Chamber and committees

That the Parliament acknowledges calls for a moratorium on new purpose built student accommodation (PBSA) developments in Glasgow; considers that the provision of almost 40,000 student beds, either operational or in development, represents a significant and unnecessary concentration of PBSAs across the city; acknowledges concerns raised by local residents and businesses regarding the concentration of these and what is seen as their harmful impact on communities; notes concerns among students regarding affordability, with many developments being far too expensive for the majority of them in Glasgow; recognises concerns that PBSAs might disproportionately benefit developers making significant profits from students while taking away land that could be used for housing or other purposes that benefit the whole community; believes that there is an urgent need for affordable housing for students and other residents across Glasgow including, but not limited to, student housing co-ops, HMOs and family homes, rather than what it believes are further expensive and exploitive student developments, and acknowledges the view that a moratorium on new PBSAs should be considered.

That the Parliament recognises and celebrates the 25th anniversary of Black History Month in Scotland across October 2026; acknowledges the contributions of the African and Caribbean diaspora to history in Scotland; welcomes events and initiatives across the country that highlight the important role of African and Caribbean communities and individuals in Scottish history and society; affirms that a person’s skin colour or ethnicity does not define their nationality, intelligence, ambition or character; acknowledges the benefits of fostering a Scotland where individuals of African and Caribbean descent feel proud of their cultural roots alongside their Scottish heritage and history; recognises the theme of the month, Acknowledging Our Communities, and notes the view that work should be carried out towards achieving a Scotland where "Black history" is both acknowledged and simply seen as "Scottish history",  no more or no less.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, A Funding Gap Analysis of Scotland’s University Sector, which was co-produced by Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government and led by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli; notes with concern the finding that there is a £200 million funding gap and that the funding received by the university sector from both public and private sources is insufficient to sustain its core teaching and research activities; recognises that the report represents the first step in the co-design of a new framework for the financial sustainability and success of universities to 2045; understands that this report and the wider Future Framework process bring together the Scottish Government, universities, trade unions, student representatives, funding bodies and independent experts to consider the future of universities in Scotland, and encourages continued cross-party support for the Future Framework process through to the publication of its final report in early 2027 and implementation thereafter, to ensure both the success and financial sustainability of the sector.

That the Parliament congratulates Sisters Against Cuts for highlighting the value of the women’s service provided by the Murray’s Initiative and advocating on their behalf by protesting on 14 July 2026 in Glasgow alongside a consistent campaign of pressure on behalf of service users; notes reports of concern regarding the ongoing threat to the service, and similar services, due to funding cuts; recognises that the service is considered a lifeline for survivors of gender-based violence and that it has helped over 500 women since 2021, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that sufficient funding is available to guarantee the full retention of the service and similar services in perpetuity.

That the Parliament supports the staff of Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) who are campaigning against plans for 100 compulsory redundancies; recognises that universities across Scotland are operating in a challenging financial and policy environment; understands that GCU retains substantial financial reserves which, it believes, could be used to support staff retention and institutional transition; notes that GCU staff, representing a range of trade unions, have been protesting against the proposed cuts since March 2026 and are planning strike action between 30 June and 2 July 2026; believes that staff are vital to the future success and sustainability of the higher education sector, and calls on GCU to engage constructively with staff and trade unions and to work collaboratively to explore solutions to avoid further industrial action.

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Glasgow Social Media and Student Communications Team on receiving the Marketing/PR Campaign of the Year at The Herald Education Awards; recognises the team's additional nomination for the university’s new baby loss and fertility guidance; commends the leadership exhibited by staff in developing this guidance, and notes what it sees as the continued importance of higher education institutions as spaces for the development and protection of progressive ideas.

That the Parliament congratulates Maryhill Integration Network (MIN) on its 25th anniversary of operation, which was marked on 13 June 2026; commends MIN on what it sees as its significant contribution to community cohesion for over two decades; believes that MIN has become a beloved unity asset that tackles isolation and builds connections among people who face the greatest barriers to engaging with their community, and considers that community cohesion requires active and sustained support in order for communities to flourish.

That the Parliament recognises that World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was marked on 15 June 2026, and that this year represented the 20th annual observance of the day; recognises the importance of highlighting the unique challenges faced by older survivors of abuse when seeking support; understands that a lack of awareness can further compound the difficulties experienced by survivors, and acknowledges the important work undertaken by organisations such as Hourglass to support those affected by elder abuse and contribute to the building of a safer Scotland for people of all ages.