Chamber and committees

That the Parliament agrees that the Restraint and Seclusion in Schools (Scotland) Bill be passed.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL), the Scottish Women’s Premier League (SWPL) and the SPFL Trust on their recent UNITED: Football in the Community campaign, which celebrated the vital work of football clubs and community trusts in supporting communities across Scotland; notes that the content series highlighted how clubs and their associated community trusts have become increasingly important within their local areas, delivering programmes that support people’s health, wellbeing, social connection, education and inclusion, while helping to strengthen communities nationwide; recognises that the campaign content was viewed hundreds of thousands of times and showcased the work of organisations, including Celtic FC Foundation, the Rangers Charity Foundation, Aberdeen FC Community Trust, Dundee FC Community Trust, The Killie Community and Spartans Community Foundation, among many others; notes the SPFL Trust’s recently published 2024-25 annual report, which highlights the scale of the wider impact delivered by a network of 46 associated community trusts linked to SPFL and SWPL clubs; understands that more than 800 people are employed by these trusts across Scotland, supported by a further 1,450 volunteers, who give their time throughout the season, and commends everyone involved for their continued contribution to communities across the country.

That the Parliament recognises the success of the Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline and the benefits that it brings to the Fife and wider Scottish economy; understands that the Alhambra, a registered Scottish charity and Fife’s largest theatre, was built in 1922 and traded continuously as a theatre, cinema and bingo hall until the mid-2000s, after which it was left in a state of disrepair; commends the work undertaken by the current management under the leadership of Bill Fletcher, which took over the theatre in 2007 and has overseen a full restoration, delivering the Alhambra back to its original use as a major theatre; notes that the theatre has since achieved a number one touring house status, one of only eight in Scotland, and regularly shows top name comedians, all genres of music, ballet performances and West End musicals of the kind never before staged in Fife; recognises that the theatre has hosted over 3,000 shows, averaging over 160 per year since 2007, and entertained over 2.6 million paying customers; praises the theatre for also supporting community-based performers and groups such as dance schools, acrobatics clubs, Dunfermline Children’s Gala and primary school Glee competitions; notes the particular success of the Alhambra Theatre Stage School, which offers a wide variety of training for all levels and ages and averages around 400 pupils on a weekly basis; acknowledges the hard work of the board of trustees in restoring the Alhambra to become one of Scotland’s major theatres; notes the further ambitions to develop a dedicated theatre school and studio theatre/rehearsal facility on an adjacent site; welcomes that the theatre provides employment opportunities, particularly for young people looking for a start in the industry, and wishes the theatre every success for the future.

That the Parliament acknowledges the remarkable community response in Helensburgh following the sudden death of 22-year-old footballer Cameron McGeachy while playing football with friends at Graeme Ramage Football Academy in Dumbarton; notes that four lifesaving defibrillators have been donated to the Helensburgh and Lomond community first responder group in his memory; recognises the profound compassion and solidarity shown by the Helensburgh community in raising over £1,150 at his funeral and in setting up a fundraiser to further honour Cammy; commends all those involved in fundraising, organising and supporting this initiative, and expresses its deepest appreciation for the way in which the people of Helensburgh continue to demonstrate leadership, care and resilience in the face of tragedy.

That the Parliament congratulates Bearsden musician, Orla Noble, on the release of her debut album, Unfurl, a collection of 11 original, self-penned tracks; notes that Orla, aged 25, describes this body of work as a “sacred and deeply personal collection” shaped by her lived experiences, Scottish musical heritage, and themes of personal identity and emotional growth; acknowledges Orla’s longstanding commitment to music, having begun writing songs at a young age and developing her musical ability through years of dedication to piano, guitar and vocal performance; understands that Orla’s time at Bearsden Academy played an important role in nurturing her artistic development; celebrates that Unfurl was created with support from acclaimed Scottish musician, Gordon Maclean, who engineered and mixed the album and generously provided studio space; recognises the significance of an artist producing a fully self-funded debut album, and the determination and creativity required to bring such a project to fruition; commends Orla for her contribution to Scotland’s emerging music scene, and wishes her every success in her future musical career.

