Road Equivalent Tariff for Commercial Vehicles

That the Parliament notes with concern the Scottish Government’s current proposals to remove road equivalent tariff from commercial vehicles using ferries that serve the communities of the Western Isles, Coll and Tiree; notes that in some cases the fare increase for small haulage companies from Tiree would more than double the fare and in the Western Isles may be up to 175% of the current fare; considers that in the current economic climate these fare increases are both extremely damaging to the local economy and completely unjustifiable; calls on the Scottish Government to urgently withdraw these plans, and believes that, if the Scottish Government chooses not to do so, this would seriously question its commitment to Scotland’s most fragile island communities.

Dunoon Ferry Users Group
That the Parliament congratulates the community of Dunoon on the formation of the Dunoon Ferry Users Group; notes that the group was formed at a public meeting on 24 November 2011 at which an estimated 500 residents were in attendance to discuss the Dunoon to Gourock ferry service; considers that such a high turnout shows the strength of feeling in the local community about this issue; notes that the vast majority of speakers at the meeting supported a town centre to town centre vehicle and passenger service and considered the current service to be inadequate, and calls on the Scottish Government to instigate such a service and give the people of Dunoon and beyond the ferry service that they deserve.

That the Parliament acknowledges the long-standing historical, cultural and economic links between Scotland and Barbados; considers that this relationship is celebrated annually by the Celtic Festival Barbados, a week-long festival of folk music, food and culture that first began in the 1990s, designed to promote the relationship between the two countries; notes that it recently announced that next year’s festival will take place from 7 to 14 June 2012; considers this year’s Celtic Festival Barbados, which took place in May, to have been a success; notes that it featured acts such as Eddi Reader MBE and that Edinburgh chef Paul Wedgwood led the festival of flavours; believes that the festival is an excellent way to maintain, cultivate and progress the historical, cultural and economic links between Scotland and Barbados; recognises that the prospect of a direct flight between Scotland and Barbados next summer would provide an additional opportunity for residents of Scotland and Barbados to experience and explore each other’s cultures, and looks forward to the Celtic Festival Barbados 2012.

That the Parliament congratulates the British Golf Museum in St Andrews on becoming the 38th collection of national significance in Scotland following the announcement by Museum Galleries Scotland on 17 November 2011; recognises the important role that golf plays in Scottish society and culture; considers the collection at the museum in St Andrews, the home of golf in Scotland, impressive, and encourages more people to consider visiting the museum to draw inspiration from the display.

That the Parliament welcomes the recent launch of the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board (CB:PSB), supported by the oldest professional banking body in the world, the Chartered Banker Institute, and its aim to increase ethical awareness and professional competence for those in the banking industry; considers this a positive step that the initial signatories to the board, serving more than 70 million customers and employing more than 350,000 people in the UK, have taken toward rebuilding trust with customers; looks forward to the board defining, for the first time, an agreed set of industry-wide ethical and professional standards for the sector; sees increased professionalism and responsibility in banking as vital to its stability and prosperity and in turn its value to society, and urges the remaining banking organisations that have not yet signed up to the board to do so without delay.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s report of its inquiry, which was led by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, on human trafficking in Scotland; understands that women, men and children are trafficked to Scotland for a variety of purposes, including commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and forced criminal acts; considers trafficking to be a form of modern slavery that constitutes one of the gravest assaults on human dignity and freedom imaginable; believes that there is a need for a comprehensive strategy for tackling human trafficking in Scotland with victims’ needs at the centre; considers the interplay of devolved and reserved law, policies and agencies in this area to be complex; urges the UK and Scottish governments to take note of the report’s recommendations and for them to develop an approach that meets the needs of victims by being grounded in human rights principles, having multi-agency and inter-governmental cooperation, and believes that such an approach will ensure that Scotland adopts a zero-tolerance approach to human trafficking.

That the Parliament is pleased to reaffirm its commitment to the cause of ending violence against women; supports the eve of the United Nations’ 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence campaign this year, which is themed "From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World"; understands that, despite the improvement in the situation of women in Afghanistan over 10 years, it is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman; recognises that international negotiations for transition, international long-term engagement and peace and reconciliation will take place before the end of the 16 days in Bonn, Germany; supports the UK Government in ensuring that women’s voices are heard before, during and after these talks in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1325, which recognises that an understanding of the impact of armed conflict on women and girls and effective institutional arrangements to guarantee their protection and full participation in the peace process can significantly contribute to the maintenance and promotion of international peace and security; thanks the Scottish branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom for the green scarves to be worn during the 16 days to highlight and support Afghan women’s rights, and notes its ongoing work in making known the links between domestic violence and war.

That the Parliament notes with sadness the passing of former England cricketer and South African born Basil D’Oliveira on 19 November 2011; considers that he was a man of integrity and quiet dignity, whose treatment at the hands of the authorities by being denied the opportunity to play in his homeland due to the colour of his skin became synonymous with the anti-apartheid movement of the late 1960s; further considers that this led to South Africa’s sporting isolation and provided the catalyst for the disintegration of the apartheid system, and believes that Basil D’Oliveira had an influence on matters unequalled by any sportsman of any creed or colour and that he was a man who changed the course of history.

That the Parliament congratulates Scottish Women’s Aid as it celebrates its 35th anniversary; welcomes the charity’s work, campaigning and lobbying for effective responses to prevent domestic abuse; further welcomes the charity’s work with local women’s aid groups across Scotland, to support women and children with experience of domestic abuse to access the services that they need; notes the charity’s support of The 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence campaign, which will run from 25 November to 10 December 2011; further notes statistics published by the Scottish Government that indicate that 83.6% of crimes and offences of domestic abuse involve a female victim; believes that domestic abuse, in all its forms, is unacceptable; expresses concern at the findings of the charity’s funding survey, which suggests that 84% of women’s aid groups are operating on either reduced or standstill budgets and that one in five groups have had to cut services as a result of reduced funding, and urges the Scottish Government to continue funding support for action to tackle domestic abuse.

That the Parliament welcomes the establishment of Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief, Scotland’s new broad-based alliance to promote more openness toward death, dying and bereavement; understands that 55,000 people die in Scotland each year and notes that death is normal and affects everyone; further notes that Good Life, Good Death, Good Grief is working to make Scotland a place where people are aware of ways to live with death, dying and bereavement and are better equipped to support each other through the difficult times that can come with them; believes that there are things that individuals and communities in Uddingston and Bellshill and across the country can actively do to help friends through difficult times relating to death, dying and bereavement, and commends the Scottish Partnership for Palliative Care for instigating the new alliance.

That the Parliament welcomes the £1.1 million investment by Parkinson’s UK to support eight research projects into Parkinson’s disease taking place in Scottish universities, including work conducted by Dr Carl Counsell at the University of Aberdeen, which is looking at the changes that happen over time for people with Parkinson’s and their carers; applauds the fact that the charity spends over £4.5 million every year on groundbreaking research with the aim of finding a cure and improving life for people with Parkinson’s and their families; recognises that research funded by Parkinson’s UK has identified two of the most important genes that have been linked to the condition and has pioneered work into more effective medications to manage Parkinson’s symptoms; notes the potential for Parkinson’s research to inform work on other neurodegenerative conditions, such as multiple sclerosis, progressive supranuclear palsy and motor neurone disease, and looks forward to more exciting developments in Parkinson’s UK research so that people can live free of the symptoms of Parkinson’s.

That the Parliament expresses deep concern at what it sees as the unprecedented growth of high-cost credit in Glasgow and across Scotland and the aggressive marketing and visibility on the doorsteps of deprived communities and increasingly over the internet, particularly to those in low-paid work now desperate to make ends meet; notes the grave affect that this may have on spiralling personal debt and individual misery; further expresses concern at the lack of consumer regulation to protect vulnerable consumers, resulting in the reported  targeting by American companies of some of Scotland's poorest communities, with expansion plans including opening a further 1,000 cheque-cashing, pawn and pay day loan money shops; regrets that, at a time when the base interest rate is 0.5%, these companies advertise up to 5,000% interest rates and can impose even higher rates and dubious collection practices, as recently highlighted in research conducted by Which?; believes that the paucity and retraction of basic banking services to the poorest communities and disproportionate charges, penalties and costs to those who can least afford them is an affront to social justice and a matter of ongoing concern; considers that urgency is needed to tackle these excesses; urges the Scottish Government to renew its commitment to financial inclusion and to work with local government  to explore whether planning regulations can play a role in restricting further growth and to encourage local research into this high-cost market and what it sees as its dire effect on the local economy, and considers that fair alternative means of accessing credit are essential, including support for credit unions and by encouraging  banks  to provide affordable services to Scotland’s families and communities.

