Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes with profound sadness the death of  Dolly Parton, the "Queen of Country", at the age of 80; celebrates an extraordinary singer, songwriter, actor, businesswoman and philanthropist whose seven-decade career was distinguished by a remarkable talent, a formidable work ethic and a determination to succeed on her own terms; recognises that, after singing on local radio and television at the age of 10 and appearing at the Grand Ole Opry at 13, she went on to release her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1967 and build an enduring catalogue that included Coat of Many Colors, My Tennessee Mountain Home, Jolene, 9 to 5 and I Will Always Love You; considers that her independence, business acumen and songs about women’s experiences challenged stereotypes, advanced a message of equality and established her as a feminist icon who inspired generations; recognises that her legacy extends far beyond entertainment, particularly through her Imagination Library, which she established in 1995 in tribute to her father, Robert Lee Parton, whose inability to read and write, despite being, in her words, “the smartest man I have ever known”, might have prevented him from fulfilling all of his dreams; understands that the programme, launched in the UK in 2007, provided enrolled children with a free, carefully selected, high quality book each month from birth until their fifth birthday and has gifted more than 300 million books internationally; celebrates its impact in Renfrewshire, the first Scottish local authority area to offer it universally to children aged two to five, where more than 230,000 books have been distributed, supporting literacy, a love of reading and shared stories between children and their parents and carers; welcomes the establishment of 25 September as an annual Dolly Parton Day in Renfrewshire in recognition of the programme’s contribution to local children and families; pays tribute to Dolly's creativity, compassion, courage and purpose, and believes that her music, philanthropy and example will continue to inspire generations to, in her own words, “find out who you are and do it on purpose”.

That the Parliament celebrates the outstanding work of Erskine Veterans Charity in providing dedicated care, compassion and support to veterans and their families across Scotland; recognises that Erskine supports more than 1,200 veterans each year through its specialist care homes, activity centres, regional home support service and Veterans Village, which provides a range of accommodation and support; commends its person-centred approach and the companionship, social activities, recreation, training and employment opportunities that it provides to veterans of all ages; welcomes in particular the charity’s continued transition towards a community model of care and support, including the work of its activity centres in Bishopton and Forres and its free home support service, which brings companionship and practical assistance directly to veterans and their spouses in their own homes; acknowledges the vital contribution of these services in supporting veterans to live independently and with dignity, tackling loneliness and social isolation, improving mental and emotional wellbeing and fostering a renewed sense of purpose, community and belonging; recognises the important preventative and early intervention role that accessible, flexible and trusted support can play in addressing needs and helping veterans remain connected to their communities; acknowledges the leadership of its chief executive, Wing Commander Ian Cumming MBE MA FCMI, in guiding the charity through its continuing development; pays tribute to Erskine’s staff, volunteers, supporters and partners for their commitment to Scotland’s veteran community, and wishes the charity every success as it expands its community care and support services and helps veterans begin the next chapter of their lives.

That the Parliament recognises the outstanding contribution of Turf Youth and Community Project, a community-led charity supporting young people, adults and families in Cardonald and in communities across Glasgow’s southside; understands that Turf creates inclusive and welcoming spaces in which people can connect, learn and grow through youth work, community learning, wellbeing activities and practical support; believes that, by shaping its services around the needs and experiences of local people, Turf fosters a strong sense of belonging, strengthens relationships, reduces social isolation and enables members to build skills and confidence; welcomes Turf’s collaborative approach to working with other agencies and community partners, including local schools that seek its expertise in developing and delivering training programmes in response to issues affecting pupils and school communities; considers that these partnerships demonstrate the value of trusted, community-based organisations in identifying emerging needs and providing responsive and preventative support; recognises, in particular, the contribution of Turf’s girls group in providing a supportive space where girls and young women can discuss the issues that matter to them, develop their sense of identity and feel empowered to express their views; commends chief executive officer Stacey Quinn, project manager Josh Clarke, and Turf’s staff, trustees and volunteers for their leadership, dedication and commitment to empowering people of all ages; believes that their sustained, relationship-based work has made a positive difference to individuals, families and the wider community, and wishes everyone involved with Turf Youth and Community Project continued success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Renfrewshire Schools Development Pipe Band and the Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band on their success at the Renfrew Pipe Band Competition; notes that the Renfrewshire Schools Development Pipe Band were placed first in the Grade Novice B competition, and that the Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band were placed second in the Grade Novice A competition; understands that the Renfrewshire Schools Development Pipe Band also placed twelfth in the Grade Novice B competition at the Scottish Pipe Band Championships, with the Renfrewshire Schools Pipe Band placing forth in the Grade Novice A competition at the same championships; commends each and every person taking part in the bands on their efforts during these competitions, and wishes them well going forward.

