Chamber and committees

That the Parliament congratulates West Coats Primary School in Cambuslang for being named Climate Action Project of Year at the 2026 Eco-Schools Scotland Awards, which are organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful; understands that the school’s food waste project was praised as an excellent example of a whole-school approach to learning for sustainability; notes that pupils worked together to cook, share recipes with their families, support local wildlife and engage the wider community in conversations about food waste; further notes the hard work of the school’s Eco-Committee, whose vision, creativity and determination helped drive the project; commends the enthusiasm, teamwork and environmental awareness shown by all pupils and staff, and recognises the positive impact that their efforts have had across the whole school community.

That the Parliament congratulates Alistair Dunn and Isla Stewart on being announced as the Honest Lad and Honest Lass for 2026; recognises that, in these roles, Alistair and Isla will lead the Musselburgh Festival in July 2026; notes the significance of the festival in the town’s history, with its traditions dating back to 1936, and wishes them, 2025's Honest Lad and Lass, Jordan Windram and Rachel Hawes as well as the Honest Toun Association all the best for this year’s celebrations, which will begin on 18 July 2026.

That the Parliament recognises that bridges play an essential role in allowing communities to thrive throughout rural Scotland, including many in the North East region; notes that bridges support local economies and provide access to work, education, healthcare and emergency services to tens of thousands of people living in rural communities; highlights the disproportionate impact of bridge maintenance costs on rural councils; believes that the Scottish Government’s decision not to renew the Local Bridges Maintenance Fund in 2023 has placed additional pressure on rural councils to fund bridge maintenance; considers that this decision has effectively forced councils to prioritise maintenance of lifeline routes over restoring full capacity, which, it believes, has led to the managed decline of the rural road network; recognises the particular impact that bridge closures can have on rural areas and the communities that use them, including villages such as Birse, Birsemore and Aboyne, whose residents have faced more than two years of isolation from vital social and statutory services, and recognises what it sees as the need to protect and restore Scotland's rural bridges.

That the Parliament congratulates the Glasgow Times on its 150th anniversary; acknowledges that the newspaper, which was named the Evening Times until 4 December 2019, was first published on 5 June 1876 by George Outram & Co as a newspaper for working-class Glaswegians wishing to be informed and entertained as they came home from work; recognises that it was born into what was known as the "second city of the empire" at the height of its industrial might, catering specifically to a highly literate and skilled workforce in the shipyards, foundries and engineering works on Clydeside; notes with pride that for much of its history, the paper was written and printed in the heart of the city at the iconic Glasgow Herald Building on Mitchell Street, designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and known today as The Lighthouse, where the thunder of the presses once shook the pavement as editions were rushed out to vendors; believes that for 150 years, the newspaper has served as a daily mirror to the city’s life, famously sold by street vendors shouting, "Final Times!", to crowds of workers pouring out of factory and shipyard gates and onto tram and subway cars; recognises that for 150 years it has provided news and opinion on every major event that has taken place in the city of Glasgow; further recognises what it sees as its vital historical role in connecting Glaswegians not just to local matters but to the global trade networks that their labour supported; praises its legacy of delivering up-to-the-minute telegraph news, from foreign affairs to the latest football results, long before the age of broadcast and social media; welcomes its long-standing commitments to accurate reporting and speaking truth to power; praises the editors, journalists, photographers, vendors, paper boys and girls and all associated staff, past and present, for their unwavering dedication to the city, including their support for countless local campaigns and community initiatives, and wishes everyone at the Glasgow Times all the best for the next 150 years and beyond.

That the Parliament congratulates Stonehaven Beach and Montrose Seafront on being recognised at Scotland's Beach Awards 2026, which were organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful; notes that two of the 52 award-winning beaches are located within the Angus North and Mearns constituency; further notes that Stonehaven Beach has achieved award status for the 20th consecutive year, while Montrose Beach has been recognised for the 23rd consecutive year; understands that Scotland's Beach Awards recognise high standards of environmental quality, facilities and cleanliness and celebrates the achievements of well-managed beaches across Scotland; thanks the local communities and local authority landscape and waste teams who maintain and support these beaches; acknowledges the importance of Scotland's coastline to further tourism, attract visitors and benefit the economy; commends all those whose dedication helps to ensure that these beaches continue to be places of which Aberdeenshire and Angus can be proud, and offers further congratulations to Stonehaven Beach, which has also had its bathing waters classified as excellent by SEPA, in its 2026 assessment.

That the Parliament congratulates Walter Gorman, from Orkney, on receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award at YouthLink Scotland's National Youth Work Awards in Glasgow on 3 June 2026; understands that Walter recently retired from Orkney Islands Council as a community learning, development and employability team manager after 40 years of service; considers the award to be a richly-deserved recognition of an incredible career dedicated to young people in Orkney, many of whose lives he helped to transform by creating opportunities and providing support; notes in particular Walter's work developing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme, Rock Schools, youth cafes, youth volunteering and local skate parks in Orkney; thanks Walter for empowering generations of young people in Orkney and for the lasting positive impact that he has had on so many young islanders, and wishes him all the best in his well-earned retirement.

That the Parliament notes the announcement that Elspeth Macdonald is to retire as chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) in March 2027, having led the organisation since 2019; believes that Elspeth has become one of the most authoritative voices in the UK seafood sector and that she has led the way through several major changes, including the UK’s exit from the EU, the COVID-19 pandemic, evolving environmental policies, the implementation of new fisheries management arrangements and periods of global instability; commends the leadership that Elspeth showed when she and the SFF led the campaign against plans to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas; acknowledges Elspeth’s ability to work with all elected representatives, regardless of political affiliation; recognises that she is highly respected by both the Scottish and UK governments and parliaments; thanks Elspeth for her outstanding service to the fishing industry and Scotland’s coastal communities, and wishes her well on her retirement.

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee’s Baldragon Academy U16 football team on winning the 2026 Scottish Schools Football Association Shield; notes that the team was crowned champion following a 2-1 victory over Beath High School at Bayview Stadium in Fife; congratulates Beath High School on its second place finish; understands that Baldragon Academy has won the shield twice in the last three years, at U16 level, and commends the hard work and performances of all the players involved in the competition.

That the Parliament congratulates Aberdeen Youth Movement (AYM) following its Team of the Year award at the 2026 YouthLink Scotland Awards; understands that these annual awards recognise exceptional work by organisations in the third sector, with a focus on those who engage with, and elevate, young people; acknowledges that AYM was recognised for its culture of promoting young people's voices and elevating their influence within the organisation; notes that AYM was founded to empower young people to share their views and ensure that they are represented at every level of decision making; commends the work done by the AYM since its founding, including its school consultation sessions, which aim to educate young people on their rights, and wishes Aberdeen Youth Movement all the best in its future projects.

That the Parliament congratulates Katherine Cory and welcomes her to the role of Bicycle Mayor for Glasgow for the Bicycle Citizens Network; understands that Katherine established the Shawlands Bike Bus in 2021, and it has since grown significantly and gained worldwide attention for providing a safe, active and highly visible way for children to commute to school; celebrates Katherine’s work as coordinator at Women on Wheels, where she aims to remove social and environmental barriers for women and families, and welcomes her approach to ensuring that cycling is safe and fun for residents in Glasgow Southside and across the city.