HMS Daring, Splendide Audax

That the Parliament congratulates the Royal Navy and the crew of HMS Daring on having completed four years of sea trials, tests and training and commends the ship and her company of 180 for coming through the rigorous final training with flying colours and for being prepared to set sail for their first operational deployment in the new year; congratulates the team at the BAE Systems Surface Ships yard at Scotstoun on the River Clyde for building the most advanced destroyer in the fleet, and supports the warship and her crew in its future operations, carrying out hurricane disaster relief, evacuating civilians from areas of international crisis, dealing with terrorist attacks and defending the realm by fending off air attack from foreign aggressors

MS, Better Care—That the Parliament welcomes the campaign for better health care across Scotland by the MS Society which highlights the need for effective implementation of the Clinical Standards for Neurological Health Services; considers that the standards for neurological conditions published in 2009 mark an important step forward for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by setting out key standards for all NHS boards, including access to specialist multidisciplinary teams; recognises that these standards are vital to ensuring that MS patients have access to high quality care wherever they live; welcomes the appointment of a dedicated MS nurse in the Western Isles which it understands follows significant work by the MS Society; recognises the role of individuals and communities in the Western Isles who campaigned successfully for the appointment; notes that Scotland has one of the highest incidences of MS per head of population in the world, and believes that greater investment and government support is needed to further research and provide services.

Motion proposed by Rhoda

Blood Donation—That the Parliament acknowledges the constant need for blood donations in Scotland and the United Kingdom and considers the visit to the Parliament of the Scottish Blood Transfusion Service mobile unit on 26 October 2011 as a great opportunity to contribute to this cause; understands that 1,000 units of blood are needed every day to ensure that patients in Scottish hospitals receive the treatment that they need and that only 470 ml of blood will be taken from each person, an amount that the human body regenerates in a very short period of time, and notes that the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service encourages donation of blood every 16 weeks, that the donation takes approximately an hour and that most who donate can resume normal activity almost immediately after donation.

Motion proposed by Rhoda

BBC ALBA—That the Parliament welcomes the recent announcement of viewing figures for BBC ALBA; notes that BBC ALBA now attracts 530,000 viewers on a weekly basis and, in doing so, has more than doubled its viewing figures; considers that this rise is a vindication of the decision by the BBC Trust to make BBC ALBA available on Freeview after a large community-based campaign, and further considers that this welcome rise, coming as it does in the week of the Royal National Mod in Stornoway, and following the launch by the Scottish Qualifications Authority of new Gaelic qualifications, points to a bright future for Gaelic in Scotland.

Motion proposed by Rhoda

Congratulation to the Applecross Inn and Tigh an Eilean Hotel—That the Parliament congratulates the Applecross Inn in Ross-Shire on being newly announced as Scottish Pub of The Year 2012 by the Good Pub Guide and also the Tigh an Eilean Hotel in Shieldaig on being named Scottish Dining Pub of The Year; considers that the Highlands continues to provide great quality hospitality, boosting the reputation of the Highlands and Islands as a welcoming area for culture and tourism, and notes that the area continues to provide award-winning food and drink, having previously held awards in both 2008 and 2009.

British Heart Foundation’s Heart Start Event in the Parliament—That the Parliament acknowledges the Heart Start event that recently took place in the Parliament; considers this event to have been of significant value in raising awareness of the importance of emergency life support training; thanks the pupils from St Ambrose High School in Coatbridge and Portree High School on Skye who helped to demonstrate the procedures; understands that, for every minute that passes after a cardiac arrest without defibrillation, the chances of survival are reduced by around 10%, but that immediate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can triple the chances of survival; supports the campaign, led by the British Heart Foundation Scotland, Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland and Lucky 2B Here, for every child to receive emergency life support and CPR training in school as part of the Curriculum for Excellence, and believes that such training would be of great benefit in the ongoing fight against heart disease in Scotland

That the Parliament sends its warmest congratulations to Lara Giddings who, in the first session, worked as a parliamentary research officer for the member for Dunfermline East, Helen Eadie, and who was last month elected as the first female Premier of Tasmania, having previously been the youngest woman elected to an Australian parliament at the age of 23 years; notes that Giddings was elected as Australian Labor Party deputy leader and sworn in as deputy premier, prior to which she worked for the Tasmanian premier as a speech writer and media assistant, and also notes that, from 2004 to 2006, Giddings was Minister for Economic Development and Minister for the Arts and, following the 2006 election, she was assigned the role of Minister for Health and Human Services.

That the Parliament recognises the value of supporting local forums’ involvement in delivering community care; notes the research undertaken by the Inverness and Highland community care forums that highlights the vital role that lunch and social clubs play in supporting older people in the Inverness area; believes that these forums provide a vital service in creating and maintaining social networks and alleviating the effects of social isolation; considers that, when funding for the Highland Community Care Forum ceases in June, local forums will be left without any independent support and will not survive, and would therefore welcome an extension to Highland Community Care Forum’s present contract to cover the gap between the old contract and the new and a continuation of support for local forums through the new contract so that they continue to have a part to play in the delivery of future localised community care services and are able to undertake consultations on service provision independent of funders.

That the Parliament congratulates 16-year-old Duncan Grant from Inverness who competed in the badminton competition against England, Wales and Northern Ireland at the UK School Games in Gateshead International Stadium from 3 to 5 September 2010; notes the personal commitment shown by Duncan and his family, who often travel a 350-mile round trip for training sessions, and recognises the achievement in this, his first international call-up; believes that Duncan and the rest of the Scotland team have a bright future, and wishes Duncan and the Scotland team well for their future tournaments.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Scottish Human Rights Commission’s awareness-raising project, Care About Rights?, which relates to the care and support of older people; notes that the project aims to empower people to understand their rights and increase the ability and accountability of those who have duties to respect, protect and fulfil human rights and is aimed at everyone who comes into contact with, and has responsibility for, care services for older people; believes that an increased awareness and knowledge of human rights issues and practical advice about how to apply human rights principles in the delivery of care will ensure that older people are given the respect that they deserve, and therefore supports the aim of the commission to see a commitment to human rights becoming central in everyday practice and policy in the care and support of older people.

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Football Association for deciding to hold a minute’s applause before the Scotland versus Lichtenstein match at Hampden Park on Tuesday 7 September 2010 in honour of the Scottish football legend Jock Stein; notes that Jock Stein died suddenly in Cardiff 25 years ago on 10 September 1985, shortly after a Scotland versus Wales World Cup qualifying match that saw the team win its group; acknowledges the fantastic response from the Tartan Army during the minute’s applause; recognises this as a tribute both to big Jock’s memory and to the thousands of fans who joined together irrespective of club loyalties to support their country and remember a true Scottish football legend, and further welcomes plans for a similar tribute at Celtic Park on Saturday 11 September 2010.

That the Parliament expresses support for World Alzheimer’s Day, Tuesday 21 September 2010; notes that the theme for this year’s event is "Dementia. It's time for action!", which seeks to focus on the need for governments and the general public to take any action that they can to raise awareness of dementia and improve service provision for people with dementia and their carers; recognises the efforts of charity groups to raise awareness of the need to support the estimated 30 million people who have dementia around the world; further notes that this year’s World Alzheimer’s Day lecture, held by Alzheimer Scotland, will focus on the challenges that hospitals represent for patients with dementia and will seek to identify a model of good practice for dementia care in the general hospital environment and considers that the National Dementia Strategy can play a vital role in improving general hospital care but requires to be appropriately resourced and monitored in order to be effective, and believes that a better understanding of dementia as an illness can reduce the misunderstandings and stigma that exist about the condition and work toward promoting the highest standards of health and community care, both in Scotland and elsewhere in the world.

