Chamber and committees

That the Parliament commends the efforts of all those who organised, supported and participated in the Refugee World Cup, which was held in Glasgow on 21 June 2026; notes that the seven-a-side event, which began in 2012 as the Refugee Football Festival, has grown to become a key fixture in Scotland's community sports calendar and, this year, brought together teams of refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and local players from over 50 countries in a celebration of football and community; understands that the event was organised by Glasgow Afghan United, involved more than 250 players at Toryglen Regional Football Centre and included a women's competition for the first time; congratulates Wheatley Group on winning the Equality Cup, the Motherwell ('Well) Foundation on winning the Unity Cup, Cathkin Blazes on winning the Women's Cup and Glasgow Afghan United on being crowned Refugee World Cup winners 2026; believes that such events demonstrate the power of football to promote diversity and inclusion, and hopes that all those involved are equally enjoying the 2026 FIFA World Cup, irrespective of which countries they support.

That the Parliament recognises what it considers to be the significant cultural and sporting contribution of Partick Thistle FC as it celebrates its 150th anniversary; welcomes the opening of a special exhibition at Maryhill Burgh Halls, organised by the Partick Thistle Heritage Committee, which showcases a remarkable collection of artefacts spanning the club’s history; understands that the exhibition features a wide range of memorabilia, including historic trophies, medals and match items, such as the Yoker Cup from 1883, a 1909 match ball, the Dental Cup from 1928, the Summer Cup from 1945 and the Tennents Sixes Trophy from 1993; recognises that the club has provided a platform for legendary players and managers over the years, including Davie McParland, Jackie Husband, Chic Charnley, Alan Rough and Alan Hansen; further recognises what it sees as the importance of preserving and sharing the rich history of one of Scotland’s most historic football clubs, from its formation in 1876 to the present day; acknowledges the role that Partick Thistle has played in the social and cultural life of Maryhill and the wider community; commends the efforts of the Partick Thistle Heritage Committee and Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust in delivering the exhibition; understands that it is open to the public, free of charge, until 24 July 2026; encourages supporters and members of the public to visit the exhibition and engage with this important piece of local sporting heritage, and wishes Partick Thistle every success as it marks this significant milestone.

That the Parliament congratulates the community of Maryhill on the 170th anniversary of the area becoming a burgh in 1856; recognises that Maryhill developed rapidly following the construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal and became an independent burgh before its incorporation into Glasgow in 1891; notes that the area is named after Mary Hill, who, with her husband, owned Gairbraid estates, which feud lands in 1791 under condition that the area was named after Mary; acknowledges the rich industrial, cultural and social heritage of Maryhill, including its historic links to textiles, engineering and the canal trade, and its continued strong local identity; welcomes the range of community-led events, exhibitions and activities taking place across Maryhill to celebrate local history and bring people together, including heritage activities, exhibitions and cultural programmes delivered through groups such as the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust; notes that the halls were built in 1878, restored and reopened in 2012; recognises the important work of local organisations in promoting inclusion, community cohesion and cultural activity across Maryhill; commends all volunteers, community leaders and organisations involved in preserving and promoting Maryhill’s history and identity, and wishes the community of Maryhill every success in celebrating this significant milestone and continuing to build a vibrant and inclusive future.

That the Parliament recognises that the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) has received funding from Scotland's Humanitarian Emergency Fund to help Malawian partners address food insecurity, malnutrition and climate-related shocks in Malawi; notes reports of increasing rates of moderate and acute malnutrition, particularly among children under five and pregnant and lactating women; believes that SCIAF's approach, which includes cash transfers to highly vulnerable households, such as female-headed households, families with malnourished children, people with disabilities, child-headed households and flood-affected families, can save lives; understands that packs of Fortified Corn Soya Blend (FCSB) as supplementary food is needed for the most at-risk households, and further understands that Scotland's Humanitarian Emergency Fund has made SCIAF's holistic humanitarian response of cash transfers and supplementary food possible in Malawi and has helped protect child growth and maternal health while supporting community recovery and economic stability.

