Chamber and committees

That the Parliament recognises July as Disability Pride Month; celebrates the contributions, achievements and leadership of disabled people across Scotland; acknowledges the invaluable work of disabled people's organisations, including Inclusion Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and many others, in advancing equality, accessibility, independent living and disabled people's rights; recognises the importance of the social model of disability and Scotland's commitment to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; believes that Disability Pride Month provides an opportunity to challenge stigma, discrimination and barriers to participation, and reaffirms its commitment to building a Scotland where disabled people can participate fully in all aspects of society with dignity, equality and respect.

That the Parliament congratulates Claire Bruce on being appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in The King’s New Year Honours List 2026; highlights her significant contributions to the north east in service of sustainable tourism; understands the significant impact that she has had on tourism across the North East of Scotland, particularly through her leadership at Glen Tanar Estate in Royal Deeside; recognises the impact that she has made in her field, and thanks her for her service to the community.

That the Parliament congratulates Trinity Primary School on its outstanding participation in the Scottish Borders Council's active travel schools video competition; acknowledges the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment shown by pupils, teachers and staff in producing imaginative video entries that highlight the benefits of walking, wheeling and cycling; recognises the contribution of the competition in encouraging young people to think creatively about sustainable transport choices and healthier lifestyles; understands that pupils demonstrated strong engagement with themes of sustainability, wellbeing and active travel, reflecting wider efforts to promote positive behavioural change from an early age; notes that the school’s participation included a celebratory event featuring games, music, challenges, a smoothie bike, a picnic and a special RIDONKULOUS donkey guest, which helped to reinforce the educational message in an enjoyable and inclusive way; further notes the valuable role of Scottish Borders Council’s Active Travel team, the FNY Collective, school staff and families in supporting pupils to take part and ensuring the success of the initiative; recognises the wider importance of such programmes in supporting road safety awareness, reducing carbon emissions and improving community wellbeing; wishes Trinity Primary School continued success in promoting active travel and in providing pupils with opportunities to engage in creative, community-focused and sustainability-led projects, and commends all involved.

That the Parliament congratulates Trinity Primary School pupil, Izzie Graham, on winning first prize in the Scottish Borders Council's active travel schools video competition; acknowledges the creativity, enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by Izzie and all the pupils from schools across Hawick who took part; recognises the achievements of Elspeth McIntosh of Denholm Primary School and Max Robertson of Wilton Primary School, who were awarded second and third prizes respectively; notes that the competition, organised by Scottish Borders Council's Active Travel team with support from the FNY Collective, encouraged young people to promote the benefits of active travel through imaginative video entries; understands that Izzie and her classmates celebrated their success with an active travel-themed event at Trinity Primary School promoting healthy and sustainable travel through a range of engaging activities; notes the importance of encouraging young people to walk, wheel and cycle as part of healthier lifestyles and more sustainable communities; acknowledges the contribution of teachers, school staff, families, Scottish Borders Council's Active Travel team and the FNY Collective in making the competition such a success, and wishes Izzie and all those who participated every success in continuing to champion active travel in their schools and communities.

That Parliament congratulates Kirkcaldy War Memorial and Gardens on being selected as a 2026 Area Winner by the Royal British Legion Scotland division of Fife, Angus and Perthshire; commends the members of the Growing Kirkcaldy gardening group, who maintain the site all year round to an excellent standard alongside Fife Council staff, who have also contributed to improving the area further; recognises the important historical heritage of the memorial, which was unveiled to the public in 1925 to initially commemorate the British soldiers who fell in the First World War, and was later updated to include the casualties of the Second World War, and commends everyone involved in the maintenance of this important space, enabling local people and visitors to reflect and commemorate the fallen of both World Wars for many years to come.

That the Parliament welcomes the forthcoming Grand Prix Walk 2026, which is due to take place on 29 July 2026 at Levengrove Park, Dumbarton; notes that the event is held in support of Race Against Dementia, the charity founded by Formula One legend Sir Jackie Stewart, which is marking its 10th anniversary; understands that participants will undertake a dementia-friendly walk of 1,973 metres, commemorating the year of Sir Jackie Stewart’s final Formula One World Championship victory; recognises the importance of raising awareness of dementia and supporting those living with the condition, as well as their families and carers; welcomes initiatives that promote inclusion, social connection and community wellbeing; acknowledges the contribution that Sir Jackie Stewart and Race Against Dementia have made to raising awareness and advancing research into dementia; commends the efforts of the organisers, volunteers, carers, families and community organisations involved in delivering the event, and wishes everyone involved in the Grand Prix Walk 2026 every success.

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of Glasgow's first walk-in GP clinic; understands that the clinic opened on 29 June 2026 within Cardonald Medical Practice on Paisley Road West, and enables individuals to be seen by a healthcare professional without an appointment and receive same-day care and treatment for minor illnesses; further understands that the service will be available to those living in Cardonald and the surrounding areas, from Monday to Sunday, 12pm to 8pm; acknowledges that this service will also be available to people without a fixed address and those experiencing homelessness to ensure that no one misses out on access to care; notes that this is the ninth service to open as part of the Scottish Government's pilot GP walk-in clinic programme; understands that this programme has been designed to provide greater choice for patients while helping to relieve pressure on wider NHS services; commends the ambition of the GP walk-in services in addressing the 8am rush faced across Scotland, and hopes that residents make full use of Glasgow's first walk-in GP clinic.

That the Parliament congratulates archaeologist Alison Cameron on her award of a Master of the University honorary degree by the University of Aberdeen; notes that her award was given for her lasting contribution to archaeology in North East Scotland, particularly highlighting the work she has done as a prominent member of the community-driven Mesolithic Deeside project; commends her efforts to include the local community and encourage volunteering within the field of archaeology, and wishes her continued success across her archaeological ventures.

That the Parliament welcomes the innovative collaboration between the Borders Book Festival and two leading Borders technology companies, the Borders-born independent broadband builder GoFibre and its partner SPG Innovation & Technologies; notes that this partnership enabled the festival to livestream its events to a global audience for the first time during its run from 11 to 14 June 2026 at Harmony Garden, Melrose; recognises that the Borders Book Festival, which was established in 2004, has grown into one of the UK’s premier literary events, attracting around 40,000 visitors annually to the region for four days of ideas, entertainment and conversation; further recognises that the provision of a lightning-fast full-fibre connection opened up festival sessions featuring speakers, including Sophie Raworth, Alexander McCall Smith and Lorraine Kelly, to virtual audiences worldwide; notes that this digital integration has also improved festival accessibility, ensuring seamless connectivity for staff, authors and attendees alike, and celebrates the continued success of the Borders Book Festival, GoFibre and SPG Innovation & Technologies in showcasing the unique cultural heritage and burgeoning technological expertise of the Scottish Borders.

That the Parliament commends Helen Goss for many years of dedicated voluntary work as an advocate for children with long COVID; believes that, as part of Long Covid Kids Scotland, Helen has been particularly successful in raising awareness and influencing change across Scotland; highlights her efforts to advocate for children and families affected by long COVID; understands that she is stepping down as a trustee of the organisation, and thanks her for her many years of hard work and dedication.