Chamber and committees

As an amendment to motion S7M-00356 in the name of Shirley-Anne Somerville (Strengthening Scotland’s Partnership with the Third Sector), insert at end ", and believes that multi-year funding and stronger due diligence on fair work principles should be foundational to a new Third Sector Partnership Agreement.”  

That the Parliament expresses deep concern regarding what it sees as the punishing effect of increasing sanctions on Cuba by the US, where, since early 2026, the US has prevented imports of oil and diesel and tightened extraterritorial sanctions that target Cuban infrastructure; notes reports of hospitals lacking key medicines and daily electricity blackouts lasting up to 20 hours; further notes reports of an earthquake off the Cuban coast on 8 June 2026; recognises that on 8 June 2026, Volker Turk, UN high commissioner for human rights, called for Cuba sanctions to be lifted immediately because they are endangering lives; encourages the Scottish Government to recognise the impending humanitarian crisis and work with the UK Government to protect Cuban civilians by holding the US to account for imposing restrictions on fuel, and calls on the Scottish Government to call for an end to the blockade.

That the Parliament welcomes Carers Week 2026, which is an annual campaign that will take place from 8 to 14 June 2026; notes that the theme for 2026 is Building Carer Friendly Communities, which aims to highlight the impact that carer friendly communities can have in making a real and lasting difference to the lives of carers across Scotland; recognises that Carers Week is organised by five charities, including Carers Scotland, Carers Trust Scotland, MND Scotland, the Lewy Body Society and Age Scotland; understands that hundreds of events will be held across the country, which will reach out to thousands of unpaid carers and young carers; recognises the significant contribution that is made by unpaid carers, who, it believes, are the backbone of Scotland’s health and social care system and without whom it would collapse; notes what it sees as the inequalities faced by unpaid carers, including a greater risk of poverty, social isolation, poor mental and physical health as well as potentially missed opportunities in their education, careers, or personal lives, just because of their caring role; believes that the care that they provide saves the economy £15.9 billion each year; further believes that every effort should be made during the current parliamentary session to recognise the contribution made by unpaid carers across Scotland, including South Scotland, and to ensure that unpaid carers of all ages receive the support that they need to address the inequalities they face, and wishes Carers Week 2026 every success.

That the Parliament celebrates that, following approval from His Majesty King Charles III, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s royal charter has been amended; acknowledges that the Society will now be known as the Royal College of Pharmacy; notes that the role of the Royal College is to promote the public understanding of pharmacy, to promote compliance with good practice and the law as well as the safe and effective use of medicines; understands that the Royal College also supports and develops high standards of training and seeks to influence governmental and other bodies including the Scottish Parliament; recognises the active and positive contribution that the Royal Pharmaceutical Society has made to influencing public policy in Scotland, and expects that the Royal College of Pharmacy will continue this good work to deliver improved health outcomes for people, across all care settings, long into the future.

That the Parliament praises East Ayrshire Trades Union Council on the success of its rally opposing racism, which took place on 15 May 2026; notes that the local Trades Union Council is implementing a range of measures to help workers deal with racism in the workplace as well as in wider society; commends the work of campaigners in the Trades Union Council for unveiling a memorial bench in Cronberry to honour local man Jimmy Donald, who lost his life fighting fascism in the Spanish Civil War, and appreciates the efforts of East Ayrshire Labour Group and various branches of Unite the Union for their support in commissioning the bench.

That the Parliament recognises the Getting Alongside Communities programme delivered by the Corra Foundation to support community leadership to flourish across Scotland; congratulates community leaders in Blacklands, Buckhaven, Carbrain, Castlehill, Cumnock, Dunterlie, Fernhill, Langlees & Bainsford and Methil, who have collectively spent more than 16,000 hours establishing new spaces, bringing people together through groups and activities, running local campaigns on housing and transport and addressing issues such as health, access to food and tackling loneliness; recognises the positive change that happens when communities are resourced and supported in ways that work for them, and agrees that local, community-led activity, with local and national agencies working in partnership, is critical to creating lasting positive change so that all of Scotland’s communities can thrive.

That the Parliament congratulates Carers UK and Carers Scotland on celebrating the charity’s 60th anniversary; acknowledges its years of dedicated service, providing advice and support to unpaid carers and campaigning to improve their rights; understands that the organisation began in 1965, when Reverend Mary Webster, who was an unpaid carer herself, founded the first carers' organisation, the National Council for the Single Woman and her Dependants, which, in 1999, became Carers UK; recognises the substantial growth of the number of unpaid carers, with over 627,700 unpaid carers in Scotland, whose contribution is worth an estimated £15.9 billion; commends the organisation’s unwavering commitment to campaigning for carers' rights and ensuring that unpaid carers are informed, empowered and valued; believes that unpaid carers play an essential role across Scotland and that they should have access to the support and recognition that they deserve; welcomes the role that MSPs have had in improving carers' rights, including improvements to assessment, support, social security and most recently legislating for a right to a break from caring; believes, however, that to embed these rights and to ensure that they are delivered effectively, this government and future ones must go further to support unpaid carers, including by investing in a dedicated health inequalities strategy and flexible health services, screening for unpaid carers to tackle the damage to health that they face, reducing the poverty they experience and providing ringfenced investment in direct support for unpaid carers, including in carers centres, and delivering a right to a break from caring, and expresses gratitude to all those who have been involved in Carers Scotland and Carers UK for their service and advocacy on behalf of Scotland’s caring community.

That the Parliament welcomes Carers Rights Day, which is an annual awareness raising day taking place on 20 November; recognises the immense contribution to society of over 694,000 unpaid carers in Scotland, including at least 27,000 young carers aged under 18, by caring for their family or friends who are ill, frail, disabled or are experiencing mental health or addiction issues; understands that there will be many Carers Rights Day events held across the country; welcomes forthcoming research from Carers Trust which has found that unpaid carers are at a significant risk of fuel poverty, with many struggling to meet basic energy needs due to financial pressures; acknowledges Carers Trust’s call that action should be taken to eradicate fuel poverty and identify additional support mechanisms to ensure unpaid carers are able to live well; welcomes that a Carers Trust Scotland’s Addressing Carer Poverty event is taking place on Carers Rights Day at the Scottish Parliament; agrees that all unpaid carers in Scotland should be supported, be able to stay well and be financially secure; believes that every effort should be made to ensure unpaid carers' rights are promoted, protected and advanced so that all of Scotland’s unpaid carers are able to have a fair future; appreciates the vital support that local carer organisations provide, including in promoting and upholding unpaid carers rights, and wishes Carers Rights Day 2025 every success.

That the Parliament commends Anji Sandhu for her work in raising awareness of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through the campaign, Unlipping PCOS; understands that years of hard work have led to the development of the PCOS care index to assess care quality, and the workplace pledge to support employees with PCOS; acknowledges her role in creating the PCOS Buddy app, which is a tool for symptom tracking and community support, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue supporting efforts to raise awareness of, and improve care and workplace inclusivity for, individuals living with PCOS.