Chamber and committees

That the Parliament celebrates 70 years of the Isle of May as a National Nature Reserve (NNR); understands that the island, which is located off the coast of the East Neuk of Fife and is known as the “Jewel of the Forth”, was designated a NNR in June 1956 to protect its special species and habitats; notes that it has been owned and managed by NatureScot and its predecessor bodies since 1989; believes that the reserve is significant for its thousands of breeding seabirds in the summer and internationally important grey seal nurseries in the autumn; notes that it is one of four strategic seabird research sites in the UK, and that such research has been carried out on the island since 1966, which has been followed by seal research since 1982; recognises that this long-term work and the study of wildlife populations and trends help to understand the effects of climate change on the diet and distribution of seabirds and seals and considers it valuable in influencing the management of habitats; believes that the Sandeel (Prohibition of Fishing) (Scotland) Order 2024 has played a crucial role in the protection of puffins, other seabirds  nesting on the island and marine ecosystems, and applauds the hard work of staff at NatureScot to preserve and protect this special place for everyone to enjoy and for future generations.

That the Parliament congratulates the Border Ladies County Golf Association on the success of its 360 Challenge, which encourages women and girls to take up and enjoy golf across the Scottish Borders; recognises the association's important contribution to promoting participation in the sport through county championships, inter-club competitions, junior coaching and player development opportunities; acknowledges the dedication of the volunteers who give their time to support the association and local golf clubs; believes that grassroots sport plays a vital role in improving physical and mental wellbeing, strengthening communities and encouraging participation across all ages, and wishes the Border Ladies County Golf Association every success with the 360 Challenge and its continued work to grow the game across the Borders.

That the Parliament notes the longstanding proposal to give the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) its own-initiative powers; understands that such powers would allow the SPSO to investigate matters in the public interest without first requiring an individual complaint; believes that this could help identify systemic failings, improve accessibility by giving a voice to people who might be unable or unwilling to complain, as well as support earlier intervention before problems become more widespread; notes the evidence from other jurisdictions, including Wales and Northern Ireland, suggesting that own-initiative investigations can help raise the profile of significant public service issues and drive systemic improvement; further notes that the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body's (SPCB) Supported Bodies Landscape Review Committee recommended an enhanced SPSO with the power to conduct own-initiative investigations in the public interest; considers that this approach would support public service reform by strengthening existing accountability mechanisms rather than creating additional bodies; considers that this change could deliver greater value for public money by helping to prevent systemic failures arising in future, and calls on the Scottish Government, the SPCB and relevant parliamentary committees to work together to bring forward these proposals to modernise the SPSO’s powers accordingly.

That the Parliament congratulates Peter Bloomfield on receiving the Chief Executive's Award at the Veterans Scotland Armed Forces Champion Gathering in Stirling in recognition of his work supporting the Erskine Veterans' Activity Centre in Forres, Moray; notes that Mr Bloomfield is Moray Council's Armed Forces champion and is himself a veteran, having served in the Royal Air Force; recognises the outstanding work carried out by Erskine in Forres to support veterans and their families, and welcomes what it sees as evidence of the social contract between the Armed Forces and their country, which, it believes, reflects the collective responsibility of people in Scotland to support veterans who have put themselves at risk, both physically and mentally, on their behalf.

That the Parliament congratulates Brynn MacDonald, from Glenboig, Coatbridge, on her outstanding achievement in winning first place at the British Open Figure Skating competition in Sheffield; recognises the dedication and commitment that Brynn has shown since taking up skating three years ago with Olympia Skating Club in East Kilbride, while regularly training at the Time Capsule in Coatbridge; notes that Brynn has already competed in around seven events across Scotland, securing her first podium finish with a bronze medal in Aberdeen earlier this year; celebrates her success in achieving first place at a prestigious British competition featuring skaters from across the UK and Ireland, and wishes Brynn continued success in her skating journey, with particular appreciation for the support of her family, coaches and the wider skating community.

