Chamber and committees

That the Parliament marks the 250th anniversary of the death of David Hume, who died in Edinburgh on 25 August 1776; recognises Hume as one of Scotland’s most influential philosophers and historians and a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment; notes that he was born in Edinburgh in 1711 to a family with roots in Berwickshire, was educated by his mother following the death of his father when he was three years old, and entered the University of Edinburgh at the age of 11, where he studied Latin and Greek and developed a lifelong interest in history, literature and philosophy; further notes that, while living in France in the 1730s, he wrote A Treatise of Human Nature, which is now regarded as one of the most important works in Western philosophy; acknowledges that his writings on human nature, empiricism and scepticism helped shape modern philosophical thought and continue to influence fields including history, economics, political science and cognitive science; recognises his contribution to Edinburgh’s reputation as a centre of learning through his service as Keeper of the Advocates’ Library and his wider literary and scholarly achievements; considers that his intellectual contributions played a significant role in the development of Enlightenment thought in Scotland and beyond; understands that awareness of Hume’s life and work among the Scottish public remains fairly limited despite his international standing, and encourages renewed efforts to promote understanding of his legacy and of Scotland’s pivotal role in the Enlightenment.

That the Parliament celebrates the success of the Marymass Festival 2026 in Irvine; understands that the festival, which dates back to the Middle Ages, culminated in Marymass Saturday on 22 August 2026; recognises the longstanding contribution of the Irvine Carters' Society, which has helped to lead the celebrations since 1753, and of the Marymass Festival Committee in delivering the annual festival; acknowledges the crowning of the Marymass Queen 2026, Lucy Cardle, and her Royal Party, comprising the four Marys, Taylor Hyndman, Macie Bell, Skye McLardy and Mollie Bell, assisted by page boy, Oliver Masterton; notes that thousands of people attended the festival's programme of events, which included one of Scotland's largest horse-drawn community parades, horse racing, live jousting, the dog show, the greasy pole competition, fireworks, live music and other family activities on Irvine Moor; recognises the importance of Marymass in preserving Irvine's distinct cultural heritage while bringing together people of all ages from across Ayrshire and beyond, and commends everyone involved in organising, supporting and participating in Marymass Festival 2026.

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 notes reported continuing public concern regarding Fujitsu and its role in the Post Office Horizon scandal, which it considers to be one of the gravest miscarriages of justice in modern British history; understands that public funds have been used to support redress schemes, with £1.44 billion having been distributed to over 11,300 claimants; recognises the pain and suffering caused to the victims of the Horizon scandal through wrongful convictions, loss of livelihoods and reputations, financial hardship and devastating impacts on their lives and families; considers that Fujitsu has a moral responsibility to contribute towards compensation and redress for those affected, and notes concerns that to date it has reportedly made no financial contribution; further notes that the Home Office awarded Fujitsu a contract worth £31.1 million for police network software in June 2026; believes that no new public sector work should be awarded to Fujitsu until it makes a financial contribution to redress schemes.

That the Parliament recognises the service and dedication of police officers and firefighters who it sees as being in the frontline in protecting communities across Scotland; notes with concern the impact on unfunded public service pension schemes of changes to commutation factors arising from the increase in the Superannuation Contributions Adjusted for Past Experience (SCAPE) discount rate from Consumer Price Index plus 1.7% to Consumer Price Index plus 2%; understands that retiring members of the 1987 Police Pension Scheme and the 1992 Firefighters' Pension Scheme who choose to commute part of their pension for a tax-free lump sum may receive significantly lower lump-sum payments as a result of the revised factors; considers that some members approaching retirement may have made long-term financial decisions based on pension forecasts and retirement quotations produced before the changes took effect; believes that the immediate implementation of the revised factors has caused distress for affected members and their families; notes that the Police Federation of England and Wales has stated that it is taking legal and actuarial advice on the scope of the changes, and that the Fire Brigades Union has indicated that it will continue to challenge the UK Government to deliver fair, transparent and properly funded pension arrangements, and calls on the UK Government to explore measures that could improve communication and fairness for members affected by future changes to public service pension schemes.

