Chamber and committees

That the Parliament recognises that Paediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS) and Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) are rare, but potentially severe, conditions that can result in the sudden onset of significant neuropsychiatric symptoms, including obsessive compulsive disorder, anxiety, tics and behavioural change; acknowledges the considerable impact that these conditions can have on children, young people, adults and their families; notes concerns about the limited awareness and understanding of PANS and PANDAS across health, education and social care in Scotland; recognises the establishment and work of PANS+ Scotland in supporting affected families and raising awareness of them, and notes calls for the Scottish Government, NHS Scotland and all other relevant public bodies to engage with PANS+ Scotland and other stakeholders to improve awareness, understanding and support for those affected by PANS and PANDAS in Coatbridge and Chryston and across Scotland.

That the Parliament recognises that 24 February 2026 marks the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine following the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and proxy war in Donetsk and Luhansk; believes that Russian forces continue to indiscriminately bombard Ukrainian cities and control around one fifth of Ukraine’s territory, including Luhansk, Crimea and most of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia; considers that fighting and air strikes have resulted in over 53,000 civilian casualties and that President Putin’s veiled threats throughout the war to use nuclear weapons have raised fears of escalation; notes that around 3.7 million people are internally displaced in Ukraine and roughly 6.9 million refugees are recorded globally, including over 29,000 Ukrainians who arrived in Scotland, including in Cunninghame North, with a sponsor in Scotland through the Homes for Ukraine scheme; acknowledges the immense military casualties suffered by both sides, particularly Russia, given what it sees as its profligate use of manpower; notes the view that any ceasefire or settlement that cedes territory or lacks binding security guarantees could allow Russia to regroup and renew attacks, and that this would create the risk of a Carthaginian peace intended to permanently weaken and then annexe Ukraine; further notes the view that robust international support, including military, economic and humanitarian assistance, is essential to enable the survival of Ukraine, deter further aggression and secure a just and lasting peace, and expresses solidarity with the people and armed forces of Ukraine.

That the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee recommends that the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Offshore Wind) (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Scotland) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament marks the 300th anniversary of the birth of Brigadier General Hugh Mercer, a much celebrated son of Rosehearty in Banffshire and Buchan Coast; recognises his historic significance both in Scotland and in the United States, where he is remembered as a prominent figure in the struggle for independence; notes that Mercer was born near Rosehearty on 17 January 1726, the son of the minister of Pitsligo Kirk, and that he studied medicine before serving in major military campaigns that shaped the 18th century; acknowledges that he fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 as part of the Jacobite rising, before being forced to flee Scotland in the aftermath of the conflict, like so many others, making a new life in America; understands that he later served during the French and Indian War and rose to become a Brigadier General in the American Revolutionary War; believes that Mercer’s life reflected a journey of extraordinary courage, conviction and public service, and that he was ultimately mortally wounded at the Battle of Princeton in 1777; notes his close friendship with George Washington, who is reported to have regarded him as a “brave and worthy general”; welcomes the efforts of Rosehearty Community Council, Rosehearty Community Boat Club and Lodge Forbes 67 of Rosehearty in marking this important anniversary, including the unveiling on 16 January 2026 of a new information board celebrating Brigadier General Mercer’s life and legacy; thanks all involved for ensuring that this remarkable local story is preserved and shared, and celebrates Hugh Mercer’s enduring legacy as a figure of international historical importance, whose life remains a source of pride for Rosehearty and the wider Banffshire and Buchan Coast community.

That the Parliament welcomes the establishment of the co-Designing Innovative infrastructure for Sustainable Healthy & Equitable Diets (DISHED) trial public diner project in Dundee; understands that the project is a joint venture between researchers and practitioners at Nourish Scotland, the Institute of Development Studies, the University of Nottingham and the University of Sussex, in collaboration in Dundee with Dundee City Council, Dundee Healthy Weight Partnership, Faith in Community Dundee and Maxwell Community Centre and Garden; further understands that public diners are state-supported restaurants which, alongside public libraries and parks, form part of public infrastructure; believes that food system transformation is a key method for achieving Scotland’s sustainable development goals and that the Nourish Scotland report, Public Diners: The Idea Whose Time Has Come, identifies public diners as a means of improving nutrition and public health, providing accessible communal and social spaces and removing barriers to good food; notes the findings by Nourish Scotland that there is a wish by communities for public diners to be healthy, inclusive and accessible for all; believes that public diners can play a role in reducing food waste, creating a sustainable food system and building healthier communities, and pays tribute to the work of Nourish Scotland in engaging with communities across Scotland in building evidence and support for public diners.

