Chamber and committees

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, Multi-system solutions for meeting the needs of autistic people and people with ADHD in Scotland; notes the reported unprecedented increase in the number of people across Scotland, including in Edinburgh, seeking support for neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs), particularly attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism; understands that, as of March 2025, over 42,000 children and 23,000 adults were waiting for a neurodevelopmental assessment, and that this represents an increase of over 500% for children and 2,200% for adults since 2020; further understands that there is currently no standardised national pathway for diagnosis, treatment and support for NDCs, and that in the absence of appropriate services, individuals are being referred into general mental health pathways, not because they have a mental illness, but because there is nowhere else for them to go; believes that this is placing unsustainable pressure on Scotland’s mental health system; further believes that timely diagnosis and intervention for ADHD and autism can significantly improve quality of life, reduce suicide risk and prevent secondary mental illnesses; commends the work of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland in developing a comprehensive, value-based framework to address these challenges, and notes the view that simply expanding existing structures is not a sustainable solution, and that a multi-system and society-wide response is needed. 

That the Parliament congratulates the Good Morning Service on celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, having been established in 2000; recognises the importance of the Good Morning Service’s befriending and safety net alert service for all those in receipt of it, who are usually older people living alone; believes that this is a lifeline service for so many and that it helps to tackle loneliness, with members feeling more connected, safer, valued, resilient and  supported to live in their own homes for as long as possible; understands that the Good Morning Service operates in the Glasgow and South Ayrshire areas; notes the monthly outings that the service organises, giving recipients the chance to meet others and socialise; appreciates the efforts of all the staff and volunteers who have made the Good Morning Service such a success story and a cherished organisation by so many over the last 25 years, and wishes the Good Morning Service all the very best in the years ahead.

That the Parliament understands that a new credit union has launched in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire; further understands that the Pollok Credit Union, which is situated on Barrhead Main Street, was officially opened on 9 October by East Renfrewshire Council Provost, Mary Montague, and opened for public use on 13 October; notes that it will be open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10am until 3pm every week; commends East Renfrewshire Council for working in partnership with Pollok Credit Union Ltd and other community planning partners, to deliver what it believes people in Barrhead have long been calling for; notes that Barrhead had not had a credit union since 2021; congratulates all the campaigners and people from the area who have passionately called for banking services to remain in Barrhead after multiple closures of banks in recent years, and believes that, despite the convenience of digital banking, face-to-face banking services are still an essential resource that should be available in towns across Scotland.

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the significant contribution of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas to Scotland’s transition to net zero; welcomes the work of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) to research, develop and promote the AD industry across Scotland, including the economically prominent dairy farming sector in the south west of Scotland; notes that AD technology supports the circular economy by converting organic and residue wastes and by-products into renewable energy and non-synthetic nutrient-rich digestate fertiliser; highlights the role of biogas in diversifying energy sources and enhancing energy security, including the potential for widening delivery for non-gas grid rural communities; understands that the AD sector provides direct support to farmers and rural communities through sustainable waste management, value for cover and break crops, additional income streams and skilled job creation; believes that further investment and policy support for AD and biogas will play a key role in meeting Scotland’s climate targets, boosting the rural economy and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider creating a biogas champion position to oversee interdepartmental and cross-portfolio collaboration to ensure the success of the AD sector for the future.

That the Parliament notes that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Interface, the organisation that brings together Scotland’s business and academic communities to accelerate innovation; further notes that Interface has delivered over 3,800 business-academic research projects, connecting more than 2,200 small- and medium-sized businesses with college and university expertise; recognises that impacts from Interface’s work include more than 11,000 new or improved products, processes, services and workforce practices, the creation or safeguarding of more than 3,300 jobs and an increase in business turnover of over £28 million; understands that 89% of projects in the last five years have delivered positive impacts for social inclusion, environmental sustainability, or equality and diversity; further understands that the management of funding programmes supporting research and development, delivered in partnership with Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Government, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Food and Drink Federation Scotland, have provided £13.9 million to date to help offset the cost of business-academic projects; celebrates that Interface has staged the Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards for the past 10 years, recognising the people and projects behind successful business-academic collaborations and helping to raise the profile of knowledge exchange across Scotland, and wishes Interface continued success for the future.

