Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates the pupils and staff of Craigmount High School in Edinburgh on their achievements in National Progression Awards (NPAs); notes that Craigmount pupils achieved more than 4,000 qualifications in the last academic year, including 176 Level 6 NPAs, with NPAs accounting for 7% of all qualifications achieved; recognises the school’s work to make NPAs available across a wide range of subjects, including business and marketing, web design and cyber security, through provision within the school and in partnership with Edinburgh College; welcomes the findings of the David Hume Institute’s recent briefing, The Changing Landscape of Education in Scotland: A New National Progression?, which identifies a substantial growth in NPA attainment across Scotland, from 19,640 awards in 2022 to 44,030 in 2026; notes that NPAs are designed to develop and assess defined skills and knowledge in specialist vocational areas and are linked to National Occupational Standards; recognises the importance of ensuring that young people have different ways to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and attainment, including through regular assessment rather than solely through high-stakes final examinations; further recognises the importance of ensuring that Scotland’s qualifications system is understood by employers as the range of routes available to young people continues to develop, and commends Craigmount High School for demonstrating how a broad senior-phase curriculum can give pupils opportunities to pursue subjects relevant to their interests, future careers and further education.

That the Parliament welcomes the award of £119,925 from the National Lottery Community Fund to organisations working across the Clackmannanshire and Dunblane constituency; congratulates Clackmannanshire Women’s Aid SCIO on receiving £5,000 to continue its Clacks Courage programme for children and young people affected by domestic abuse, FATHERS WAY on receiving £12,200 to continue its fathers’ support group in Alloa, Give a Dog a Bone... and an animal a home on receiving £20,000 to continue its companionship project for older people and the wider community in Alloa, Home-Start Clackmannanshire on receiving £19,754 to strengthen early years support for families in Tillicoultry and Alloa, Mums the Word: Nurturing Family Support C.I.C. on receiving £20,000 to continue and expand its community hub supporting families in Sauchie, Scottish Disability Sport on receiving £10,000 to support disability-inclusive engagement and events, The Wellbeing Circle CIC on receiving £13,050 to expand free wellbeing support in Stirling, and Venture Trust on receiving £19,921 to further develop its programme supporting people who have experienced life-changing challenges; recognises the important work that these organisations undertake to support families, improve wellbeing, reduce isolation and build stronger and more inclusive communities; acknowledges the contribution of National Lottery players in making these awards possible, and wishes all of the organisations every success as they continue their valuable work.

That the Parliament congratulates Anna Drysdale, who is the founder and CEO of Open Cellar, on being a winner in Round 27 of Scottish EDGE; understands that Open Cellar is an innovative wine discovery business, which was established with the aim of making choosing and discovering wine simpler, more accessible and less intimidating for consumers; notes that Anna has developed and refined the business through its early stages, including reshaping its business model, developing its operational infrastructure and securing partnerships; recognises that Scottish EDGE is a highly competitive business programme supporting entrepreneurship and emerging businesses in Scotland, and that Open Cellar progressed through its Wild Card competition before securing funding; commends Anna for the determination, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit that she has demonstrated in developing Open Cellar; believes that her success is a welcome example of the ambition and entrepreneurship found in Kirkcaldy and across Fife, and wishes Anna, and everyone involved with Open Cellar, every success as the business moves towards launch and its next stage of development.

That the Parliament congratulates Durris Young Farmers on its 90th anniversary; recognises that it is an active rural youth group welcoming members from all backgrounds with its famous motto “not just for those who wear wellies”; notes that it regularly raises money for charities, including £650 recently for the Scottish Air Ambulance, and acknowledges the importance of young farmers' associations, not only for the future of food security, but for the health and wellbeing of young people in rural areas.

That the Parliament congratulates Charles McHardy Butchers, of Stonehaven, on its success at the Scottish Craft Butchers Awards, winning a Gold Award in the Ready Meal category and Silver Awards in the Ready Meal and Steak Burger categories; appreciates the skill, innovation and dedication to quality demonstrated by the team; recognises that the business is a well-known and valued part of community life in Stonehaven; acknowledges the contribution of independent butchers to Scotland's food sector and local economy, and wishes everyone at Charles McHardy Butchers continued success.

