its roots to 1812 and its association with prominent local families, including the Oswalds of Dunnikier, and that one of its earliest recorded baptisms was that of a son of the Earl of Elgin; welcomes the church’s celebration of its golden jubilee with invited guests from local organisations, and congratulates the congregation on the unveiling of a newly commissioned stained glass window, dedicated by the Bishop of St Andrews, the Right Reverend Ian Paton.

That the Parliament congratulates Montenegro on the 20th anniversary of the restoration of its independence following the referendum of 21 May 2006, in which 55.5% of voters chose a sovereign future for their country; recognises the significant social, economic and democratic progress made by Montenegro over the past two decades; notes that Montenegro became a member of NATO in 2017 and is the leading candidate for future European Union enlargement, with the objective of becoming the 28th member state by 2028; considers that Montenegro has demonstrated the benefits of democratic reform and political stability; recognises the substantial economic and institutional progress achieved since independence, including sustained growth in the tourism and services sectors, significant foreign direct investment, the adoption of the euro as a stable currency and the development of a modern and competitive economy; understands that Montenegro has made notable progress in strengthening democratic institutions, the rule of law and European integration, while achieving significantly higher average wages and GDP per capita than Serbia, from which it gained independence; acknowledges that Montenegro has maintained close cultural ties with Serbia while pursuing its own path as an independent state; believes that Montenegro's achievements since independence represents a notable success story in the Western Balkans, and wishes the people of Montenegro every success as they mark this important anniversary and continue their journey towards full membership of the European Union.

That the Parliament commends Keith Scott, an off-duty volunteer crew member with Stonehaven RNLI, for his actions following the capsizing and sinking of a boat on Loch Ryan near Wig Bay on 1 August 2026; understands that, drawing on the training, skills and experience gained through his service with the RNLI, Mr Scott launched a small boat and crossed the bay to assist three people in the water; notes that he brought all three casualties safely aboard and returned them to shore; further notes that Stranraer RNLI reported that his prompt intervention ensured that the casualties were safely out of the water before its volunteer lifeboat crew arrived; recognises the contribution of Stranraer RNLI, HM Coastguard and the Scottish Ambulance Service in securing a safe outcome, demonstrating the importance of effective partnership working during emergency incidents; acknowledges the dedication and commitment of RNLI volunteers and staff across Scotland, whose training and expertise help save lives and protect communities around the country's coasts and inland waters, and thanks all those involved for their public service in preventing what could otherwise have been a tragic incident.

That the Parliament congratulates Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band on an outstanding 2026 season, culminating in the band being named Champion of Champions in the Novice Juvenile B grade; recognises the remarkable consistency demonstrated by the young pipers and drummers throughout the season, securing third place at the British Pipe Band Championships and European Pipe Band Championships, becoming Scottish Champions through winning the Scottish Pipe Band Championships and finishing as runners-up at the World Pipe Band Championships; considers these results to represent an exceptional achievement by the young musicians and a source of great pride for their families, schools and communities across the Stirling area; congratulates piping instructors, Chris Gibb and Andrew Wallace, and drumming instructor, Chloe Taylor, for the commitment, encouragement and expert tuition that they provide to the young musicians; further congratulates Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band on receiving the 2026 Eilidh MacLeod Endeavour Award at the Scottish Schools Pipe Band Championships in recognition of the dedication and resilience shown by its members in supporting the suicide prevention charity, Back Onside, including through fundraising by busking during the winter months; believes that the band’s success demonstrates the enormous value of providing young people with opportunities to learn piping and drumming, develop confidence and teamwork, and participate in Scotland’s musical traditions; pays tribute to everyone involved in supporting the band, including families, schools and the wider music education community, and wishes all of the young pipers and drummers every success as they build on their outstanding 2026 season.

That the Parliament welcomes the unveiling of phase two of the Ionad an Stòir/The Storr Centre on the Isle of Skye on 12 August 2026; believes that this development is a positive example of partnership between Highland Council, the local community and the UK Government, which provided £550,000 of funding through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, established by the previous Conservative UK administration; believes that this will further cement the Storr Centre as a significant contributor to the visitor infrastructure of Skye; notes that it will provide an improved path network, car and motorhome parking, EV charging points, motorhome waste disposal, and enhanced toilet facilities, and welcomes that it will provide valuable retail opportunities to local businesses such as the Raasay Distillery and Iain Angus Design to supply their products to customers visiting the centre.

That the Parliament congratulates the Brechin Cathedral Trust on assuming ownership of the 800-year-old Brechin Cathedral; notes that the A-listed cathedral is one of Scotland's most significant medieval churches; recognises the efforts of the Friends of Brechin Cathedral and the General Trustees in helping secure the building's future following its closure as a regular place of worship in 2021; further recognises that its Irish-style round tower, dating from around 1100, is one of only two such towers in Scotland, and that the cathedral houses an important collection of carved Pictish stones and outstanding stained-glass windows, and commends the Trust for its commitment to safeguarding the cathedral's heritage, promoting public access, and ensuring that this nationally significant landmark continues to serve the community for generations to come.

That the Parliament congratulates West College Scotland on the outcome of its recent Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review, which was undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency; understands that the college was judged in the review to be “effective in managing academic standards, enhancing the quality of the learning experience and enabling student success”; recognises the hard work of Principal, Anne Campbell, and her team in achieving this status; thanks Ms Campbell and all the staff at West College Scotland for their commitment to their students, and wishes them all the best for the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Seen and Known: Rebuilding Belonging in Modern Scotland by Logos Scotland, which examines the causes and consequences of loneliness and social disconnection and considers how a stronger sense of belonging can be fostered across Scotland, including in the Mid Scotland and Fife region; notes with concern the report’s findings regarding levels of loneliness among younger people and what it considers to be the growing challenge of people feeling disconnected from family, community and wider society; recognises what it sees as the important contribution made by churches, faith communities, charities, voluntary organisations and other local institutions in creating places where people can build meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging; notes the view that tackling loneliness requires consideration not only of individual wellbeing but also of the strength of the families, communities and institutions that connect people to one another; welcomes the contribution that Logos Scotland makes to public policy debate by bringing a Christian perspective to contemporary social and political challenges; notes the belief that policy at both national and local level should recognise and support the institutions and relationships that help build strong and connected communities, and welcomes further discussion about how Scotland can become a country in which more people feel seen, known and that they belong.