Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates West College Scotland on the outcome of its recent Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review, which was undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency; understands that the college was judged in the review to be “effective in managing academic standards, enhancing the quality of the learning experience and enabling student success”; recognises the hard work of Principal, Anne Campbell, and her team in achieving this status; thanks Ms Campbell and all the staff at West College Scotland for their commitment to their students, and wishes them all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Ralston Bowling Club on raising £8,777 at its fundraising day for ACCORD Hospice in Paisley; notes that hundreds of people attended the event, which included music, games, food and bowling; understands that the bowling club was also supported by Tom Urie, who provided entertainment on the day, and George Bowie who conducted the raffle; thanks the board and all of the members of the club for organising such a successful and enjoyable day; recognises that ACCORD Hospice provides palliative and end-of-life care throughout Renfrewshire and East Renfrewshire, and cares for over 1,800 people per year; believes that it needs £9,000 per day to run its services, and recognises that it is naming a particular day in its calendar after Ralston Bowling Club, due to the club's contribution, covering the whole 24-hour period of care.

That the Parliament commends Brian McGuire, who is the founder of Renfrewshire news website, Paisley on the Web, which can be found at paisley.org.uk, for his service to his community; recognises that it has provided Renfrewshire’s residents and visitors alike with up-to-date news, event announcements and food and drink recommendations since 1998; values Brian’s commitment to keeping the community well-informed in a time of growing misinformation; notes the website's successful adaptation to changes in news consumption over the years through its social media pages, which have collectively amassed almost 80,000 followers, and thanks Brian for the positive impact that Paisley on the Web continues to make in Renfrewshire.

That the Parliament congratulates Renfrewshire Carers Centre, which is a charity that supports unpaid carers in the community, on being given the Investing in Volunteers Award; believes that the award, which is administered by Volunteer Scotland, is the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management and is presented to organisations that offer outstanding support to their volunteers; notes that Renfrewshire Carers Centre has been providing vital support to carers in Renfrewshire for over 25 years; thanks the Centre's manager, Diane Goodman, its team and volunteers for their work, and wishes them all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Paul Andrew, Harvard University’s Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications, on being awarded an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of the West of Scotland in Paisley; recognises that Paul, who grew up in Paisley, received the honorary degree in recognition of his contribution to the public affairs and communications sector; notes that Paul’s role at Harvard includes community and government engagement and that he has led the university’s external affairs through several landmark moments, including the COVID-19 pandemic; commends Paul for the positive impact that he is making in his field as a representative of Paisley, and wishes him all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Paisley-based charity, the Art Department, on being awarded £75,000 by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland; recognises that this funding will enable the charity to continue delivering workshops and events over the next two years that widen access to creative participation for people of all ages and abilities; commends its community-led approach and commitment to making the arts accessible and inclusive; thanks the CEO, Steven Thomson, the staff and the volunteers, for their hard work, and wishes them all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) and the SPFL Trust on their recent UNITED: Football in the Community campaign, which celebrated the vital work of football clubs and community trusts in supporting communities across Scotland; notes that the content series highlighted how clubs and their associated community trusts have become increasingly important within their local areas, delivering programmes that support people’s health, wellbeing, social connection, education and inclusion, while helping to strengthen communities nationwide; recognises that the campaign content was viewed hundreds of thousands of times and showcased the work of organisations, including Celtic FC Foundation, the Rangers Charity Foundation, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Dundee FC Community Trust, The Killie Community and Spartans Community Foundation, among many others; notes the SPFL Trust’s recently published 2024-25 annual report, which highlights the scale of the wider impact delivered by a network of 46 associated community trusts linked to SPFL and SWPL clubs; understands that more than 800 people are employed by these trusts across Scotland, supported by a further 1,450 volunteers, who give their time throughout the season, and commends everyone involved for their continued contribution to communities across the country.

As an amendment to motion S6W-20819 in the name of Gillian Mackay (Ending US Military Use of Scottish Airports), leave out from “strongly” to end and insert “acknowledges that any use by other nations of Scottish infrastructure must be done in accordance with domestic and international law; welcomes the role that both Scotland and Prestwick airport have played in supporting Ukraine against the Russian invasion; recognises the importance of Scotland’s strategic assets in supporting international security; affirms its support for the UK’s place in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), and welcomes the UK Government commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP in an era of global instability.”

That the Parliament recognises the report recently published by the Fraser of Allander Institute, and commissioned by the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) and the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL), which explored the impact of football on Scotland's economy, understands that the professional men's and women's game, alongside the national teams and including fan spending, generated £820 million during the 2023-24 season; further understands that attendance at professional matches that season topped 6.8 million; notes the finding that the economic activity of the professional football sector supports 9,245 full-time equivalent jobs and made a contribution of £545 million in gross value added to the economy, and considers that it is clear that football is not just intrinsic to Scotland's culture and society, but is crucial to the economy as well.

That the Parliament congratulates Paul Wycherley, who is the founder and CEO of Paisley Radio, on being awarded a 2026 Global Recognition Award for excellence in radio broadcasting; acknowledges that the Global Recognition Awards commend small businesses and individuals across the world who have made significant contributions to their field; considers that the selection process is highly competitive, with more than 15,000 people considered each year; recognises that, under Paul’s leadership, Paisley Radio has grown a global audience since its foundation in 2020; observes that Paul’s award is the latest in a series that Paisley Radio has won since its foundation, and wishes Paul and the team all the very best for the future.