That the Parliament congratulates Padrone Pizza of Helensburgh, located on West Clyde Street, on being shortlisted in the Best Pizzeria category at the Scottish Italian Awards; notes that this national recognition highlights the restaurant’s reputation for authentic Italian cuisine and its commitment to high quality ingredients and traditional preparation methods, which have earned it admiration within the Helensburgh community and beyond; further notes that the Scottish Italian Awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate excellence among Italian businesses across Scotland, making Padrone Pizza’s place in the finals a significant achievement for a local Helensburgh establishment; recognises the dedication of the team behind Padrone Pizza in consistently delivering exceptional dining experiences; celebrates this success as a source of pride for the town of Helensburgh, and wishes Padrone Pizza the best of luck for the finals ceremony.

That the Parliament congratulates Milngavie & Bearsden Swim Club on securing a remarkable double success in the Scottish Swimming National League; notes that the club, representing the proud sporting community of Milngavie, won the National League 2 Final, competing against clubs from across Scotland in one of the most challenging and diverse swimming competitions in the country; understands that swimmers from Milngavie and the surrounding area achieved outstanding results across 12 age groups and 40 events, showcasing the depth of local talent; acknowledges the leadership of head coach, Adam Riley, and the dedication of the coaching team, volunteers, families and swimmers who train consistently; notes the commendable performances from younger swimmers who continue to rise through the ranks and bring distinction to Milngavie; celebrates the immense pride felt across the Milngavie community for the club’s achievements on the national stage, and wishes Milngavie & Bearsden Swim Club continued success in the seasons ahead.

That the Parliament notes that Aberdeen has been ranked seventh in the UK for women working in STEM in a new study by CoworkingCafe; understands that the study, which analysed career prospects across 95 of the UK’s largest cities and towns, found that Aberdeen had the sixth-highest STEM job concentration in the UK, with 10.4% of all local employment in core scientific and technical occupations; believes that this underlines Aberdeen’s strong science and engineering base, with the smallest gender pay gap across the UK, at just 0.8%; considers that, with Edinburgh and Glasgow also featuring in the top 10, it is clear that actions that the Scottish Government has taken over a number of years have helped Scotland become a fairer place for women working in STEM, and believes that this offers a glimpse of what is possible with the fresh start that independence would bring to Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Cardross Primary School on making history as the first primary school in the world to achieve Bronze Carbon Literate Educator status, recognising the school’s outstanding commitment to embedding accredited carbon literacy training for both staff and pupils; notes the significant impact that this achievement has on Cardross and the wider community, placing the village at the forefront of innovative climate education; commends the partnership working between the school, the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Network, Argyll Countryside Trust and the Carbon Literacy Project; praises the leadership, enthusiasm and dedication shown by the staff and pupils of Cardross Primary School in championing climate awareness and preparing young people for a climate ready future, and wishes them the best for all future studies.

That the Parliament congratulates Finlay Ross Davie, of Westerton in Bearsden, on his outstanding achievement in once again breaking the 10k record for the Garscube Harriers; notes that Finlay completed the Valencia 10k in 28 minutes and 46 seconds, beating his own previous club record by 13 seconds, set only weeks earlier at the Telford 10k; further notes that Finlay, an under-23 athlete who competes internationally, also recently ran the fourth fastest ever 10k by a Scottish under-23 athlete, marking him as one of Scotland’s most exciting emerging endurance runners; acknowledges his additional success in placing ahead of several leading European athletes; recognises the dedication, discipline and consistency that have allowed him to continue lowering his own times while representing the community of Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire, whose support and pride contribute to his continued progress; celebrates the inspiration that Finlay provides to young people in Westerton who aspire to excel in sport, and wishes him every success in future competitions.