That the Parliament congratulates Gemma Mackintosh of Ardersier on her appointment as the Highland Youth Convener; notes that Gemma is the fourth person to hold this position; welcomes the fact that this post assists Highland Council to co-ordinate and communicate with young people, offers a link for councillors and officers to seek the views of young people and ensures that the voice of young people is heard in the council's Education, Culture and Sport Committee where the Youth Convener is a full member with voting rights, and wishes Gemma every success in her role over the next 12 months.

That the Parliament welcomes the conclusions of a study by scientists at the University of Dundee that has found further evidence that myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), could be caused by a virus; considers that these findings will be welcomed by young people with ME/CFS in the Highlands and across Scotland who still experience the consequences of the belief that ME is a disease of the mind rather than, as this evidence suggests, a disease of the body; notes that 25 children with ME/CFS were assessed along with 23 controls and that all 25 children with ME/CFS were found to have abnormalities in their blood, providing similar results to those previously identified in adults with ME/CFS, and further thanks and congratulates the Young ME Sufferers (Tymes) Trust, which is the longest established national UK service for children and young people with ME and their families, with a team of professionals who give all their time free of charge, and ME Research UK, which is a charity with the principal aim of commissioning and funding scientific investigation into the causes, consequences and treatment of ME/CFS, for their support of this study and all the outstanding work that they do for the many thousands of people with ME/CFS across Scotland and the UK.

That the Parliament welcomes the Family Planning Association’s (FPA) Sexual Health Week, to be held this year between 13 and 19 September; notes that the 2010 campaign will focus on raising awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in people over 50; further notes that the campaign was prompted by rising levels of STIs among over 50s considered in part to be a result of an increasing number of people starting new relationships later in life, and fully supports the FPA campaign to promote safer sex regardless of age.

That the Parliament considers that RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth make a substantial contribution to the Moray economy; notes that the two bases collectively support 5,711 full-time equivalent jobs in the local economy, which equates to 16% of all full-time equivalent employment in Moray; further notes that direct on-site employment has been identified as 4,037 full-time equivalents and gross income as £158.3 million; considers that the wider impact on population is significant, with the families of RAF personnel accounting for 1,457 spouses and 1,919 children up to 16 years of age, which is 7% of the total population of Moray and 8% of its working-age population; believes that the economy and population of Moray are heavily dependent on the RAF and that the two bases make a highly significant contribution to the population and economic prosperity of the area, and considers that any decisions about the future of RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth should take into consideration the social and economic role played by both bases in the Moray area.

That the Parliament praises the delivery of Scotland's first Housing Expo, which attracted well over 30,000 visitors in August 2010 at Balvonie Braes, on the southern outskirts of Inverness; also applauds the organisers from Highland Council who it considers showed tenacity in the face of the economic recession and achieved a highly successful outcome with full backing from the Scottish Government; notes that 52 cutting-edge houses designed with the future in mind were seen to stimulate house buyers, architects and builders who now know that this climate change age demands house designs with as low carbon impact as possible; welcomes the support of experts from Finland for the achievements of the Scottish Housing Expo and notes that the inspiration from that Baltic Sea country has raised the standards of house design there in over 40 years of such events; calls on other local authority areas, architects and builders to join in planning the next Scottish Housing Expo to display the gold standard of house designs that needs to be available for affordable housing and private housing in future; is encouraged by the considerable number of enquiries by potential buyers of the private houses built on the site, and wishes all who live at Balvonie Braes including those allocated one of the 20 houses built by Albyn and Cairn Housing Associations for affordable rent and low cost ownership a comfortable, low carbon future.

That the Parliament notes that Shetland fencer, Christopher Rocks, the Scottish èpèè champion, has been selected to represent Scotland at the 2010 Commonwealth Fencing Open Championship; recognises the travel challenges that Shetland athletes face when participating in sports at a national and international level; congratulates Christopher and his coaches on this evidence of his success in overcoming the challenges, and offers him best wishes for a successful Commonwealth Championship.

That the Parliament expresses its sympathy with the millions of people in Pakistan who have lost everything in the recent floods that continue to threaten the country; recognises that the help that has been so generously afforded by the people of Scotland and the United Kingdom will be needed for some years to come to repair an economy and a landscape that has been almost completely destroyed; notes that Pakistan has chopped down more of its trees than any other country in the world, bar one, removing the major natural control of flooding, and urges the Scottish Government to help focus much of our aid and expert assistance now and in the future towards the restitution of the upland and riverine forest cover of Pakistan in order to reduce the likelihood of such a disaster ever happening again.

That the Parliament notes that 29 August 2010 marks the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of St Kilda when the last 36 islanders were removed from the island at their own request; recognises what is considered to be the huge importance of St Kilda culturally to Scotland and the Western Isles; notes that St Kilda is one of only a few World Heritage Sites to hold joint status for its natural and cultural environments, and believes that the physical beauty, historic traditions and remoteness of St Kilda provides a continuing source of fascination for generations of people around the world.

That the Parliament welcomes International Literacy Day 2010, which is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 8 September 2010; notes that it forms part of the UNESCO Literacy Decade 2003-13, which has the aim of raising awareness of the importance of literacy across the globe; further notes that the Scottish Survey of Adult Literacies (SSAL) 2009 showed that 73.3% of the Scottish working age population have a level of skills recognised internationally as appropriate for a contemporary society while 26.7% may face occasional challenges and constrained opportunities due to their literacy skills and that, within that group, 3.6% face serious challenges in their literacy practices; considers that this means the literacy level of a sizeable minority of people acts as a barrier that prevents them from making the most of their opportunities and believes that there are still far too many people who are excluded from full participation in activities as a result of the literacy challenges that they face; agrees with the Literacy Commission report published in December 2009 that Scotland should have a zero tolerance approach to illiteracy, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that the forthcoming Literacy Action Plan takes forward all the main recommendations of the Literacy Commission.

That the Parliament congratulates the Helensburgh and District Access Trust on its work establishing the Three Lochs Way; understands that this new 50 km long-distance path links Loch Lomond, the Gareloch and Loch Long; notes that the Three Lochs Way joins towns and villages on the west side of Loch Lomond between Balloch and Inveruglas; further notes that the path is considered to be a gentle, mainly low-level route and that it can be walked easily in three to four days; commends the work of the Helensburgh and District Access Trust on this project since 2004, and hopes that people from across Scotland will come and enjoy the beauty of what is believed to be one of the most majestic landscapes in the world.

That the Parliament recognises that over 4,000 women and 20 men in Scotland will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year; endorses Breast Cancer Campaign’s organisation of Wear it Pink on Friday 29 October 2010; understands the importance of the event in promoting awareness of breast cancer among the general public; encourages MSPs to participate in the initiative to help raise funds for innovative world-class breast cancer research at centres of excellence throughout the United Kingdom, and congratulates Breast Cancer Campaign and all of its supporters for having raised £3 million in 2009 through wear it pink.

That the Parliament notes with concern the recent announcement by DFDS to end the passenger service on the Rosyth-Zeebrugge ferry service in December 2010; hopes that changes to the existing freight service will improve the long-term security of the route; further hopes that businesses in Fife and across Scotland will not be faced with a repeat of the cancellation of the route in 2008, and calls on the Scottish Government to support the reintroduction of a passenger service on the route and help develop Rosyth’s status as an international transport hub.

That the Parliament congratulates the award-winning Stag Bakeries from the Isle of Lewis on being selected to feature in the Edinburgh Festival’s Festival in the Sky; notes that four varieties of water biscuits from the Stag Bakeries have been selected to be part of this unique event; believes that this is the example of the kind of innovative and creative business needed in the Western Isles; congratulates the Stag Bakeries on finding new markets outside the islands, and wishes all involved in running the business every success for the future.

That the Parliament notes that the spectacular Barra Airport is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach; believes that this is a unique tourist attraction for the Isle of Barra, and commends all the staff of Barra Airport for the great service that they provide to the thousands of visitors each year from all over Scotland and the world who come to Barra to experience an exceptional journey and island.

That the Parliament congratulates Action Scotland Against Stalking on winning the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ Campaign of the Year Award in recognition of its work to introduce a definition of stalking into Scots Law; notes in particular the work undertaken by Ann Moulds who, after losing her home and business after becoming the victim of a stalker, launched the campaign to introduce stalking legislation into the Scottish criminal justice system; further notes that, as a result of that campaign, training modules are now being developed to be delivered throughout police forces, along with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service developing a stalking-awareness training DVD to be delivered to all Crown Office and Procurator staff, and considers that training and awareness in this area is important in ensuring that the crime of stalking is dealt with properly and effectively.