That the Parliament welcomes World Arthritis Day, which takes place on 12 October 2026; understands that arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect more than 1.7 million people in Scotland, around one in three adults, and are a leading cause of pain and disability; notes that these conditions affect people of all ages, including more than 18,000 children in Scotland living with a long-term MSK condition; acknowledges the impact that MSK conditions have on individuals, the NHS, social care services and the wider economy; welcomes what it sees as Scotland's world-leading research into arthritis and immunology, including the work led by Professor Sir Iain McInnes at the University of Glasgow and at the Centre for Musculoskeletal Health and Work in Aberdeen under the leadership of Professor Gary J Macfarlane, and commends Arthritis UK for currently investing £15.3 million to advance research in Scotland while supporting people living with arthritis and campaigning for better care.

That the Parliament congratulates Ellen McBride on her retirement as church representative on West Dunbartonshire Council’s Educational Services Committee after 26 years of distinguished service; recognises her lifelong dedication to education and to improving the outcomes for children and young people across West Dunbartonshire; notes her long career as a teacher, beginning at St Stephen’s Primary School in Dalmuir, before moving on to take on the role of head teacher at St Peter’s Primary School in Bellsmyre, where she earned a reputation as an outstanding educator and mentor; further notes her contribution to Strathclyde Regional Council’s Education Department as a member of the Quality Assurance Team, where she championed excellence in teaching, learning and leadership; acknowledges her influential role in supporting Catholic school self-evaluation and improvement, combining high educational standards with a strong commitment to Catholic values and ethos; commends what it sees as her extensive knowledge, professionalism, wisdom and unwavering commitment to children, families and educational excellence; thanks her for the positive impact that she has had on generations of young people and education professionals, and wishes her a long, happy, healthy and fulfilling retirement.

That the Parliament congratulates Caremark on its grand opening in Cardonald; understands that Caremark provides personalised home care services, including companionship, domestic support and overnight care, enabling individuals to stay independent in their home with trusted support; further understands that Caremark also provides specialist care for people living with conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, as well as for those with acquired brain injuries, physical disabilities and neurological conditions; notes that Caremark works both in the private sector and with self-directed support, and wishes Caremark the best for the future.

As an amendment to motion S7M-00542 in the name of Alex Kerr (EY Attractiveness Survey), insert at end "; recognises however, what it considers is the lack of detailed parliamentary and governmental scrutiny applied to FDI projects, which can often entail the foreign takeover of established Scotland-headquartered companies and domestically-owned assets rather than generating new greenfield investment; notes with concern recent analysis by The Scotsman in the Scotland 500 list, which suggested that US-based private equity firms account for 39% of all ownership stakes in Scotland’s largest headquartered firms by turnover, and that all three of the country's unicorn start-ups are now in overseas ownership; warns that companies from Scotland might too often be left vulnerable to foreign takeovers; highlights what it sees as the increasing level of foreign ownership in Scoland's economy and the consequent wealth extraction that this facilitates, a dynamic that it considers is evidenced by the structural divergence between Scotland’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and Gross National Income (GNI);understands that GNI remained below GDP throughout 1998 to 2021, reflecting the primary income deficit over this period; notes that, in 2021, Scotland’s Primary Income Account showed a net outflow of £10.1 billion, or -5.6% of GDP, with the largest outflow being returns on direct investment at -3.2% of GDP, and calls on the Scottish Government to carry out a more rigorous analysis of investment data, distinguishing between developmental FDI, which builds domestic industrial capacity, and dependent FDI, which extracts wealth, to ensure that economic strategy prioritises the retention and growth of capital under domestic ownership and the long-term prosperity of Scotland."

That the Parliament congratulates Bliss Beauty in Kirkcaldy being named the Best Independent Beauty Salon in Scotland at the annual Muddy Stilettos Regional Awards; note that the salon is a longstanding business of 25 years, winning numerous awards over this time due mainly to its owner, Christine Cunningham-Smith, who goes beyond the call of duty to ensure that her customers leave with a smile on their face and a new appointment booked; acknowledges Christine's hard work, passion and enthusias; believes she has cemented a strong reputation in the community and has built a solid team of 13 staff who share her vision; considers this award to be much deserved; believes that Bliss Beauty has built its reputation on happy clients and word of mouth in a very competitive market, and wishes it all the best and continued success.