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the significant and growing contribution of Scotland’s cruise ship industry to the national economy; notes reports of over 1.1 million passengers visiting Scottish ports in 2023, generating  £343 million in economic output, supporting an estimated 4,712 jobs, and contributing £145 million in wages and £61 million in tax revenues; acknowledges the role of key ports, such as Greenock, Kirkwall, Lerwick and Edinburgh, in driving regional tourism and economic development, including in the Greenock and Inverclyde constituency; notes reports that Scotland accounts for 30% of UK cruise ship activity and has experienced steady growth in passenger numbers, in contrast to cities such as Amsterdam and Dubrovnik, which, it understands, introduced cruise ship levies and saw declines of 43.9% and 19.2% respectively in cruise visits between 2019 and 2025; further notes reports that other destinations, such as Alaska and Barcelona, have successfully implemented cruise ship levies that fund local infrastructure, environmental protection and tourism services without significantly deterring cruise ship traffic; notes the view that a well-designed cruise ship levy, reinvested into local communities, could enhance the sustainability and long-term viability of the sector, while ensuring that host communities benefit more directly from cruise tourism, and further notes the view that learning from international best practice and engaging with industry stakeholders, to ensure that Scotland remains a leading and attractive cruise destination, is vital when considering the implementation of a cruise ship levy in Scotland.

That the Parliament is enthused at the news that construction work has commenced on a new Dollar Academy facility, which has reportedly been designed to “break down artificial barriers between disciplines and support young people to learn in a new way”; understands that the school’s Futures Institute at Dollar Academy (FIDA), previously referenced in motions S6M-10126 and S6M-11284, has been designed by world-renowned architect and former pupil, Andrew Whalley, and will be built to enable collaborative, multi-model teaching approaches; further understands that it will underpin a new qualification, the International Sustainability Diploma (ISD), previously referenced in motion S6M-13506, which has been developed and piloted by staff at the school; understands from reports that backers of the bespoke facility say it will become “Scotland’s most extraordinary teaching space, designed for world-class learning” and “an inspiring space that nurtures creativity, critical thinking and collaboration”; believes that the ground floor will include a 400-capacity, 300-square-metre space for lectures and talks, an experimental laboratory, a maker space, a film and photography studio and two modern learning areas designed for multi-modal teaching, and that the majority of the upper floor will be taken up by a “flex deck”, which has been designed to stimulate ideas and discussion and facilitate modern, interdisciplinary working, as well as providing room for collaboration, individual study and personal reflection; notes that there will also be an area called the “Think Tank”, which is an adaptable, 100-square-metre space, in which teachers from across the country will work collaboratively; considers that the ISD is a level 6 qualification, which is broadly equivalent to Highers, and is also recognised by UCAS; understands that it involves problem- and project-based education, with young people learning by designing solutions to real-world challenges built upon the UN Sustainable Development Goals; notes that there is no final exam, and that a portfolio approach is used to both support and challenge students, while helping them to develop the skills needed for modern and collaborative working environments; considers that this is a major investment for Dollar, but one that is essential if the academy is to be able to offer an education that equips young people as well as possible for the increasingly complex and challenging world beyond school; applauds the academy's reported ambition for every young person in Clackmannanshire to have at least one educational experience in the new building and for it to become a national hub for the sharing of ideas and good practice; understands that the hope is that the new building will be ready by the end of December 2026, and commends Dollar Academy and everyone involved on what it sees as this ground-breaking initiative.

That the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee recommends that the Energy Performance of Buildings (Scotland) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Rural Support (Improvement) (Miscellaneous Amendment) (Scotland) (No. 2) Regulations 2025 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament congratulates East Renfrewshire Good Causes on its continuing outstanding work to support vulnerable people in different parts of Scotland; understands that since East Renfrewshire Good Causes was formed in August 2007, the charity has been able to provide over £2.7 million in goods and services to support 9,699 people up to September 2025; acknowledges that recent examples of support that has been made available by the charity include specialist equipment to aid people who are living with debilitating health conditions, additional home security assistance for families who have experienced domestic abuse and play therapy for young people with autism; recognises that the charity originally operated only in East Renfrewshire, but in the past number of years has expanded to provide assistance to people across Scotland, in places such as Glasgow, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire and South Lanarkshire, and commends East Renfrewshire Good Causes and its founder, Russell MacMillan, for the ongoing efforts to deliver much-needed support to vulnerable people in Scotland.