Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Tighean Innse Gall (TIG) on 35 years of helping people across Na h-Eileanan an Iar to live in safe, warm and affordable homes; notes that the Stornoway-based organisation, which was founded in 1991, supported more than 1,000 households facing fuel poverty in 2025-26 alone, in the area that has, it understands, the highest level of fuel poverty in Scotland; commends its Care and Repair team for delivering more than £442,000 of adaptations in the same year, enabling older and disabled islanders to continue living independently in their own homes; notes that its Housing and Community Development service managed 22 projects on behalf of clients, supporting sustainable development and investment across the islands; recognises that its dedicated staff, volunteers and partners, from Lewis to Barra, have made TIG a trusted and highly valued part of island life, and wishes everyone involved with it continued success.

That the Rural Affairs Committee recommends that the Scottish Land Commission (Number of Land Commissioners) Regulations 2026 (SSI 2026/284) be annulled.

That the Parliament acknowledges the work of Lucky2BHere, which is a charity founded to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest through the provision of public-access defibrillators, CPR training and community awareness; recognises the significant contribution that the organisation has made in communities across the Highlands and Islands and throughout Scotland, training thousands of people in lifesaving skills and increasing access to defibrillators; notes the publication of the report, Wellbeing Needs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivors and Rescuers: Lived-experience insights from 15 participants in the Highlands and Islands; acknowledges the report's findings regarding the psychological, cognitive, practical and emotional challenges that can arise after survival from cardiac arrest, as well as the support needs of rescuers and families; recognises the report's call for more accessible, flexible and individualised post-cardiac-arrest support pathways; commends all those who shared their experiences to inform the research, and wishes the organisation every success in its continuing efforts to save lives, strengthen communities and improve support for those affected by sudden cardiac arrest.

That the Parliament recognises the significant economic opportunity that it considers Scotland's marine energy sector presents, particularly for the coastal and island communities of the Highlands and Islands; notes the findings of the University of Edinburgh report, Future Economic Potential of Tidal Stream and Wave Energy in Scotland, which estimates that marine energy could contribute more than £8 billion to Scotland’s economy and support over 15,000 high-value jobs by 2050; further notes the report's conclusion that sustained technology innovation through public and private funding will be required if Scotland is to realise this opportunity, alongside the development of supply chains and supporting infrastructure; recognises that the Programme for Government places innovation at the heart of economic growth, the energy transition and public service reform, building on approaches that are already working; notes concerns about an absence of clear strategic leadership for the marine energy sector within the Scottish Government in recent years; further notes the withdrawal of funding from Wave Energy Scotland, whose technology development programmes have attracted international recognition and helped establish Scotland as a global leader in technology innovation; considers that the resulting loss of expertise, experience and institutional knowledge developed through Wave Energy Scotland could impede the development and commercialisation of Scotland's marine energy technologies, and result in missed opportunities to apply these capabilities in support of other offshore renewable energy sectors; notes the belief that the Scottish Government should provide a clear statement of policy intent for marine energy, and acknowledges the view that there is an urgent need to retain and build upon Wave Energy Scotland’s established expertise and capability in delivering effective publicly funded innovation programmes to provide continuity and maximise the value of previous public investment.

That the Parliament congratulates Urras Stòras an Rubha on Àros an Rubha on being shortlisted in the Community Led Regeneration category of the 2026 SURF Awards for Best Practice in Community Regeneration, which identifies and celebrates best practice, innovation and achievement in interventions that improve Scottish communities; acknowledges that Urras Stòras an Rubha (USAR) is a volunteer-led community charity, which has transformed the former Knock School on the Isle of Lewis into Àros an Rubha, a thriving rural community hub serving the Point peninsula; recognises that the former school has been redeveloped into a modern, low-carbon hub providing meeting and exhibition spaces, offices, hot desking facilities, shop and café, creating a welcoming place for people to meet, work and connect, and wishes everyone involved well for the awards ceremony in December 2026.

