Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the release of the short film, Exiled for Existing, produced by media co-op in partnership with LGBT Unity and the National Library of Scotland, and with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, which had its first screening at Glasgow Film Theatre in June 2026, during Refugee Festival Scotland; understands that the film includes personal stories and reflections from refugees and asylum seekers from Nigeria, Pakistan, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, Gambia and Kenya who are now living in Scotland, and who previously faced persecution and violence as a result of homophobia and transphobia; thanks them for sharing their experience and hopes that many people in Scotland will see the film and come to understand the human cost of prejudice as well as the joy and shared humanity expressed in the film as a result of the participants finding safety and welcome in Scotland; believes that the UK must do far more to ensure that people fleeing discrimination can reach the UK safely, and are treated with warmth and humanity when they do so instead of being forced into poverty, unsafe accommodation and bureaucratic misery, and commends the many organisations throughout Scotland and the UK who are working hard to offer refugees and asylum seekers the welcome they deserve.

As an amendment to motion S7M-00367 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Affordable Bus Fares), insert at end "; believes that the many forms of action and subsidy implemented by the Scottish Government illustrate the failure of the privatised and deregulated model of bus provision; recognises the tireless efforts of campaigners who have made the case for a move to a franchise model and for public ownership, and urges the Scottish Government to ensure that the Better Buses legislation simplifies and accelerates this move by removing bureaucratic barriers and providing funding to Regional Transport Partnerships and local authorities."

As an amendment to motion S7M-00290 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from “is essential” to end, and insert “does not necessarily deliver prosperity, tackle child poverty, improve public services or achieve climate ambitions, and that only government action can ensure that economic activity helps to achieve these objectives rather than undermining them; believes that growth is needed in areas such as clean energy, housing, nature restoration, as well as social provision, including health, education and care, and that public, community and worker ownership should play an increased role; welcomes the recent publication of the Global Justice Report by the World Inequality Lab, which, it considers, is an important contribution to the debate about how high standards of living for all people can be compatible with decarbonisation and sustainability; urges the Scottish Government to ensure that its economic strategy shows similar ambition in combining these vital objectives, and rejects the failed idea that GDP growth inevitably builds a fair or sustainable economy.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-00249 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Wealth Taxation for Public Services), insert at end "; recognises that significant scope exists for further action within devolved powers, such as surcharges within the non-domestic rates system; further recognises that political support has grown for a so-called Amazon tax, as proposed in both the 2026 Scottish Green Party and Scottish National Party manifestos, and believes that progressive reform of property tax could play a powerful role in wealth taxation, and that the Scottish Government must not allow council tax valuations to reach the milestone of being 40 years out of date by the end of the current parliamentary session.”

That the Parliament notes the upcoming trip for 12 pupils from St Roch’s and Holyrood secondary schools in Glasgow to Blantyre, Malawi, through the charity, Malawi Leaders of Learning; notes that the young people involved were selected to support their wider achievement and future employability, with a focus on those from financially disadvantaged backgrounds; understands that the young students will work directly with primary school learners in Malawi, delivering activities in paired reading, numeracy and sports; notes that they will be contributing to meeting specific educational needs identified by the Malawian schools and also to their own development in global citizenship, social justice awareness and leadership, and understands that fundraising for the trip is ongoing, including through the JustGiving.com page, Malawi Leaders of Learning St Roch's and Holyrood Visit June 2026, with donations from all welcome.

That the Parliament congratulates, and thanks, Glasgow's transport providers on their response to the major disruption caused by the fire adjacent to Glasgow Central Station on 8 March 2026; notes that tickets for affected buses and trains are valid on different modes of transport and across different transport providers in order to complete journeys, and believes that lessons should be learned from the response to this crisis on the possibility for a fully integrated transport system to serve everyone who currently uses, or who would be better able to use, public transport in Glasgow.

As an amendment to motion S6M-20964 in the name of Edward Mountain (Draft Climate Change Plan), insert at end ", but, in so doing, shares the serious concerns expressed about the draft plan; recognises that these concerns include the lack of stakeholder confidence in the proposals for decarbonising buildings, the evidence that existing transport policy is unlikely to achieve even the far lower road traffic reduction targets currently in place, and the high level of risk attached to negative emissions technologies, which are more heavily relied on than was recommended by the UK Climate Change Committee, and considers that the final plan must be significantly strengthened if it is to ensure that Scotland recovers its position as a climate leader."

That the Parliament congratulates the Federation of Scottish Theatre (FST) on its 50th anniversary of being formed, on 23 January 1976; notes that FST is the membership and sector support body for professional dance, opera and theatre in Scotland, with around 200 members comprising organisations and individuals; understands that the theatre sector in Scotland directly sustains over 12,000 jobs, and its activities contributed over £234 million gross value added to the Scottish economy in 2023; celebrates the long-term positive impact of the FST bursary, mentoring and training programmes for the development of skills and experience in the performing arts; recognises the importance of FST’s advocacy for the sector, alongside partners such as Culture Counts, in navigating the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in funding pathways and policy developments; acknowledges the ongoing challenges that FST supports the sector through, including what it sees as chronic underfunding, and looks forward to FST progressing its excellent work in 2026 and continuing to facilitate a thriving performing arts community that is integral to a vibrant, diverse and equitable Scotland.

That the Parliament commends the achievement of Studio 70 and Form Glasgow on raising £13,152 for Medical Aid for Palestinians; understands that 20 people raised donations from 519 supporters, and recognises the efforts of the organisations, yoga practitioners, local businesses and participants in organising, donating and taking part in the marathon in order to support the people of Palestine.

That the Parliament welcomes the Glasgow Community Sauna, in partnership with Bowling Green Together, to Pollokshields; understands that the queer-led community project aims to make the health and wellbeing benefits of sauna and cold plunge affordable and accessible to everyone; considers that the project has skilfully turned a disused 30-year-old horsebox into a mobile sauna unit, and recognises the project's aim of supporting people to experience the outdoors in the darker and colder months.