Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates Terra Nova Explorer Scout Unit, part of Greenock and District Scouts, on winning the prestigious Mark Muir Challenge for the first time; recognises the achievement of the unit’s young people following a demanding weekend of teamwork, resilience and outdoor adventure on the Isle of Bute; notes that 29 Explorers from six Greenock and District Explorer Scout units took part in a series of challenging activities, including navigation exercises, a 10-mile trek, camping, water-based challenges and a night-time search and rescue exercise; commends all participants for demonstrating determination, leadership and community spirit throughout the event; further congratulates Gary McEachran and Andy MacDougall on receiving the Mark Muir Award for Merit in recognition of their outstanding service and commitment to providing opportunities for young people across the district; welcomes the continued success of Greenock and District Scouts in developing practical skills, confidence and leadership among young people through activities undertaken by its Cub and Explorer sections; acknowledges the contribution of volunteers, supporters and partners, including the Muir family, CalMac Ferries, Vango and Inverkip Church, in making the challenge possible, and wishes Greenock and District Scouts every success in its future activities, including the forthcoming “Let’s Go Gang Show 2026” at the Beacon Arts Centre.

That the Parliament congratulates Jax Snax Food Trucks in Port Glasgow on being recognised at the Food Awards Scotland 2026; notes that the business received the Outstanding Achievement award in the Food Truck of the Year category at the ceremony, which was held in Glasgow on 17 August; believes that this national accolade is a testament to the hard work, dedication and high standards demonstrated by the team; commends the contribution that independent food businesses make to local economies and communities across Inverclyde and Scotland; welcomes the positive recognition that this success brings to Port Glasgow and Inverclyde, and wishes everyone at Jax Snax Food Trucks continued success.

That the Parliament recognises Dyslexia Awareness Week Scotland 2026, which is taking place from 28 September to 4 October, and its theme, The Right Tools for the Job; understands that the campaign, led by Dyslexia Scotland, highlights the importance of people with dyslexia having access to the right tools, practical support and reasonable adjustments to enable them to work and learn to their full potential; notes research by Dyslexia Scotland and the University of Glasgow, which found that only 41% of adults with dyslexia in Scotland receive reasonable adjustments in the workplace, with a quarter of those who receive adjustments reporting that they are not helpful; believes that having the right support in place can help to remove barriers and enable people with dyslexia to thrive in education, employment and wider society; commends Dyslexia Scotland, its staff, volunteers, partners and supporters for their continued work to make Scotland a dyslexia-friendly country; encourages employers, schools, colleges, universities, public bodies and organisations across Scotland to consider what more they can do to provide the right tools and create genuinely inclusive environments, and encourages MSPs and people across Scotland to support Dyslexia Awareness Week, raise awareness of dyslexia and show their support by wearing the blue dyslexia awareness ribbon.

That the Parliament commends the Wee Read campaign from the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), encouraging everyone across Scotland to stop and enjoy just a few minutes of reading; understands that reading for pleasure reduces stress, contributes to positive wellbeing and is the single most important indicator of a child’s future success; believes that no matter who you are, there is reading material for you through books, comics, newspapers and magazines, or audiobooks; recognises that libraries across Scotland are the perfect place to start or to continue a person’s reading journey and encourages more people into libraries as one of Scotland’s most cherished institutions; notes that thousands of people across Scotland have already signed the pledge to take part in the Wee Read on 7 October 2026, and urges schools, libraries, workplaces, community groups, families and individuals to also pledge their support and help make Scotland a country where reading for all is valued, shared and enjoyed.

That the Parliament congratulates Port Glasgow Juniors FC on winning the Strathclyde Cup; notes that the club lifted the trophy in front of the home supporters at Parklea Stadium; applauds the team's exceptional performance in securing a comprehensive 8–1 aggregate victory over St Patrick’s FP; commends the hard work and dedication displayed by the players, coaching staff and management; notes that this is the first trophy won by the club in 18 years, and wishes everyone at Port Glasgow Juniors FC continued success in their upcoming fixtures and future seasons.