That the Parliament congratulates the River Dee Trust on being presented with the 2026 Scottish Land and Estates Award; recognises that the Dee team and the wider community have worked closely with land managers to deliver in spades for the OneMillionTrees campaign with ambitious targets for the entire catchment, and considers that land managers are critical to building resilience for the ecosystem and communities.

That the Parliament notes with great sadness the death of Dame Esther Rantzen on 30 September 2026, at the age of 86; pays tribute to an outstanding broadcaster, campaigner and charity founder whose work improved countless lives across Scotland and the rest of the UK; recognises her pioneering contribution to British television, particularly during her 21 years as presenter and producer of the BBC’s That’s Life!, through which she combined warmth and humour with determined campaigns on consumer rights, child safety, organ donation and other important issues; celebrates what it sees as her greatest legacy, the founding of Childline in 1986, which gave children and young people a free and confidential service where they could be heard and supported; acknowledges what it views as the invaluable work of Childline’s counsellors and volunteers in Scotland, including at its bases in Glasgow and Aberdeen; recognises Dame Esther’s determination to tackle loneliness and isolation among older people through the creation of The Silver Line and the launch of Silver Line Scotland in partnership with Age Scotland in 2013; notes that she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2015 for services to children and older people through Childline and The Silver Line; believes that Dame Esther possessed an extraordinary ability to turn public concern into practical action and to ensure that vulnerable people were no longer ignored; considers that her compassion, courage and determination represented the very best traditions of public service; sends its deepest condolences to her children, Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua, her grandchildren, friends and former colleagues, and believes that her remarkable legacy will continue whenever a child in distress or an older person experiencing loneliness finds someone ready to listen.

That the Parliament congratulates the 5th Motherwell Girls’ Brigade, which meets at St Margaret’s Church in Muirhouse, Motherwell, on raising more than £1,000 through a silver collection at its annual display for families and friends; further congratulates the arts and crafts club, also based at St Margaret’s Church, on raising more than £300 through a coffee morning; recognises the generosity and community spirit demonstrated by members, families, friends and supporters of both groups; welcomes Bellway’s decision to match the funds raised, resulting in a total donation of £1,425 to Variety, the Children’s Charity; notes that Variety supports disabled and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK through Wheelchair and Specialist Equipment grants, Sunshine Coaches, Great Days Out and Access Intern-supported work experience programmes, and commends everyone involved for their fundraising efforts and contribution to supporting children and young people in need.

That the Parliament congratulates Hugh Black & Sons, which is a family-owned butchers with 13 shops across central Scotland, including in Wishaw, on its outstanding success in the 2026 Scottish Craft Butchers Championships; recognises that it was named Scottish Craft Butchers Scottish Beefburger Champion 2026; congratulates the company on winning the South East Scotland Regional Championship in the Scottish Craft Butchers Black Pudding Championship 2026; notes that this regional success has meant that it has qualified for the Black Pudding UK Champion of Champions competition, which will take place in Perth in spring 2027; commends the skill, craftsmanship and dedication of the Black family and their staff in producing award-winning traditional Scottish products; recognises the contribution that the business makes to communities, employment and Scotland’s independent food and butchery sector, and wishes the company every success in the UK Champion of Champions competition and in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates ChemTX, based in Wishaw, on achieving Constructionline Gold Accreditation; recognises that the accreditation reflects the company’s high standards in environmental management, health and safety, and quality assurance; notes that ChemTX was established in 2013 and provides specialist analytical oil testing services to the engineering and energy sectors, including nuclear, renewable energy, hydro, gas and coal; commends the company for its contribution to Scotland’s specialist engineering and energy industries and for building its reputation through technical expertise and high standards; recognises the skills and commitment of the ChemTX team, and wishes the company continued success as it develops its business.