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 supports Baby Loss Awareness Week, which takes place from 9 to 15 October 2026 and has the theme, Together, we care, focusing on nurturing mental and physical wellbeing and supporting one another; recognises that the week provides a safe and supportive opportunity for those affected by pregnancy and baby loss to share their experiences and to feel that they are not alone; recognises the devastating impact that baby loss can have on parents and the wider family; notes official statistics showing that there were 318 baby deaths including 159 stillbirths in Scotland and 4,477 baby deaths including 2,552 stillbirths across the UK in 2024; further notes research by the charity Tommy’s indicating that half of adults in the UK have been affected directly, or through someone they know, by pregnancy or baby loss; acknowledges the significance of the global #WaveOfLight on 15 October, during which families around the world light a candle at 7PM local time in remembrance of babies who have died; pays tribute to the charities and organisations that support bereaved parents and families; commends the work of pregnancy and baby loss charities across Scotland and the UK, including Ayrshire Baby Loss Support, a non-profit organisation that supports anyone affected by baby loss and is a member of the Baby Loss Awareness Alliance, a group of more than 80 charities and organisations from across the UK that collaborate during Baby Loss Awareness Week to raise awareness of pregnancy and baby loss and to improve support for those affected, and recognises the valuable contribution that such organisations make in raising awareness and helping families through the painful experience of pregnancy and baby loss.

That the Parliament notes that Suicide Prevention Week will take place from 7 to 13 September 2026, centred on World Suicide Prevention Day on 10 September 2026; recognises that World Suicide Prevention Day was established in 2003 by the International Association for Suicide Prevention in conjunction with the World Health Organisation to promote the core message that suicide can be prevented; notes that the theme for 2024 to 2026 is Changing the Narrative on Suicide; considers that reducing stigma and encouraging openness, understanding and support are important elements of suicide prevention; notes that, according to National Records of Scotland, there were 704 probable suicide deaths in Scotland in 2024 and that significant inequalities remain, including higher rates among males and in areas experiencing deprivation; further notes that the gap between rates of probable suicide mortality in the most and least deprived areas has decreased since 2001, driven by lower rates in the most deprived areas, and that age-specific rates of probable suicide mortality in 2024 were highest among those aged between 25 and 64; commends the work of United to Prevent Suicide, a social movement supported by Suicide Prevention Scotland and hosted by Scottish Action for Mental Health (SAMH), in empowering communities to take action to prevent suicide and in promoting The Declaration which seeks to build communities based on compassion, connection and hope; believes that everyone has a role to play in suicide prevention, and encourages anyone affected by suicidal thoughts or concerned about another person to seek support from available services, including NHS inform and the Samaritans.

That the Parliament recognises that 25 July is World Drowning Prevention Day, which was declared by the UN General Assembly in 2021 to raise awareness of the impact of drowning on communities and highlight measures to prevent water-related fatalities; welcomes the theme of World Drowning Prevention Day 2026, Unite to Turn the Tide on Drowning; understands that there are on average 96 water-related fatalities in Scotland each year, including around 50 accidental deaths; recognises that Scotland’s extensive coastline of approximately 6,000 miles and its many inland waters make swimming ability and water safety knowledge particularly important; commends the work of Water Safety Scotland, Scottish Swimming and other partners in promoting water safety education and drowning prevention initiatives; acknowledges what it sees as the importance of teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills training people in rescue and resuscitation techniques, improving flood risk management, enforcing safe boating regulations and installing appropriate barriers to control access to water where necessary, and encourages continued efforts to improve water safety awareness and reduce preventable drowning incidents in Scotland and around the world.

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the vital role that the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals plays in improving the lives of all pets, wildlife and farmed animals across Scotland; notes that it is the only animal welfare charity with enforcement authority, meaning that its work goes beyond rescuing animals in distress; applauds the work of the inspectors, who thoroughly investigate reports of animal cruelty and neglect, as well as supporting people to look after their animals, the special investigations officers, who diligently tackle serious organised and protracted welfare crimes, such as the illegal puppy trade, and the animal rescue officers, who provide a responsive, caring and compassionate service when responding to animal rescue calls; acknowledges the work undertaken in communities to support animal owners, educate the public on animal welfare issues and provide rescue, rehabilitation and fostering services for animals in need; applauds the leading role the organisation has taken in shaping the national debate on animal welfare, working in partnership to drive meaningful change in animal welfare legislation, and supports its vision to make Scotland the best place in the world for animals to live.