That the Parliament welcomes National Eye Health Week running from 14 to 20 June 2010; notes the importance of ensuring a high level of awareness of eye health; believes that the early detection of conditions that could contribute to sight loss and impairment is essential not only for the wellbeing of the individual but because such intervention could reduce future costs to the public purse, in particular to the health and social care budgets; recognises that Scotland has exemplary eye health services that have been made possible through leading innovations such as free eye tests, and congratulates all those involved in the eye care sector for the professional and dedicated work they carry out.

That the Parliament congratulates Crossroads (Harris) on being named as Scottish Charity of Year at the Scottish Charity Awards 2010; notes that the scheme also recently received an excellent grading from the Care Commission for the second year in succession; recognises that this is a lifeline organisation working to deliver care at home to older, sick and disabled people and their carers on the isle of Harris; further notes that, now in its 25th year, Crossroads (Harris) provided 2,844 hours of care and support during the year to those who need it, and wishes all the staff, volunteers and members of the community involved in supporting Crossroads (Harris) well for the future of the organisation.

That the Parliament expresses concern over the practice of local authorities burying the dead in communal graves of up to five bodies because the families cannot afford their own funeral due to poverty and the recession; believes this to be a Victorian-era practice of paupers’ graves that has no place in today’s society, and calls on local authorities to reconsider their burial practices out of respect for the dead and their families.

That the Parliament congratulates Scottish Rugby and Celtic Rugby Ltd on securing a deal with BBC ALBA to provide live coverage of Scotland’s two professional rugby teams, Glasgow Warriors and Edinburgh Rugby, throughout the 2010-11 season and for the next four years; considers that this coverage will help to grow the support for rugby both on and off the pitch by making it more accessible to a wider audience across the whole of Scotland; further considers that the broadcasting of rugby has an important role to play in increasing participation in the sport thereby increasing fitness levels, promoting Scotland to a wider audience and creating a platform for greater Scottish sporting achievements, and believes that the deal clearly demonstrates to the BBC and other broadcasters in Scotland the significant appetite for coverage of Scottish rugby, being of the view that it should be available on mainstream terrestrial channels.

That the Parliament welcomes the start of the World Cup with South Africa playing Mexico; wishes South Africa well in hosting the most popular sporting event in the world; wishes all teams well in the tournament; looks forward to a fantastic exhibition of the best of international football; wishes any Scots travelling to South Africa a safe journey, and looks forward to cheering on Scotland in Brazil in four years time in another South American adventure similar to 1978 but with hopefully a better outcome.

That the Parliament acknowledges, during Carers Week 2010 and beyond, the practical and emotional support that the Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the carers centres in Glasgow provide for unpaid carers and young carers on a daily basis; notes that the Princess Royal Trust is the largest dedicated resource supporting unpaid carers and young carers in the United Kingdom; recognises that, in Scotland, the trust currently helps some 50,000 carers cope by giving them information, support and advice through their work with the unique network of carers centres and young carers services; notes with concern the funding challenges that such centres are now facing across Scotland, and asks that the new carers and young carers strategies seek to tackle these challenges to help Scotland’s 657,000 unpaid carers and 100,000 young carers to have a life of their own and achieve their full potential.

That the Parliament notes the success in Finland of its public education campaign to encourage all social classes and age groups to examine their drinking patterns, and particularly to inform parents about the impact of their own drinking on their children, and supports the call from Childline for the Scottish Government to undertake a similar campaign in Scotland.

That the Parliament condemns the proposal to be put to the Scottish Hockey Union AGM scheduled for 12 June 2010 that would impose a rule on all National League matches requiring them to be played on the Scottish mainland unless both teams agree otherwise; believes that such a move would discriminate against island-based teams that already take on and accept the need to travel off their islands for 50% of their games; considers that such a rule would undermine the credibility of the Scottish Hockey Union as a national organisation in receipt of national funding, and urges the Scottish Hockey Union to reject the proposal and commit itself to being a genuine Scottish body, treating all players and teams the same, regardless of where in Scotland they are based.

That the Parliament puts on record its thanks to the Scottish Cot Death Trust for the work that it has carried out over the past 25 years in supporting families in the west of Scotland and beyond who have lost babies to sudden infant death syndrome (cot death); notes that, despite the reduction in cot deaths in the 25 years since the trust's formation, 1,510 babies have died in Scotland from cot death and that Scotland continues to lose one baby every nine days to it; wishes to pay tribute to the trust on its 25th anniversary, and acknowledges the reduction of cot deaths brought about by the trust’s effective work.

That the Parliament congratulates Highland Wi-Fi on being been voted the number one small business in the United Kingdom by Smarta100; notes that this company, which has been in operation since August 2009 and is based on Skye, uses its own bespoke digital technology to provide broadband wireless internet access in remote and rural areas throughout the Highlands; congratulates all those involved, and wishes the company well with its aim to create an extensive, efficient wireless network operating throughout the Highlands and Islands and beyond.

That the Parliament notes that 14 to 20 June is Refugee Week 2010; congratulates the Scottish Refugee Council for co-ordinating a wonderfully diverse range of events across mainstream arts and cultural organisations along with a wide variety of community celebrations, and considers that, after fleeing persecution and making difficult and often dangerous journeys to Scotland, it is important that people seeking asylum are welcomed, treated fairly and feel safe from the day that they arrive and throughout their stay and that those recognised as refugees under the 1951 UN convention are helped to rebuild their lives and make a full contribution to Scotland’s future.

That the Parliament acknowledges during Carers Week, from 14 to 20 June 2010, the specific needs of carers and young carers in rural and remote areas; acknowledges the work done by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Connecting Carers, the Moray Carers Project and other carers centres across rural Scotland in reducing isolation and enabling carers to have a life of their own and connect with other carers; further acknowledges the work that these centres do in helping young carers access the support that they need to achieve and move on successfully into adult life, and notes that it is believed that these services will face significant funding challenges now and in future, despite the invaluable contribution that carers make and the lifeline services that carers centres and projects provide to 50,000 carers and young carers across Scotland.

That the Parliament notes Citizens Advice Scotland’s most recent report, Fully Charged, which raises concerns about the continuing effects of what is considered to be unfair and disproportionate overdraft charges on vulnerable and low-income people; notes evidence from Citizens Advice Bureaux across Scotland showing that charges impact disproportionately on those least able to cope with them; believes that many people in Scotland receive high bank charges arising from situations over which they have little control; further believes that banks are failing to help customers in financial difficulty despite receiving taxpayer support, and urges the Scottish and UK governments and the banks to work toward ending unfair charges that affect millions of customers.

That the Parliament notes that National Breastfeeding Awareness Week takes place on a new date this year and is scheduled to run from 21 to 27 June 2010, with a number of events being held across Scotland and by NHS Lanarkshire; acknowledges the beneficial impact of breastfeeding on the health and wellbeing of mother and child; recognises that mothers who receive additional support are more likely to breastfeed for longer, bringing greater and more prolonged health benefits; believes that new mothers should be afforded the opportunity of a longer hospital stay to ensure that breastfeeding is established with nursing support; considers that the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 is an excellent tool for protecting the child’s right to be breastfed in public places free from harassment and has led to an empowerment of mothers to be confident in public feeding; notes with concern, however, that the latest statistics from NHS Scotland show that younger mothers who live in the most deprived areas are the least likely to breastfeed their babies; acknowledges, therefore, that this is a clear area of social exclusion, and believes that the Scottish Government should promote materials aimed specifically at supporting young mothers in areas of particular socio-economic disadvantage.

That the Parliament, during Carers Week 2010, acknowledges the contribution made by Scotland's 100,000 young carers in providing support to family members who are disabled, ill, frail or affected by drugs and alcohol misuse and commends the work of young carers projects across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Scotland as they provide both the time and space to enable young carers to be children first and the support needed to help them achieve their full personal and academic potential in increasingly challenging economic circumstances.

