Chamber and committees

That the Parliament recognises 3 November 2026 as the International Day for Biosphere Reserves, which was established by UNESCO to celebrate the contribution that biosphere reserves make to conservation, sustainable development, research, education and community wellbeing; congratulates the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere on its continuing work to support people and nature across south-west Scotland; notes that the Biosphere, which was designated by UNESCO in 2012, is the largest biosphere reserve in the UK, covering almost 9,800 km² of land and sea across Dumfries and Galloway, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire, and is internationally recognised as a world-class environment for people and nature; acknowledges the Biosphere's role in promoting nature restoration, climate resilience, sustainable tourism, community-led development, environmental education and local economic opportunity; notes that NatureScot recommends a “better resourced and more influential” UNESCO biosphere, and welcomes continued support and investment to ensure that the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere can continue to deliver benefits for nature, rural economies and local communities.

That the Parliament congratulates Raith Rovers Supporters’ Club on its centenary in 2026; notes that its formation was unanimously approved at a public meeting in Kirkcaldy’s Beveridge Hall in 1926, attended by more than 500 people and chaired by Councillor David Simpson; recognises that the club was established to bring supporters together and further the interests of Raith Rovers, with almost 150 members joining during and shortly after that meeting; celebrates the generations of supporters, committee members and volunteers who have sustained this commitment over the past century; commends the supporters’ club’s contribution through fundraising, practical assistance and helping fans attend matches at home and away; recognises the enduring importance of football supporters to Kirkcaldy’s community spirit and sporting heritage, and wishes everyone associated with Raith Rovers Supporters’ Club every success with its centenary celebrations and for the years ahead.

That the Parliament celebrates the official reopening of the bandstand in Overtoun Park in Rutherglen, following its extensive refurbishment after it was set alight in 2024; understands that the much-loved and fondly remembered local landmark was officially reopened on 31 October 2026 and the occasion was marked by a celebration event attended by many Ruglonians, young and old; thanks King’s Park Brass for bringing their talents and live music back to the bandstand, as well as the Rutherglen School’s Choir for their beautiful performance of the Song of Rutherglen, written by local folk musician Fraser Bruce to celebrate this year’s Rutherglen 900 celebrations; commends all of the individuals and organisations involved in the meticulous, sympathetic and historically accurate work involved in bringing the bandstand back to life; is pleased to note that it was an award-winning, local contractor, Cooper and Grey Roofing, which was chosen to install a bright red roof, bringing back the original colour of the bandstand to the park, and is delighted that the historic structure has been restored to its former glory for future generations of Ruglonians to enjoy.

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement of Galashiels as the host of the next Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament (SRIP) in October 2027; understands that the SRIP takes place every two years in a different location; further understands that the SRIP is the UK's largest participative democratic assembly, bringing hundreds of rural and island people together with politicians to share learning and shape the policy agenda; looks forward to the opportunity for Galashiels to welcome delegates from all over Scotland and for the amazing people and organisations from Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale and across the Scottish Borders to host such a vibrant national event; recognises the important role of organisations in the Scottish Borders, including Scottish Borders Council, Borders Community Action, Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce, South of Scotland Enterprise, Youth Borders, the Southern Uplands Partnership and the Scottish Borders CLLD Local Action Group and Youth Local Action Group in co-delivering the 2027 SRIP with Scottish Rural Action and Scottish Rural Network; notes that the Scottish Rural and Islands Youth Parliament will also take place and welcomes this platform for youth voice and involvement; celebrates the positive impact of bringing together people and communities; notes what it sees as the importance of supporting rural and island communities more widely and awaits with interest the outcome of these discussions, and encourages all relevant stakeholders to engage with this event to the fullest extent possible.

That the Parliament commends the pioneering policy work of Glasgow City Council, which established Glasgow as the UK’s first "Feminist City" following the passing of a landmark motion in October 2022; celebrates Glasgow City Council’s ongoing work under the leadership of chief planning officer, Sarah Shaw, to embed an intersectional feminist lens across urban design, planning, and local government policy; recognises what it sees as the vital contributions of leading architects, academics, and practitioners, including architect Jude Barber, Dr May East and Professor Suzanne Ewing from the University of Edinburgh whose research, expertise and advocacy continue to shape feminist urban design across Scotland; welcomes Glasgow’s commitment to improving the safety, accessibility, convenience and quality of public spaces through thoughtful design that directly incorporates the lived experiences and needs of women, girls, and people of marginalised genders to create more equitable places for all; highlights the development of Glasgow’s Feminist Planning Toolkit and Feminist City Strategy to guide planners, developers, communities, and council departments in implementing best-practice gender-sensitive processes, and endorses training within local authority teams to learn from academics and practitioners in identifying and challenging patterns of inequality and exclusion; invites the Scottish Government to build on Glasgow’s leadership by embedding feminist urban design principles into the National Planning Framework and national policy, ensuring that every town, city, and community across Scotland is designed to be equitable, safe and accessible for everyone.

That the Parliament commends Specsavers in Wishaw for its continued commitment to supporting local charities and community initiatives; recognises the generous donation of £500 to Wishaw Neonatal, presented by Erin Riddell and Laura Baird, which will be used to purchase sensory toys for children and families using the unit’s family rooms; notes that, in 2025, the branch organised a toy drive to support children staying on the paediatric ward at University Hospital Wishaw over Christmas, collecting new gifts for young people aged from 10 weeks to 15 years; recognises its support for the local mental health charity, Chris’s House, through sponsorship of its Darkness into Light Ball in September 2026; welcomes its partnership with MADE4UINML2, which works to improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of people experiencing difficult and impoverished circumstances in the ML2 postcode area, with a particular focus on young people, and commends the team for its plans to organise another Christmas collection of toys for children at University Hospital Wishaw, demonstrating continued generosity and dedication to the Wishaw community.

As an amendment to motion S7M-01844 in the name of Helen McDade (Face Coverings in Public Places), leave out from first "notes" to end and insert "recognises that legislation in Scotland provides police with powers to require the removal of face coverings in specified circumstances where there are reasonable grounds to believe that they are being used to conceal identity in connection with criminality or disorder."

As an amendment to motion S7M-01851 in the name of Angela Ross (Economic Growth and Prosperity), leave out from “believes” to end and insert “considers that the Scottish Government should focus on using its powers more effectively to support sustainable economic growth; believes that a closer economic relationship with the EU represents the single largest opportunity to increase Scotland and the UK’s economic growth and improve productivity; welcomes the reported progress made in negotiations between the UK Government and the EU to remove checks from food and agricultural exports, to link their emissions trading schemes and to agree a youth mobility scheme, and calls for greater ambition from the UK Government, including working towards a new customs union with the EU and rejoining the single market.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-01851 in the name of Angela Ross (Economic Growth and Prosperity), leave out from "Scotland's" to end and insert “that economic growth alone does not guarantee improved living standards for all people or shared prosperity, and is of the view that it often comes with unintended consequences such as social and environmental harm; believes that Scottish Government decisions to increase public spending and set more progressive tax rates have been, and remain, necessary to achieve a more equal society and to protect public services and investment; recognises the need to build a sustainable, fair and ethical economy that prioritises the essential needs of all people instead of the greed of the wealthiest, and calls on the Scottish Government to present to Parliament detailed proposals to ensure that the wealth generated in Scotland's economy is fairly shared for the benefit of current and future generations.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-01844 in the name of Helen McDade (Face Coverings in Public Places), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert “acknowledges that it is not for Parliament to legislate for what women choose to wear, and agrees that parliamentarians should lead by example in rejecting the language and actions of those who seek to divide Scotland's communities in person and online.”