That the Parliament congratulates the Maryhill Integration Network (MIN) on reaching its 25th anniversary in 2026; acknowledges that MIN has become a key part of North Glasgow’s social fabric during the last quarter of a century, with the organisation growing and innovating to meet the increasingly complex needs of the asylum-seeking and refugee communities that it works alongside; commends MIN on its operating model, which ensures a representative and needs-led approach which places co-design and lived experience at its heart; notes that MIN has core themes of human rights, wellbeing and the arts and that these are explored in a way which ensures community members are not ‘service users’ but rather active leaders in campaigning for their rights; applauds both the various wellbeing and volunteering initiatives run by MIN which provide vital spaces to heal from the trauma of the asylum system and the experience of forced migration, and the joyful arts projects that offer a platform for often silenced voices to showcase their talents, and believes that 25 years on, MIN has become an authentic voice and vital community resource for asylum seekers and refugees, offering both integration and inclusion.

That the Parliament welcomes the collaboration with E.ON Next as it partners with Glasgow City Council and The Wise Group in a trial that aims to support Glasgow City Council’s Child Poverty Programme; understands that the project aims to save families up to 30% on energy bills through free batteries, debt relief, and energy-efficiency white goods and support; notes that the initial phase of the project will see support offered to 100 households, with the plan of expanding the initiative to more households in the future; believes that the trial will play an important role in dealing with fuel poverty in the city, supporting households most at risk by reducing bills and helping ensure homes are warmer, healthier and more affordable to run; looks forward to seeing the results of the trial in due course, and commends initiatives that look to support vulnerable families at a time when the cost of living is still a significant challenge for so many citizens.

That the Parliament recognises what it considers to be the important cultural and historical significance of Café D’Jaconelli in Maryhill as a cherished community institution in Glasgow that has served locals for over a century and reflects the lived experience of Scottish-Italian families in Scotland; notes that a new exhibition in the Maryhill Museum, run by the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust, showcases the café’s history, and its contribution to Scottish-Italian migration and community life; acknowledges the deep pride felt by the Jaconelli family in their role in Maryhill’s social and cultural fabric; celebrates the wider contribution of immigrant-run cafés and small family businesses to the social life and identity of towns and cities across Scotland; further celebrates migrants’ general contribution to Scotland, and commends Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust for developing this work and showcasing it to the people of Maryhill.

That the Parliament supports the roll out of broadband across Scotland to ensure that as many households as possible have speedy, reliable and high quality digital connectivity; believes that there are ongoing and significant barriers to broadband rollout in multi dwelling units (MDUs) across Scotland caused by issues in securing wayleave permissions or access rights for broadband companies to enter and upgrade to broadband within the communal areas of buildings; understands that this has impacted hundreds of premises across Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn and many thousands more across Scotland; believes that changes to the Electronic Communications Code 2017, a reserved matter, are required to enable access; notes that the UK Government is seeking to improve MDU access through its Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024; believes that as this ownership type does not exist in Scotland, the Bill requires to be amended to take account of Scotland’s ownership provisions, and encourages the Scottish and UK governments to work constructively to amend this legislation to ensure that MDU access issues are resolved in Scotland to ensure a new digital divide does not emerge should appropriate legislative provisions not be enacted simultaneously across the UK.

That the Parliament congratulates the community of St Blane's Primary School in Summerston on reaching its landmark 50th Golden Jubilee year; thanks staff, pupils and families over the last five decades who have all contributed to making the community a special, caring and nurturing environment to thrive and learn; understands that the school's vision, values and aims are underpinned by its catholic beliefs and a determination to work together in confidence and trust, which are values that have provided important foundations for many young people over the last 50 years; notes that a Holy Mass of Thanksgiving was held at the Immaculate Conception Church in Maryhill on 28 November 2025, which was led by the Archbishop of Glasgow, William Nolan; commends the dedication of staff over the last 50 years, from the very first headteacher, Miss Sheridan, to its current headteacher, Mrs McVey, who marked the 50th anniversary by announcing a new Heart of St Blane's prize to be awarded to a P7 pupil at the end of each school year from summer 2026; wishes all at St Blane's, past and present, a very happy 50th anniversary, and is confident that the school will excel into the future for many years to come.

That the Parliament believes that the UK’s unelected House of Lords is an affront to democracy; considers that, for as long as Scotland remains part of the UK, any revising chamber at the UK Parliament should be fully elected; deplores what it sees as a situation in which UK political parties, including both the Conservative and Unionist Party and the Labour Party, often make political appointments to the House of Lords as a reward to friends and allies; believes that the Labour Party has pledged to abolish the House of Lords for the last 115 years and has singularly failed to do so, even following landslide UK election victories; recognises reports that the UK Government appears to be delaying the implementation of a range of modest reforms to the House of Lords, and calls for the unelected UK House of Lords to be fully abolished.