That the Parliament congratulates St Patrick’s Primary School in Coatbridge on its promotion of the awareness of Duchenne muscular dystrophy; notes that, on Friday 18 June 2010, pupils in the infant department will wear yellow and participate in a sunflower competition in order to raise money for the charity, Action Duchenne; recognises that Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a debilitating condition that causes muscle weakness, mainly in young boys, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that people with the condition are afforded the highest standard of care throughout Scotland, regardless of their postcode.

That the Parliament welcomes the official opening of the expansion of the Glenlivet Distillery by the Duke of Rothesay on 4 June 2010; congratulates all involved with this £10 million development, which will see a 75% increase in the production capacity of the distillery, including the local suppliers from Moray and Banffshire that provided many of the components inside the new building; notes that The Glenlivet was first licensed in 1824 and is the biggest exported single malt to the United States; further notes that, every year, 45,000 people visit the Glenlivet Distillery and considers that their experience will be further enhanced by this development, with the use of glass creating an opportunity to link the distillery with its rural surroundings; also considers that the enhanced visibility allows the distillery to reconnect with its origins, the site of George Smith’s original distillery at Upper Drumin, and wishes the Glenlivet Distillery continued success in the future.

That the Parliament recognises the pay gap that continues to exist between men and women in the workplace as illustrated by a recent Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) Scotland study; notes that, on average, women still earn 12.2% less for full-time work and 32% less for part-time work; welcomes the small reduction in the pay gap since 2008, but recognises that much more has to be done, and supports the EHRC’s call to businesses to be proactive and address this pay gap by adopting transparent pay policies and more flexible working practices.

That the Parliament recognises the work carried out by the the Leprosy Mission since its establishment in 1874; notes that leprosy is a curable disease but that the stigma and social problems encountered by those affected by leprosy can result in their being ostracised by their communities, deprived of an education and, in some countries, deemed a non-person, and congratulates the Leprosy Mission Scotland on its successful justice tour currently being undertaken by the Leprosy Mission country leaders, Sunil Annand, India, Jean Pierre Brechet, Angola, Yousif Deng, Sudan and Yeuk Ming Poon, China and Laos, to highlight the plight of those affected by this disease.

That the Parliament welcomes Armed Forces Day, which is scheduled to take place on 26 June 2010 and will afford the public an opportunity to show their support for the country's servicemen and women, veterans and cadets; notes that events will be taking place all across Scotland; believes that Scotland’s servicemen and women embody a selflessness, bravery and heroism at once remarkable and humble; asserts that Scotland’s veterans, the guardians of the nation’s freedom across the generations, are owed a debt that can never fully be repaid; further wishes Scotland’s young cadets well in their training and admires their sense of duty; recognises the success of Armed Forces Day and hopes that it will continue to go from strength to strength, and encourages all Scots to participate in whatever way they can in this important celebration of courage and sacrifice.

That the Parliament congratulates the move by Grampian Police to a local policing model that will see police officers working more closely with north-east communities; notes this fundamental change will see the force split into 24 divisions with dedicated local policing teams stationed in communities across the region to allow police to get to know the people and the needs of particular communities; notes the approach aims to help foster stronger relationships between the public and police officers and to build up trust and confidence, increase visibility, accessibility and maximise front-line policing effectiveness; believes the new approach under the banner of Local Policing - Closer to You will make it easier for communities to contact their local policing teams to make their concerns known, while local policing teams will have greater power to set priorities for their areas, and welcomes plans to regularly survey communities to gauge the effectiveness of this new approach.

That the Parliament notes with concern the number of engineered hill tracks appearing in the Scottish uplands, particularly in the Highlands; notes that such tracks can be constructed without planning consent when justified as being for agricultural, forestry or repair purposes; further notes the growing number of concerns from hill walkers, ramblers and mountaineers and members of the wider public about the intrusion of these tracks into the natural landscape and the impact on otherwise wild land; considers that, given the importance of the Scottish uplands for current and future generations, this warrants greater scrutiny of proposals for such tracks within the planning system; recognises the legitimate rights of farmers and crofters to continue to construct tracks for their purposes on what will generally be lower-lying land than considered to be a problem in this context; notes that Heriot-Watt University reported on these issues in March 2007, and would welcome the urgent mapping of tracks by reviewing current knowledge of track location and control provisions and consideration of future possibilities for greater control of developing hill tracks and the criteria under which any greater controls might operate.

That the Parliament notes the annual results of the Scottish Midland Co-operative Society Ltd (Scotmid), Scotland’s biggest independent co-operative, including an 18% increase in annual operating profits in challenging economic circumstances; believes that such a financial performance demonstrates that the co-operative model is as relevant and enduring today as when the business was founded over 150 years ago; commends Scotmid’s contribution to the Scottish economy as an employer of over 4,000 people; welcomes the firm’s strong commitment to fair trade and its support for the Think 25 policy, and wishes Scotmid every success in the future as a community business owned and democratically controlled by its members.

That the Parliament is shocked to learn of reports of insulting and offensive comments allegedly made to a wheelchair user with fibromyalgia by an SNP councillor during campaigning in Cowdenbeath; deplores any such comments made; further believes that, if substantiated, a written and public apology should be issued immediately; asks that the First Minister requires all representatives of his party to respect and honour all people irrespective of their disability, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation, and hopes that that this will remind everyone of the need to do everything possible to encourage people who experience inequality to be involved in political campaigning and stand for public office.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Scottish Human Rights Commission report, A human rights framework for the design and implementation of the proposed "Acknowledgement and Accountability Forum" and other remedies for historic child abuse in Scotland; is encouraged by the announcement that a pilot forum will operate in Spring 2010 that will listen to and validate survivors’ experiences, create a historical record, signpost to services available and test out a confidential committee model, and notes that the commission believes that the pilot forum can play a valuable role in evaluating the steps required to secure effective access to justice, effective remedies and reparation for survivors of historic child abuse and that it has potential for identifying law, policy and practice changes at all relevant levels that would contribute to mitigating the risk of repetition of abuse.

That the Parliament commends the work undertaken by Christian Aid, in partnership with local organisations in 48 countries worldwide, to help people improve their own lives, regardless of race or religion, and tackle the causes of poverty; notes that Christian Aid Week takes place from 9 to 15 May 2010;supports the many local groups, churches and individuals across Scotland that will be undertaking fundraising events; congratulates Scots for raising over £1,560,000 during Christian Aid Week last year; urges all MSPs and parliamentary staff to join in Christian Aid Week by participating in Quizaid on 12 May 2010, and encourages Scots to give generously again by logging on to http://www.christianaid.org.uk/scotland/.

That the Parliament congratulates the scouting movement in the Western Isles on achieving the highest rate of growth in the United Kingdom; notes that the number of Scouts in the Western Isles almost doubled in 2009 with 45% of members having joined the islands’ scouts in the past year leading to four new units being established and helping the UK Scout Movement achieve its biggest increase in membership since 1972; believes that scouting helps young people achieve their full social, physical and intellectual potential, and looks forward to a bright future for scouting in the Western Isles.

That the Parliament supports the Moray Young Citizen Award Scheme, jointly run by Diageo, Grampian Police and the Moray Council, which ran from September 2009 until Easter 2010; notes that the scheme was set up to encourage school spirit, recognise good community work, build self-esteem and develop an understanding of what citizenship means; congratulates Elgin High School pupil Chloe Fraser who was the recipient of the individual category award, winning £100 of shopping vouchers and also Speyside High rural skills group that took the schools category award, winning £1,000 to invest in school activities; further congratulates David Smith from Buckie who received a "highly commended" for his work in the community, filming all the Buckie Thistle football matches, posting the films on You Tube and sending them offshore so that those interested could view the games, and encourages other local authorities in the Highlands and Islands and beyond to support similar initiatives in their own areas to ensure that young people are fully involved in their local communities.

That the Parliament congratulates the community of Tolsta, Isle of Lewis, on taking over the Tolsta shop (Bùth Tholastaidh) for the community on Tuesday 6 April 2010 following a positive return on a postal ballot of the community and significant work to secure a funding package; notes that the community’s determination to take over the Tolsta shop will see this community resource retained for future years; recognises that this inspiring social enterprise will see Tolsta Community Development Ltd employing two staff to begin with in an attempt to grow the local economy, which also includes looking at the possibility of an income-generating renewable energy project; notes that the profits will be reinvested into the business for the good of the local area, and looks forward to a prosperous future for this innovative community-led initiative.