That the Parliament congratulates Cassie O’Neill, teacher at King’s Oak Primary School in Inverclyde, on being named joint winner of The Herald Saroj Lal Award 2026 for a Pioneering Spirit in Equality and Diversity; recognises that the award honours educators who challenge discrimination and promote equality, diversity and inclusion in education; commends Cassie for her commitment to ensuring that inclusion remains at the heart of the curriculum and school life; acknowledges the innovative work undertaken at King’s Oak Primary through initiatives, including the Anti-Racism Club, Equalities Champions and a range of pupil-led events and creative projects designed to foster understanding, respect and social justice; notes that this is the second time an Inverclyde teacher has received the prestigious award, following Katie D’Souza’s success in 2022; recognises the enduring legacy of Saroj Lal, whose pioneering work in multicultural and anti-racist education continues to inspire educators across Scotland; welcomes the positive contribution made by schools, teachers, pupils and communities in advancing equality and diversity, and wishes Cassie, her colleagues and the pupils of King’s Oak Primary every success in continuing this important work.

That the Parliament congratulates Inverclyde Tourist Group (ITG) on reaching its 25th anniversary; recognises the outstanding contribution that its volunteers have made in welcoming visitors to Inverclyde and promoting the area's attractions, heritage and hospitality; notes that ITG members were recently honoured at a special celebration aboard the Majestic Princess cruise ship, hosted by Princess Cruises and Global Ports, to mark this significant milestone; acknowledges that the group has welcomed hundreds of thousands of cruise passengers to Greenock over the past quarter century and has played a major role in helping establish Greenock as a leading cruise destination; commends the dedication and commitment of current and former volunteers, including the organisation's founders, whose efforts have helped showcase Inverclyde to visitors from around the world; recognises the positive contribution that tourism makes to local communities, including across the Inverclyde constituency; notes that ITG's work was previously recognised through the award of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, and wishes everyone associated with ITG continued success for the future and for the next 25 years of service.

That the Parliament recognises the 20th anniversary of the Energy Ombudsman; understands that, following concerns about energy billing and switching processes, the Energy Supply Ombudsman Scheme was launched in July 2006; notes that the scheme was voluntary, applied only to the six largest energy suppliers, dealt solely with billing and switching complaints, and handled just over 2,000 complaints in its first year; further notes that, in 2008, participation became mandatory for all licensed energy suppliers, extending access to independent dispute resolution across all aspects of energy supply services; welcomes the subsequent expansion of the Energy Ombudsman's remit to include consumers using heat networks and small businesses with up to 50 employees; recognises what it sees as the vital role that the Energy Ombudsman plays in supporting consumer confidence in the energy market by providing a free-to-use, independent and impartial dispute resolution service while identifying systemic issues to help drive improvements across the sector; welcomes recent announcements designed to shorten complaint journey times, strengthen decision-making, improve access to the service and enhance consumer compensation, and congratulates the Energy Ombudsman on supporting more than one million energy consumers over the past two decades.

That the Parliament welcomes the decision to relocate and permanently replant the Scottish Nature Garden, which formed a centrepiece of the opening ceremony of the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, at Parklea Branching Out in Port Glasgow; believes that the garden, comprising approximately 2,400 plants, trees and shrubs arranged in a distinctive saltire-inspired design, showcased Scotland’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage to a global audience during the Games; recognises the outstanding work of Parklea Branching Out in using horticulture to provide training, recreational opportunities and social support for people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health challenges and other support needs across Inverclyde and beyond; believes that the garden’s permanent home in Port Glasgow will create a lasting legacy from Glasgow 2026 while enhancing local biodiversity, wellbeing and community engagement; commends all those involved in the design, creation and relocation of the garden, including designer Amalie White, plantsman Jamie Butterworth and the wider Glasgow 2026 team, and wishes Parklea Branching Out every success as it develops this unique and inspiring community asset for future generations.

That the Parliament congratulates Branchton Community Centre in Greenock on securing a £217,195 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund for the next three years; recognises what it sees as the valuable contribution that the centre makes to the local community through its wide range of activities, classes, support services, community shop, breakfast club and family programmes; understands that the funding will help sustain and expand these services, support staff and development officers, and provide resources for additional activities and community engagement; acknowledges the centre’s work in supporting residents of all ages, including those with additional support needs and people living in local care homes; commends the dedication of the staff, volunteers and participants who make the centre a vibrant community hub, and wishes everyone involved every success as they continue to strengthen community wellbeing and reduce social isolation across Branchton and the wider Inverclyde area.