As an amendment to motion S7M-01460 in the name of Jim Fairlie (Supporting Scotland's Fishing Industry), leave out from “welcomes” and insert “considers that the voices of fishers, processors and coastal communities must be central to decisions affecting the sector; believes that the future of fishing depends on thriving places, with the infrastructure, skills, housing and opportunities needed to retain young people and support industry growth; recognises the growing concern among fishing, aquaculture, ports, renewable energy and conservation interests regarding the cumulative pressures on Scotland’s marine space; calls on the Scottish Government to provide certainty for all users of the sea on how competing demands for marine space will be managed and how any spatial squeeze will be addressed, and further calls on the Scottish Government to bring forward, as a matter of urgency, its long-delayed Marine Plan 2 to provide a clear, integrated and strategic framework for the sustainable management of Scotland’s seas.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-01283 in the name of Gillian Martin (Building a Flood Resilient Scotland: Delivering Action for Communities in a Changing Climate), leave out from “acknowledges” to "preparedness" and insert “calls on the Scottish Government to increase and guarantee funding for the remaining incomplete flood protection schemes from Cycle 1 and to ensure that future funding cycles are adequately resourced and provide flexibility to accommodate increased costs; believes that further Scottish Government support is required for nature-based solutions and community preparedness".

That the Parliament congratulates Cnoc Soilleir, the Gaelic cultural, educational and community centre in Daliburgh, South Uist, on the completion of its major extension, which was marked by a community open day on 28 August 2026; recognises that the development completes the vision for a dedicated centre for Gaelic language, culture, music, dance, education and community life in South Uist; welcomes the addition of a new 200-seat auditorium and specialist dance studio, which will expand opportunities for local learning, performance, creativity and cultural participation; commends the partnership between Ceòlas Uibhist and UHI North, West and Hebrides in creating and developing what it considers to be a nationally significant facility; notes the support provided by national, regional and local partners; acknowledges the role that Cnoc Soilleir has played since opening in 2022 as a hub for Gaelic and traditional arts, education, research and community engagement; recognises its importance in supporting the vitality and sustainability of Gaelic-speaking communities in South Uist and across the Highlands and Islands, and wishes everyone involved continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates Point and Sandwick Trust (PST) in Lewis on securing a landmark renewable energy agreement with Navantia UK; understands that the agreement will see the UK’s largest community-owned wind farm, Beinn Ghrideag, supply the majority of the renewable electricity required by Navantia UK’s shipbuilding and fabrication facilities, including those at Arnish in Lewis, Methil in Fife and Appledore in North Devon; recognises that Beinn Ghrideag generates more than 20 gigawatt hours of clean electricity annually, with around one third of its output meeting Navantia UK’s energy needs; commends PST for demonstrating how community-owned renewable energy projects can compete successfully in national energy markets while delivering substantial environmental and economic benefits; recognises that all profits generated by the wind farm are reinvested in local communities, supporting employment, education, environmental initiatives, community facilities and measures to tackle fuel poverty; believes that this partnership showcases the vital role of community-owned renewable energy in supporting economic development in island communities, advancing the transition to net zero and delivering lasting local benefits; notes the importance of the Arnish yard as a major source of skilled employment, and welcomes the role played by the UK Government in helping to secure the future of the yard through facilitating its commercial acquisition by Navantia UK, safeguarding around 150 skilled jobs on Lewis.

That the Parliament welcomes the inaugural Hebridean Refugee Week, which will be held from 12 to 20 June 2026; notes that this will be part of Refugee Festival Scotland, which was established in 2000; understands that Na h-Eileanan an Iar has warmly welcomed 21 families to island communities since July 2016; believes that these families have established businesses, friendships and events that have provided strong benefits for communities and strong roots for resettled families fleeing conflict; understands that the events in the Outer Hebrides will offer opportunities for people who are refugees in the community to share their stories, food, culture and film alongside open discussions, and offers its support and best wishes for the local and national festivals and all who choose to make Scotland and its islands their home.