That the Parliament notes that the Air Iomlaid exhibition of artwork by pupils of Bun-sgoil Shlèite, Skye, and Tollcross Primary School, Edinburgh, takes place at Edinburgh’s Fruitmarket Gallery from 10 April until 9 May 2010; is aware that the exhibition marks the culmination of an intensive process of art tuition, conducted in Gaelic, over 18 months at both primary schools, devised and developed by artist Julie Brook, which has produced an excellent range of sketchbooks, drawings, paintings, poems, animation and collaborative large-scale artworks; commends the pupils involved in this exciting exchange of ideas and techniques and positive exploration of culture and shared ideas through the medium of art and Gaelic, and encourages members of the public to visit the exhibition and see the first-class creative work that has resulted from this inspirational project.

That the Parliament is seriously concerned about the inclusion of only one woman among the six Scots selected by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) for committee room names; believes that this reflects a one-sided and distorted view of Scotland; welcomes the fact that a hundred exceptional Scottish women are recorded on panels near the entrance hall of the Parliament; notes that other names of Scottish women were put forward for consideration for committee room names, and calls on the SPCB to reconsider the matter in recognition of the very many great Scottish women whose contribution, like that of Scottish women in general, is every bit as important and distinguished as that of men.

That the Parliament welcomes the call made by the European Parliament’s Agricultural Committee for an amnesty of three years on cross-compliance penalties relating to electronic identification (EID) of sheep and goats; notes that the committee made this call because this is a new and complex technology that will require some time for farmers to become accustomed to it and for the systems to be road tested; believes that such an amnesty would remove the current threat of high fines that Scottish farmers and crofters face as they struggle to cope with the technology, which many believe has been shown to be far from perfect by the current pilot, and calls on the Scottish Government to seek the agreement of the European Commission for the early introduction of such an amnesty in Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates the Isle of Eigg community on being named a winner of the Big Green Challenge and awarded £300,000 from the £1 million prize fund that encourages community-led carbon emission reductions; notes that the Isle of Eigg team slashed CO₂ emissions by an impressive 32% in the last year alone, making a significant impact on the United Kingdom’s 2020 emissions reduction target of 34%; further notes that the Isle of Eigg project fought off competition from over 350 community groups across the UK as a result of its achievements over the course of a year in four areas: CO₂ reductions achieved, the innovative nature of its initiatives, the longevity and scalability of the project and the level of community engagement, and commends the ambitions of the Eigg community to go even further and use the prize money to fulfil its ambitions to reduce Eigg’s carbon footprint to ensure a low-carbon future for the island.

That the Parliament recognises the efforts of council workers in East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire who made tremendous efforts to keep services going and respond to the public during the recent severe weather; notes that, while priority was given to gritting and clearing snow from major routes, many roads and pavements in housing schemes and outlying areas were not treated, causing difficulty for local residents; urges the councils, in light of the recent experience, to consult local communities while reviewing the effectiveness of their winter plans, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire councils have adequate resources to deal with the aftermath of the freeze and subsequent thaw.

That the Parliament recognises the efforts made by postal workers to ensure that deliveries continued to be made during the recent severe weather including to rural homes in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley and notes that this is appreciated by constituents.

That the Parliament congratulates Scottish Rugby on its recent event on 13 January 2010 in the Scottish Parliament to highlight ongoing extensive work both on and off the pitch; notes Scottish Rugby’s efforts to boost rugby in schools and communities; welcomes new national team coach Andy Robinson, Scottish internationals Nick De Luca and Kelly Brown and other senior Scottish Rugby officials to the Parliament; congratulates the Scottish national team on its excellent performance in the autumn tests, and wishes it the best of luck for its forthcoming Six Nations campaign that kicks off at Murrayfield on 7 February against France.

That the Parliament congratulates the Isle of Eigg community on being named a winner of the Big Green Challenge and awarded £300,000 from the £1 million prize fund that encourages community-led carbon emission reductions; notes that the Isle of Eigg team slashed CO₂ emissions by an impressive 32% in the last year alone, making a significant impact on the United Kingdom’s 2020 emissions reduction target of 34%; further notes that the Isle of Eigg project fought off competition from over 350 community groups across the UK as a result of its achievements over the course of a year in four areas: CO₂ reductions achieved, the innovative nature of its initiatives, the longevity and scalability of the project and the level of community engagement, and commends the ambitions of the Eigg community to go even further and use the prize money to fulfil its ambitions to reduce Eigg’s carbon footprint to ensure a low-carbon future for the island.

That the Parliament notes with concern the number of engineered hill tracks appearing in the Scottish uplands, particularly in the Highlands; notes that such tracks can be constructed without planning consent when justified as being for agricultural, forestry or repair purposes; further notes the growing number of concerns from hill walkers, ramblers and mountaineers and members of the wider public about the intrusion of these tracks into the natural landscape and the impact on otherwise wild land; considers that, given the importance of the Scottish uplands for current and future generations, this warrants greater scrutiny of proposals for such tracks within the planning system; recognises the legitimate rights of farmers and crofters to continue to construct tracks for their purposes on what will generally be lower-lying land than considered to be a problem in this context; notes that Heriot-Watt University reported on these issues in March 2007, and would welcome the urgent mapping of tracks by reviewing current knowledge of track location and control provisions and consideration of future possibilities for greater control of developing hill tracks and the criteria under which any greater controls might operate.

That the Parliament notes the welcome, if belated, decision by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to postpone the introduction of car parking charges at Kirkwall Airport; regrets that this decision was taken only after the board of HIAL initially rejected the unanimous recommendation of the statutory Kirkwall Airport Consultative Committee to put the introduction of the charges on hold until a proper consultation was undertaken; further notes that HIAL is considering imposing similar charges at its airports at Sumburgh and Stornoway; is concerned that the introduction of car parking charges at these island airports will add still further to the high cost for island residents of using their lifeline internal and external air services and of island life in general; expects the consultation to be thorough and to enable the detail of HIAL’s proposals, as well as the principle of charging, to be robustly challenged, and considers that the delay offers the opportunity for all Orcadians to make their views known and for islanders from Shetland and the Western Isles to add their voices to the campaign against the Kirkwall charges in order to avoid a precedent being set at Kirkwall, which HIAL could use to impose charges at Sumburgh and Stornoway.

That the Parliament congratulates Linkwood Medical, Elgin, on winning the Practice Team Award for developing an innovative strategy for the management of chronic heart disease through the creation of a multidisciplinary clinic providing a one-stop service for patients; notes that this award has been created to recognise the outstanding work of practice teams achieving a high standard of quality patient care; further notes that practice teams from across Scotland were invited to apply for the award, which is given to a team that is able to demonstrate innovations within the practice that have a positive impact on patient care, and commends the hard work and dedication of all the staff at Linkwood Medical.

That the Parliament welcomes the Rape Awareness Campaign launched by Lothian and Borders Police in conjunction with Rape Crisis Scotland and the Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre; notes that the campaign involves police officers, police staff and special constables handing out specially designed postcards depicting women enjoying themselves socially with the direct message that "drinking is not a crime.... but rape is"; supports the decision by Lothian and Borders Police to focus a public safety campaign on the clear message that women are not to blame for rape just because they have been drinking; recognises awareness-raising work being done by police and voluntary sector organisations across Scotland, including the washroom campaign launched on 10 December 2009 by Glasgow Community and Safety Services, which involves posters from Rape Crisis Scotland’s This is not an invitation to rape me campaign being placed in bars and clubs across the city for one month, and wishes these campaigns every success in their efforts to challenge unacceptable attitudes towards rape.

