Chamber and committees

That the Parliament notes that 2 February 2026 marks the 30th annual World Wetlands Day, with this year’s theme being "Wetlands and Traditional Knowledge: Celebrating Cultural Heritage"; appreciates that it has been 55 years since the adoption of the Ramsar Convention; celebrates Scotland’s wetlands as important sites for biodiversity that provide unique and productive habitats to a range of rare, threatened and declining species of plants, mammals, birds, fish and invertebrates; welcomes the carbon storing capability of wetlands, which, it understands, can act as a frontline defence against the climate crisis; highlights that wetlands provide a host of essential ecosystem services to society, including filtering drinking water and mitigating flood risks; understands that 51 wetland sites across Scotland are designated under the Ramsar Convention, including Insh Marshes, Nigg and Udale, Coul Links and Forsinard Flows in the Highlands and Islands region, and welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Government to protect at least 30% of Scotland’s land and sea for nature by 2030, in addition to restoring the appropriate level of protection to those of Scotland’s wetlands that are Ramsar sites.

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exclusions and Exceptions) (Domestic Homicide and Suicide Reviews) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Retail Consortium and its sister organisation, the British Retail Consortium, on the launch of Nature Positive Plan, Planning for Nature, which is aimed at helping retailers accelerate nature-positive action and halt and reverse biodiversity loss across their value chains; understands that this follows the 2024 Plan for Nature and the 2025 Planning for Nature Progress Report, which sought to stimulate industry-wide action on nature and biodiversity loss and measure progress, including through standardised metrics and improved supplier engagement; recognises the important role that it believes retail can play in addressing nature loss alongside climate change, while continuing to meet existing sustainability commitments; welcomes the practical roadmap and ongoing support and advice for shopkeepers that the plan provides to accelerate nature-positive action, including benchmarks to support transparency and progress across the sector and alignment with existing environmental strategies and sustainability reporting requirements, with the aim to ultimately improve their longer-term commercial resilience and success, and encourages policymakers and stakeholders to work collaboratively with the retail industry to support the delivery of a nature-positive economy, which it considers can  benefit communities, supply chains and the natural environment.

That the Parliament congratulates the Kirkcaldy man, Callum Laing, on his incredible fundraising efforts of £8,363.52 for the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh; commends Callum for achieving this while in hospital recovering from a brain abscess; understands that Callum launched a JustGiving page during his treatment and then organised a fundraising event in his home town; believes that the funds raised will go towards creating a more welcoming environment for patients recovering from neurological surgery; notes that finding a dedicated space in hospital areas can sometimes be a challenge; further notes that there are plans afoot to improve the communal areas to enable patients to take a relaxing and comfortable break away from their bedrooms, and wishes Callum all the very best for his continued recovery.

That the Finance and Public Administration Committee recommends that the Scottish Aggregates Tax (Miscellaneous Amendment) Regulations 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament congratulates Commodore Sharon Malkin on being appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the King's New Year Honours List; understands that this is in recognition of Commodore Malkin's personal contribution and leadership during her career in the Royal Navy, which spans three decades; recognises that Commodore Malkin has been very skilled in her career and has managed to set out a clear long-term vision for HM Naval Base Clyde; notes that Commodore Malkin will retire after 32 years of service, and wishes her well in the future.

That the Parliament celebrates Scotland's cricketers on qualification for the Women's T20 World Cup; notes that Scotland secured a place following a comfortable victory over the United States in its final Super Six qualification game in Nepal, advancing through in third place alongside Bangladesh, Ireland and the Netherlands, and wishes the team the best of luck ahead of the T20 World Cup, starting on 12 June 2026 in England.

That the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee recommends that the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) (Scottish Inshore Region) Amendment Order 2026 [draft] be approved.

That the Parliament congratulates the Loch Lomond Group on the opening of its new multi-million pound distillery and visitor centre; understands that it opened in October 2025 and is situated in the village of Luss on the western shore of Loch Lomond; notes that the centre comprises a visitor discovery centre, gift shop, cafe and distillery; understands that the centre provides visitors with the opportunity to experience the inspiration, creation and on-site distillation of Ben Lomond Gin alongside the tasting of both the Gin and Loch Lomond Whiskies, which are crafted at the nearby Loch Lomond Distillery, and believes that the distillery will go on to become a destination in its own right, further enhancing the visitor experience in Luss.

That the Parliament congratulates Kathleen Murray on being appointed an OBE; understands that Kathleen was recognised for her services to the children's hearing system, which included training for children's panel members; believes that her important work in delivering training to over 300 panel members has kept vulnerable children out of the court system; notes that Kathleen has edited two books that are widely used in panel training and that she has co-authored a book on the children's panel system; understands that her latest research report on using TV links for child witnesses has led to it being introduced into Scotland's courts; recognises what it sees as the significant contribution that her work has made to the juvenile care and justice process, and wishes Kathleen well for the future.