That the Parliament congratulates Hallside Primary School in Cambuslang on receiving a glowing report from Education Scotland following its recent inspection; recognises what it sees as the strong and effective leadership of the head teacher, Susanne Sandilands, and the wider leadership team, alongside a clear culture of teamwork and ambition for improving outcomes for children; notes the inspectors’ praise for the school’s inclusive ethos, calm and nurturing environment and the respectful, responsible and highly motivated nature of its pupils, many of whom take on leadership roles across the school; acknowledges the positive relationships between staff, pupils, parents and partners, and the school’s strong engagement with the wider community, which helps pupils to understand and appreciate diversity; understands that areas for continued improvement, including further developing learning and teaching approaches and raising attainment in literacy and numeracy, are already being addressed through the school’s improvement plans, and commends the entire Hallside Primary School community for its commitment to empowering children, raising attainment and working together to close the poverty-related attainment gap.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that Bands for Brothers' 500 Miles Challenge was launched, and went live on its social media, on 8 January 2026; understands that this initiative involves six of its volunteers each walking 500 miles virtually, contributing to a collective 3,000-mile journey, which broadly matches the distance from Hampden Park to Boston, to raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health ahead of Scotland’s opening World Cup game in that city; acknowledges that this challenge is not about speed or competition, but about community, conversation and showing up for one another, and raising awareness and funds to help build the next stage of Bands For Brothers into a simple, supportive space where men can speak openly and get the help that they need; believes that Bands For Brothers, which was founded by Scott MacDonald, is a grassroots charity that uses various events and merchandise, such as wristbands and t-shirts, to spark discussions about men's mental wellbeing; notes that the organisation works with other charities and community groups, such as SAMH and Heart of the Game, to amplify its message and reach more men in need of support; further notes that it hosts in-person events, such as charity football matches and social walks, to foster connection and deal with loneliness and isolation; acknowledges that further information about its initiatives, how to get involved and how to donate is available via its Facebook and Instagram pages, and commends Scott and everyone involved, as well as all who have donated and volunteered, on their highly magnanimous work in support of men’s mental health and welfare.

That the Parliament congratulates five S3 pupils from Stromness Academy on being awarded a £3,000 grant for the local youth mental health charity, Soma’s Light, through the school's Youth and Philanthropy Initiative (YPI); understands that Lily Harcus, Issy Johnston, Cayla Paton, Alisa Douaneva and Sophie Shargool gave a passionate presentation about the impact of poor mental health among young people in Orkney, during which five candles were lit to represent each person in Orkney who died by suicide in 2025; acknowledges that the money will go toward furthering the work that Soma’s Light does to improve mental health outcomes and prevent suicide among young people by creating initiatives specifically designed with Orkney’s youth in mind and enabling greater access to bereavement support; acknowledges that, in the 10 years that the YPI has run at Stromness Academy, over £30,000 has been awarded to Orkney charities as a result of the efforts of pupils, with further amounts raised for local charitable causes by pupils at Orkney’s other secondary schools, and thanks Lily, Issy, Cayla, Alisa and Sophie for all the hard work involved in earning funds for such an important cause.

That the Parliament congratulates C&B News on reaching its 50th year of publication; understands that the volunteer-run community news magazine was launched as Currie & Balerno News in February 1976; notes that the original team consisted of Balerno residents, Graham Priestley and Ray Smith, Currie resident, Moria Young, with support from Heriot-Watt University students, Tina Harkess, Jim Sheach, Jon Side and Mel Young; acknowledges that the magazine, which is currently run by its chair, Gail Rankin, and edited by Paul Fisher Cockburn, continues to champion the opinions, achievements and news of people in the areas that it serves by encouraging members of the community to contribute to each edition; notes that the magazine is distributed free, 10 times a year, across the five communities of Currie, Balerno, Juniper Green, Baberton Mains and Colinton and has never failed to produce an issue, continuing in print even during the COVID-19 lockdowns; believes that the success of the magazine is undoubtedly a result of the commitment of the successive volunteers, contributors and the communities that it champions, and wishes C&B News continued success for the next half century and beyond.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Aberdeen Gift Card has been named the most successful gift card in the UK for the third year in a row, after generating sales of £800,000 in 2025; understands that the gift card, which was first introduced in 2020 by Aberdeen Inspired, has generated £4.7 million in sales since its inception, with additional spending bringing the figure closer to £7.75 million; understands that Miconex, who operate the scheme, reported that Aberdeen’s was the top-selling card in the UK, ahead of schemes in London, Glasgow and Cardiff by a considerable margin; believes that this success highlights the value that the gift card brings to the 300 local businesses that signed up to the scheme, ensuring money is being kept in the local economy, and hopes that the card continues to go from strength to strength for many years to come.