That the Parliament notes the publication of research by Ochre, the national oesophageal cancer charity, into the condition in Scotland; expresses its concern that Scotland has much higher rates of oesophageal cancer than other parts of the United Kingdom; considers that early diagnosis is critical to successful treatment and that GP and public awareness of the condition needs to be improved so that early symptoms can be correctly identified; notes that, according to Ochre’s research, there is often confusion regarding cancer of the throat and oesophageal cancer and that they are separate conditions; notes that the World Health Organization has warned that oesophageal cancer is predicted to rise by 64.3% by 2020, and urges the Scottish Government to ensure better access to endoscopy services at primary health care locations in order to speed up diagnosis and improve patient outcomes.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the National Centre for Asbestos-Related Diseases (NCARD): A Strategy Document on 30 November 2009 by the NCARD Development Group; considers that this important document is significant for the future of research into asbestos-related illnesses and the treatment of such conditions; believes that Scottish involvement in the development of asbestos research in the United Kingdom would be beneficial; notes with deep concern that, according to the Health and Safety Executive, exposure to asbestos is the biggest single cause of work-related deaths and that the number of people dying of an asbestos-related disease is rising and is yet to peak; further notes that NHS Fife has reported that 239 people from Fife have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses in the last five years; is reminded that asbestos-related disease is by no means a problem of the past; recognises the important work of support organisations across Scotland, and sends a message to victims and their families in Scotland that MSPs will continue to work to improve awareness, research and treatment of asbestos-related diseases.

That the Parliament welcomes the growing success of the Scottish Green Energy Awards with exciting developments in Scotland’s renewable energy industry providing keener competition every year for each award; notes the deserved success of the Westray Development Trust, which won the Best Community Initiative in recognition of its investment in renewable energy including its recently erected 900 kW wind turbine; further notes that the Best New Business Award was won by Smarter Grid Solutions for its work installing the United Kingdom’s first smart grid on Orkney; believes that the example of Westray should be followed by other enterprising communities across Scotland and that, with the help of Smarter Grid Solutions’ smart grid technology, this could lead to a rapid growth in community renewable energy projects, and so congratulates the Westray Development Trust, Smarter Grid Solutions and all other winners of the 2009 awards.

That the Parliament notes the Scottish Women’s Aid analysis of local authority Single Outcome Agreements 2009 and expresses its concern at the appallingly low level of engagement through single outcome agreements (SOA); notes in particular that fewer than one in three have specific reference in the area profile to children affected by domestic abuse, only 13 SOAs refer to specific domestic abuse or violence against women action plans, only five SOAs make any reference to violence-against- women in relation to gender equality despite half of the councils highlighting an increase in reported incidents of domestic abuse and only 11 state addressing this as a priority; considers that it is not clear how the implementation of national policy at a local level is monitored and evaluated or even how local authorities and their community planning partners can be held to account, and calls on the Scottish Government to address and report on this situation as a matter of urgency.

That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow City Council and the End Prostitution Now campaign in their aim to raise awareness of the harm caused by prostitution and to put the focus firmly on the buyers of sex who create the demand and have been invisible from the public debate until now; considers that only by targeting this demand and challenging attitudes toward buying sex will a stop be put to this harmful activity that blights Scotland's cities and towns; agrees that prostitution is an appalling form of human exploitation, and believes that an unequivocal message must be sent that buying sex will not be tolerated.

That the Parliament supports the National Union of Students in its efforts to highlight student hardship through a national day of action on the 11 December 2009; notes the events and action organised by student associations at universities and colleges across Scotland, including associations at Edinburgh Napier University, the University of Edinburgh, Inverness UHI College, James Watt College, Glasgow Metropolitan College, the Univeristy of Aberdeen and Aberdeen College, undertaking such activities as writing letters and petitions at the University of Stirling and a petition to Alex Salmond MSP from Banff and Buchan College; believes that this action signals that hardship remains a significant issue for students in Scotland; considers that the Scottish Government has broken its promise to dump the debt; believes that student hardship is a key factor in forcing students from lower-income backgrounds into commercial debt, to spend more than the guideline number of hours in part-time work recommended by the Cubie report or to drop out of their studies altogether; considers that opposition parties have been successful in directing the £30 million made available by the Scottish Government for student support toward putting more pounds in student pockets; remains concerned that, despite these efforts, poorer students still receive less financial support than those in the rest of the UK, and urges the Scottish Government to address this inequality.

That the Parliament notes that Amanda Mainland from Orkney has been shortlisted for a Skills Development Scotland Modern Apprentice of the Year award after studying for two years for her modern apprenticeship in beauty therapy at Thurso’s North Highland College; further notes that she now owns and runs the Solveig Health and Beauty salon in Kirkwall, where she encourages two of her own employees to follow her example and do a modern apprenticeship; congratulates Amanda and the other shortlisted finalists for their success, and wishes them all the best for the awards ceremony to be held on 9 December 2009 in Glasgow, at which the winner will be announced.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scout movement on another successful year delivering an exciting and adventurous programme to young people in almost 600 local Scout groups across Scotland; commends the dedication and hard work of the volunteers who support the movement; is greatly encouraged by the increase in membership numbers for a third consecutive year, including a 12% rise in female youth members, and believes that, with almost 37,000 members across the country, Scottish Scouting makes a huge contribution not only to the young people involved but also to communities around Scotland as a whole.

That the Parliament notes and welcomes Carers Rights Day, which falls on Friday 4 December, and acknowledges and values the substantial contribution made by over 600,000 unpaid carers and young carers across Scotland; welcomes the practical and emotional support provided by the Falkirk Carers Centre and the network of Princess Royal Trust for Carers Centres across Scotland that have worked with over 50,000 carers in 2008-09; notes that the Carers Centres are critical to the implementation of the Scottish Government’s carers strategy, but are facing significant funding challenges; is concerned that there is no commitment to additional resources to support the implementation of the new carers strategy; believes that the work being done to develop the new strategy should take forward the action highlighted in the Care 21 report relating to respite and short breaks, training for carers, access to information for carers and the specific needs of young carers, and believes that the strategy should lead to real action that benefits Scotland’s unpaid carers, ensuring clear accountability for service delivery and improvements that enable carers to continue caring with confidence and to have a quality life outside of that caring role.

That the Parliament notes with concern increasing reports of landowners preventing crofters from buying their land by escalating the cost of the legal process through the Scottish Land Court and asks the Scottish Government to investigate this as a matter of urgency with a view to introducing measures to stop this practice by simplifying the right-to-buy process in the upcoming crofting legislation.

That the Parliament is concerned that the high cost of the legal process that has to be followed to challenge large rent increases imposed by landowners and land agents is forcing agricultural tenants to accept intolerable rent increases that they can ill afford and calls on the Scottish Government to investigate changing the law to provide an affordable and practical system that allows rent disputes to be handled without excessive legal costs.

That the Parliament notes with concern reports that landowners and land agents are using protracted and expensive legal devices to make it very difficult for agricultural tenants to exercise their right to buy their farms; believes that in doing so landowners and land agents are subverting the will of the Parliament as expressed in the Agricultural Holdings (Scotland) Act 2003, and calls on the Scottish Government to investigate the possibility of introducing measures to stop the use of protracted devices by landowners and land agents to hamper tenants’ right to buy their farms.

That the Parliament welcomes the decision of Glasgow Caledonian University to award an honorary degree to Neil Kinnock, former European Commissioner and leader of the Labour Party, in recognition of Mr Kinnock’s outstanding contribution as a politician, statesman and champion of increased educational opportunities for those previously denied them.

That the Parliament notes the announcement by the Big Lottery Fund that it will spend £400 million in Scotland in the next five years; welcomes the fact that the Big Lottery Fund will now have £50 million more to commit to projects next year than expected; recognises that this increased resource, directed to tackle need and disadvantage in the Glasgow Pollok constituency, across Glasgow and throughout Scotland, represents a great opportunity to challenge inequality, and would welcome a clear link between spending decisions on this lottery windfall and the commitment given by Scottish Ministers in Scottish Policy Directions for 2009-2015 to the Big Lottery Fund "to address the priorities of tackling disadvantage, the advancement of well-being and addressing inequalities".

That the Parliament notes with concern the contents of the draft guidelines, National Eligibility for Adult Social Care and Waiting Times for Personal and Nursing Care, which it considers will have an adverse impact on preventative services for disabled adults; notes the problems that have been experienced by disabled adults in accessing support services in Edinburgh; is concerned that the guidelines are based on the current working practices of many local authorities across Scotland, which were themselves based on the UK Government’s Fair Access to Care Services; notes that Fair Access to Care Services was originally devised to decide the eligibility for support of older people with progressive age-related incapacity and loss of independence and not for disabled adults for whom it considers access to care is about the right to independence, and believes that the needs of adults requiring social care would be better served if there was guidance on free personal and nursing care and new guidance dealing with the community care services provided under different legislation.