That the Parliament commends the Hamilton Ross Group for winning the Massey Ferguson Dealer of the Year award; understands that this is the highest accolade presented annually by Massey Ferguson and is judged on overall performance across its dealer network throughout the UK and Ireland; notes that the Hamilton Ross Group also received the Market Share award, recognising its strong growth and commercial success within the network; commends the group's work in promoting the importance of the agricultural sector to Scotland's economy and its efforts to highlight the wide range of career opportunities available across the industry, and congratulates the Hamilton Ross Group on its significant achievement.

That the Parliament congratulates Caremark on its grand opening in Cardonald; understands that Caremark provides personalised home care services, including companionship, domestic support and overnight care, enabling individuals to stay independent in their home with trusted support; further understands that Caremark also provides specialist care for people living with conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as for those with acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and neurological conditions; notes that Caremark works both in the private sector and with self-directed support, and wishes Caremark the best for the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of Glasgow's first walk-in GP clinic; understands that the clinic opened on 29 June 2026 within Cardonald Medical Practice on Paisley Road West, and enables individuals to be seen by a healthcare professional without an appointment and receive same-day care and treatment for minor illnesses; further understands that the service will be available to those living in Cardonald and the surrounding areas, from Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 8pm; acknowledges that this service will also be available to people without a fixed address and those experiencing homelessness to ensure that no one misses out on access to care; notes that this is the ninth service to open as part of the Scottish Government's pilot GP walk-in clinic programme; understands that this programme has been designed to provide greater choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services; commends the ambition of the GP walk-in services in addressing the 8am rush faced across Scotland, and hopes that residents make full use of Glasgow's first walk-in GP clinic.

That the Parliament celebrates the work of St Mirren Football Club’s Charitable Foundation; understands that from boosting mental fitness and resilience to building lasting community connections, the St Mirren FC Charitable Foundation’s programmes support health and wellbeing, education and empowerment, and inspire young people across Renfrewshire; notes that to celebrate the end of their school’s programme and the start of the FIFA World Cup, St Mirren Football Club’s Charitable Foundation held a small-sided football tournament where each school was allocated a country to represent; welcomes the work that St Mirren Football Club’s Charitable Foundation carries out within the community, and wishes it every success in the future.

That the Parliament celebrates the 115th anniversary of the Renfrew Burgh Band; understands that the Renfrew Burgh Band, established in 1911, is one of the few remaining brass bands still active in the Renfrewshire area; notes that Renfrew Burgh Band perform regularly at local gala days, church services, and civic ceremonies such as the Remembrance Day Service, alongside competing in brass band competitions across the country; commends the Renfrew Burgh Band on their contribution to culture within Renfrewshire, and wishes them further success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Wedding Wish Makers on winning the P&O Cruises Inspiration Award at the 2026 Pride of Scotland Awards; notes that neighbours and friends, Suzanne Stevenson, Lauren Roy-Sutherland and Lee Ann Gentles, founded Wedding Wish Makers in 2021 with a mission to organise and fund weddings for people who are terminally ill or have life-shortening illnesses across the west of Scotland; understands that through online fundraising and donations from across the wedding industry, Wedding Wish Makers have given couples a day to remember, providing everything from celebrants and cakes to dresses, flowers and pipers; pays tribute to the Wedding Wish Makers for the work that they have carried out, and wishes them well with everything that they do in the future.