Chamber and committees

That the Parliament agrees that the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill be passed.

As an amendment to motion S6M-19756 in the name of Daniel Johnson (Scotland's Skills System), leave out from first “believes” to end and insert “agrees that there needs to be greater partnership between education and industry, with better careers advice in schools central to it, and clear and coherent Scottish pathways to link school and college courses to future careers, improved placements for secondary school pupils, and better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings, alongside an ongoing commitment to apprenticeships; acknowledges the significant progress made over the years to deliver a record number of apprentices in training at the end of 2024-25; notes that, despite the impact of Brexit and a failing UK economic model, resulting in workforce challenges and barriers to trade, Scotland is the best performing part of the UK for inward investment outside of London, has a lower unemployment rate than the UK, and has near record positive destinations, and agrees that independence offers the best opportunity for Scotland’s economy to grow and create wealth and prosperity for all.”

That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill.

That the Parliament welcomes and notes the SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee's 1st Report, 2025 (Session 6), SPCB Supported Bodies Landscape Review (SP Paper 828); recognises the Committee's conclusions and recommendations, including concerns that expanding the number of SPCB supported bodies risks further fragmenting the current landscape, increasing complexity for service users, and placing additional strain on the SPCB and parliamentary committee resources, and agrees with the Committee’s recommendations that:

(a) the SPCB supported body landscape should not be expanded to include new advocacy-type SPCB supported bodies;

(b) any future proposals for new SPCB supported bodies must satisfy two-tier criteria, as set out in paragraph 150 of the report, comprising both justification and effectiveness tests, and that a parliamentary committee should be given the remit of assessing proposals against these criteria; and

(c) a parliamentary committee should be given the specific responsibility for the accountability and scrutiny of SPCB supported bodies for a fixed period as a pilot exercise in Session 7.

That the Parliament congratulates Leith Academy on being awarded the LGBT Charter at Gold level, the highest recognition, for its commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion; notes the review panel’s commendation of the school’s strong leadership and meaningful student involvement in shaping an ambitious and achievable action plan; welcomes the school’s efforts to expand mental health support, introduce non-gendered facilities and update policies in line with the Equality Act 2010 and the needs of trans and non-binary pupils; celebrates youth-led initiatives such as LGBTQ+ history lessons, allyship resources and student-designed Charter of Rights displays; acknowledges the school’s inclusive celebration of events, including Purple Friday, LGBT History Month and Trans Day of Visibility; recognises the integration of inclusive content across subjects, and applauds the students and teachers at Leith Academy for their commitment to laying the foundation for systemic inclusion and ongoing dedication to making the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency, and Scotland more widely, a kinder, inclusive place for all.

That the Parliament congratulates Caroline Crozier from The Junction, based in Leith, for winning the prestigious Youth Worker of the Year award at the National Youth Work Awards, which took place on 11 June 2025 at the Hilton DoubleTree in Glasgow; recognises Caroline’s more than 20 years of youth work, inspiring young people in the community to realise their potential, earning their trust and admiration; commends Caroline for her dedication to improving the lives of young people in Edinburgh Northern and Leith through one-to-one support and drug awareness programmes, and pays tribute to youth workers across Scotland, and organisations like The Junction, who it believes empower young people and shape Scotland's communities for the better by building confidence, nurturing growth, and supporting young people to transform their lives.

That the Parliament congratulates Leith resident, Luke Coleman, on his success at the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Flower Show at Wentworth Woodhouse in July 2025, where his sensory garden, Drakkar’s Drift, won multiple prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal, RHS Young Designer of the Year, People’s Choice Best Young Designer Garden, and Best Construction; recognises the garden’s inspiration, which, it understands, is drawn from the history of the Scottish isles and Viking heritage, and its innovative use of eco-friendly design to support and highlight the importance of biodiversity and community wellbeing by blending Nordic wellness traditions and highland elements; welcomes the plans to relocate Drakkar’s Drift to Victoria Park within the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency, where it will be reconstructed, transforming a currently disused plot into a vibrant public space for local residents, and commends Luke Coleman for his vision, creativity and commitment to celebrating Scottish and Nordic heritage, through emphasising the importance of togetherness and belonging, and creating a lasting legacy for people to enjoy.

As an amendment to motion S6M-18065 in the name of James Dornan (Proscribing of Palestine Action), leave out ", such as the Israel Defense Forces".

That the Parliament congratulates Tapa, which is a Spanish restaurant based at the Shore in Leith, on being awarded the Readers’ Choice award for best local restaurant at The Scotsman Scran Awards 2025; recognises Tapa’s longstanding commitment to providing authentic Spanish cuisine, with a menu of traditional and contemporary tapas dishes made with locally sourced Scottish produce and Spanish ingredients; understands that Tapa has been a cornerstone of the Leith food scene for over a decade; further understands that it is known for its warm hospitality, as well as its dedication to sustainability and community engagement; commends the team at Tapa for its passion and consistency in delivering what it considers to be an exceptional dining experience, and wishes it continued success for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Leith-based organisation, Street Soccer Scotland, on the launch of its new social enterprise, kitback; believes that this innovative initiative combines a passion for football with a strong commitment to social impact and environmental sustainability; understands that kitback encourages individuals to donate unused or unwanted football shirts, with proceeds supporting a range of Street Soccer Scotland projects aimed at tackling homelessness, social inequality and mental health challenges within local communities; commends the organisation for its creativity, ingenuity and dedication to using the power of sport as a force for good, and wishes all involved continued success in delivering positive change through this inspiring and environmentally conscious social enterprise.