Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes with concern the closure of the Post Office in Fort William; recognises what it sees as the vital role that post offices play in communities across Scotland, particularly in rural and remote areas, by providing access to postal, banking, cash and other essential services; understands that more than 500 people have signed a community petition opposing the closure of the Fort William branch; congratulates local residents and campaigners for what it sees as their strong demonstration of community support for retaining the service, including at a public demonstration in Fort William on 22 August 2026; believes that the loss of face-to-face services can disproportionately affect elderly people, those without access to private transport and people who are unable or less comfortable accessing services digitally; considers that Fort William serves as an important hub for communities across Lochaber and the wider Highlands; believes that communities should not be expected to continually travel further to access basic services as banks and other facilities withdraw from rural areas, and hopes that Post Office services can continue to be provided in an accessible and sustainable form in Fort William.

That the Parliament congratulates Krista Nicolson, aged 15, from Broadford, on her work to raise awareness and understanding of Tourette syndrome; understands that Krista supported Tourette Scotland’s awareness campaign by selling teal laces during Tourette’s Awareness Month; notes that Krista and her family had sold 111 pairs of laces at the time of reporting; recognises Krista’s openness in sharing her experiences of living with Tourette syndrome and challenging misconceptions surrounding the condition; believes that her campaigning will help other young people with Tourette syndrome feel understood and less alone, and commends Krista for her courage, compassion and commitment to improving awareness within her community.

That the Parliament commends Archie Law, aged 15, from Skye, for rescuing two men who got into difficulty in Broadford Bay on 20 June 2026; understands that Archie noticed the men drifting in an inflatable dinghy between Pabay and Scalpay and took his own boat out to assist them; recognises that Archie brought both men safely ashore, where they were met by a member of the Kyle RNLI crew; notes that Kyle RNLI praised Archie’s quick thinking and stated that his actions prevented a far more serious situation, and applauds Archie for his courage, awareness and decisive response.

That the Parliament congratulates Marsaili MacLeod, from Kyleakin, on completing a 1,000 mile cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats between 11 and 26 May 2026; understands that Marsaili completed the challenge in 15 days, comprising 14 days of cycling and one rest day, and raised £16,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support; notes that Marsaili undertook the challenge in recognition of the support that she received from the charity during her diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in 2021; recognises the physical and mental determination required to complete such a demanding journey; commends the generosity of everyone who supported her fundraising, and wishes Marsaili every success with her future efforts in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

That the Parliament congratulates Chief Inspector Bruce Crawford of Police Scotland’s National Firearms and Explosives Licencing team and the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RSABI), for their combined effort in establishing the Scottish Firearms Mental Health Awareness and Support Partnership; commends the partnership for what it sees as its crucial contribution towards suicide prevention by offering a safe place for certificate holders to report concerns over their mental health and wellbeing, and welcomes its vital work in raising awareness, reducing stigma and fostering greater understanding of mental health in relation to firearms licensing.

That the Parliament congratulates Fort William Women’s FC on being awarded £1,000 through ScottishPower’s annual grassroots funding competition for women’s and girls’ football in the Highlands and Islands; understands that the funding will help the club meet travel costs during the season; recognises the particular challenges that significant travel distances and associated costs can present to grassroots sports clubs across the Highlands and Islands; notes that ScottishPower has awarded a total of £5,000 to five women’s and girls’ football clubs across the region through the latest round of funding; further notes that the initiative, now in its third year, forms part of ScottishPower’s support for the Highlands and Islands League as its first title sponsor through a partnership with Scottish Women’s Football, and that 15 grants have now been awarded through the programme since 2023; believes that investment in grassroots women’s and girls’ sport plays an important role in creating opportunities for more women and girls to participate in football and supporting the continued development of the game in communities across the Highlands; commends everyone involved with Fort William Women’s FC for their contribution to women’s football in the area, and wishes the club and its players every success for the season ahead.

That the Parliament congratulates Cairngorm Brewery, based in Aviemore, on its exceptional success at the 2026 Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) awards, where its ‘Wildcat’ bitter was named the second-best beer in the UK; recognises the vital contribution made by independent craft breweries to the Highland economy, jobs, tourism and Scotland’s rich brewing heritage, and wishes the Cairngorm Brewery continued success in producing and promoting high-quality Scottish produce.

That the Parliament shares its deep concern for the growing number of wildfires taking place, which, it considers is a result of both climate change and land management practices, and the increasingly significant threat that these fires pose for communities across rural Scotland, such as those in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch; understands that the Cairngorms wildfire in particular has had a devastating impact within the Cairngorms National Park, both on its natural environment and the businesses that were forced to close; further understands that more than 100 firefighters were required to tackle the blaze; commends the work of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and retained duty firefighters for all that they have done to tackle the wildfire in the Cairngorms, as well as other fires in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh and Hill of Tarvit in Fife; further commends communities in the Cairngorms and across the wider Highlands region for the support that they have provided alongside hard working firefighters as well as for the residents of Nethy Bridge when they were forced to evacuate; understands that the Scottish Government has published a Strategic Action Plan on Wildfires and the announcement of a £3 million fund to help those businesses which have been impacted; notes the belief that despite this action plan and fund, the Scottish Government response to the wildfire in the Cairngorms has fallen short; further notes the calls for a cross-party summit to be held to learn the lessons of the response to the Cairngorms wildfire, ensuring that there is a concrete action plan for any future wildfires, and notes the calls for better funding of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service as well so that it is better equipped to deal with these major incidents going forward.

That the Parliament congratulates The Nethy, the community newsletter for Nethy Bridge, on celebrating its 21st anniversary in 2026; understands that the first edition of The Nethy was published in May 2005 as a 24-page black-and-white newsletter and that, over the following 21 years, it has grown into a full-colour quarterly publication; notes that approximately 24,000 copies have been printed during that time; recognises the important role that The Nethy has played in bringing the village together by sharing local news, recording the history of Nethy Bridge and the surrounding area, celebrating the achievements and milestones of local residents and providing a voice for community groups; further recognises what it sees as the considerable contribution made by the many volunteers who, over more than two decades, have written articles, taken photographs, designed pages, organised advertising, distributed copies and managed the publication; commends The Nethy for donating its profits to village causes and helping to support local projects and groups; pays particular tribute to its founders, past and present committee members, editors, contributors, advertisers, subscribers and readers, whose support has enabled the newsletter to flourish for 21 years; believes that the continued success of a volunteer-led publication in a small Highland community is a considerable achievement and testament to the community spirit of Nethy Bridge, and wishes everyone involved with The Nethy continued success for many more years of helping to bring the village together.

That the Parliament congratulates the Puffin Hydrotherapy Pool in Dingwall on reaching its 30th anniversary; recognises what it sees as the vital service it provides to children and adults across the Highlands through hydrotherapy and rehabilitation; acknowledges the positive difference that the pool has made to individuals and families over the past 30 years; commends the staff, trustees, volunteers, supporters and fundraisers whose dedication has helped sustain the pool over three decades; recognises the importance of accessible specialist facilities and services for people in rural and remote communities; welcomes the contribution the Puffin Pool makes to the health, wellbeing and independence of people across the Highlands, and wishes the pool every success as it begins its fourth decade of serving communities across the Highlands.