That the Parliament notes the publication of the report, "Sectarianism" and the Workplace, by the STUC, which found evidence that sectarianism persists in the Scottish workplace; believes that the report highlights the enduring prevalence of sectarian attitudes in Scotland; acknowledges the importance of challenging attitudes early on by engaging with young people to ensure that they enter the workplace with a better understanding of the issue of sectarianism in Scotland; welcomes projects such as the Community Youth Rugby Initiative in the Coatbridge area, supported by Sense Over Sectarianism, which seeks to challenge sectarianism through rugby by engaging children from seven local secondary schools in composite school teams; notes that the initiative also includes a structured programme that seeks to impact on religious intolerance and racism and recognise and respect diversity within the community; further notes that the initiative currently has 300 participants, with numbers expected to double within a year; commends work by the summer holiday project for primary seven pupils from Coatbridge and Airdrie delivered by Albion Rovers Football Club, Strathclyde Police, beCogent and Sense Over Sectarianism that sought to challenge attitudes among primary school-age children; recognises the potential impact that projects targeted at primary and secondary pupils could have in shaping societal attitudes in the future, thus eroding the persistence of sectarianism in the workplace in the long term; realises that Scotland still faces a number of complex challenges in highlighting sectarianism in communities and workplaces, and considers that these challenges are best met via a vigorous, zero-tolerance approach from the Scottish Government and other relevant stakeholders.

That the Parliament congratulates the Open University on its 40th year; recognises the key role that Harold Wilson and Jennie Lee played in developing the Open University; supports the positive work that the university does in Scotland as an accessible and innovative way for people to fulfil their ambitions for lifelong learning and social mobility, providing learning opportunities to the widest possible range of people and contributing to Scotland's economic development; notes that it is now the United Kingdom's largest university, teaching almost 200,000 students a year and, since opening in 1969, it has helped over two million people realise their potential; notes the central role that part-time higher education, such as that delivered by the Open University, has to play in supporting upskilling and reskilling in Scotland’s workforce, and considers that appropriately resourced part-time flexible learning has the potential to make an even more significant contribution to supporting Scotland’s skills agenda and to promoting educational opportunity and social justice.

That the Parliament wishes to pay tribute to the late Bill Shankly on the 50th anniversary of his appointment as manager of Liverpool FC, where he took the team from the old second division to win three league championships, two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup; notes that he began his career with the famous Glenbuck Cherrypickers, whose record in producing 50 professional footballers from a mining village with a population of only 1,000 people is unequalled in world football, and commends Bill Shankly’s assertion that "The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards. It's the way I see football, the way I see life."

That the Parliament congratulates Murdoch Brothers Butchers on its success in the 2010 World Scotch Pie Championships; commends the Forres-based butcher shop in beating out 85 other entrants to earn the title of World Scotch Pie Champions while also taking home the bronze medal for its pork pie and gold medal for its steak pie, and recognises the continued excellence of Murdoch Brothers, a family company dating back three generations, and the world-class quality of its 40-year-old original family recipe, still in use today.

That the Parliament congratulates all those who won prizes and who were nominated for prizes in the 2009 Scottish Traditional Music Awards on Saturday 28 November 2009; notes in particular the success of those winners with Western Isles connections, including The Hebridean Celtic Festival, which won the title of Event of the Year, Christine Primrose, originally from Carloway, Lewis, who was voted Gaelic Singer of the Year, Bodega, whose lead singer, Norrie MacIver, is also from Carloway, Lewis, who won Scottish Folk Band of the Year, legendary, and now reformed, Gaelic folk group Na h-Oganaich, who have been inducted into the Hands up for Trad Hall of Fame, and lastly South Uist performer Rona Lightfoot, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame, and recognises the breadth of talent that currently exists in Scottish traditional music.

That the Parliament congratulates Carloway Primary School from the Isle of Lewis on being named Yellow Pages Recycling Champions for Scotland 2009 after coming first in the small schools category; recognises that the school’s 26 pupils recycled 566 old Yellow Pages directories between them when the new ones were delivered last year; also notes that Shelibost Primary School from the Isle of Harris was runner-up in the small schools category after recycling 17 old Yellow Pages directories per pupil, and welcomes the recognition that was given to the recycling efforts and achievements of all of the schools that took part in this huge environmental competition and challenge.

That the Parliament congratulates Portree High School on its victory in the finals of the 2009 BT Scotland National Gaelic Schools Debate competition held in the Scottish Parliament on 25 November 2009; notes that Portree, represented by Anna MacMullan and Eilidh Robertson, prevailed over Bishopbriggs Academy in a competition that featured impressive efforts and talent by all of the competitors, and, finally, commends all participants in the final and preceding heats for their excellent knowledge of the subject and effective delivery of their case in each debate.

The Member has provided the following translation:

Àrdsgoil Port Rìgh a’ Buannachd Deasbad BT Alba

Gu bheil a’ phàrlamaid a cuir meal an naidheachd dhan Àrdsgoil Port Righ air a’ bhuaidh aca anns a’ chuairt mu dheireadh dhen fairpais deasbad BT Alba 2009 a bha air chumail anns Phàrlamaid na h-Alba air 25mh an t-Samhain 2009; a’ dèan nòta gun do rinn Port Rìgh, a bha air riochachadh leis Anna Nic am Muileann agus Eilidh NicDhonnchaidh, a’ bhuaidh air Acadamaidh Drochaid an Easbaig ann am farpais a bha a’ comharradh oidhirpean drùiteach agus comasach bhon co-fharpaiseachan air fad, agus mu dheireach a’ moladh gach com-pàirtiche anns a’ chuairt mu dheireach agus na cuairtean ron sin airson an sar-eòlas aca air gach cuspair agus airson labhairt comasach dhen cùis aca anns gach deasbad.

That the Parliament is shocked and horrified that there has been a 78% increase in violence and abuse against Scottish shopworkers over the last three years, according to Retailers Against Crime; believes that further measures need to be taken to deter violence against shopworkers and other workers delivering a service to the public; welcomes the Freedom from Fear campaign organised by the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (Usdaw), which seeks to make shops and shopping areas safer for staff and customers; recognises that the sale of age-restricted products, especially alcohol, is a frequent flashpoint for verbal abuse, threats and violence against shopworkers; further recognises the difficulties that shopworkers have policing age-restricted sales and how that can leave them vulnerable, isolated and under threat of prosecution when mistakes are made; calls on the Scottish Government to run high-profile campaigns that support the Think 25 policy and highlight to youngsters that it is an offence to attempt to buy alcohol under age, and further calls on the Scottish Government to work with retailers, police and local authorities on strategies to prevent under-age sales and not simply to rely on sting operations, which seek to prosecute shopworkers.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Youth Parliament on its 10th anniversary, which will be marked at a reception in the Parliament to be hosted by the Presiding Officer on the evening of Wednesday 2 December 2009; recognises all the work that the Scottish Youth Parliament has undertaken over the past 10 years and continues to undertake in raising the voice of young people in Scotland on issues that are important to them and their communities; welcomes the Scottish Youth Parliament’s vision of a stronger, more inclusive Scotland that empowers young people by truly involving them in the decision-making process; commends the Scottish Parliament and successive Scottish administrations since 1999 for the continuing level of support given to the Scottish Youth Parliament and all of its elected members past and present; hopes that this support will be maintained in the future, and is confident that the Scottish Youth Parliament will continue to grow in strength and success as a powerful enabler of young people in the years to come.

That the Parliament welcomes the Cross Out Child Poverty in Scotland campaign organised by Glasgow the Caring City; notes the campaign event at Cathcart Conversations on 29 November 2009, which secured support across parties, across faiths and from across Glasgow’s communities; welcomes the Cathcart Statement on Child Poverty, which reads "We, the undersigned believe that Scotland’s children deserve better. We believe that no society can be truly at ease with itself while significant numbers of children live in poverty. We believe that the elimination of child poverty must be a priority for us all - for politicians, community leaders and every member of society. We believe that poverty should be defined more widely than lack of money, that it encompasses a lack of education, of health, of welfare, of self-esteem and of love. We believe that poverty corrodes children’s health, their happiness, their safety and their aspirations. We recognise that children whose lives are blighted by poverty are at higher risk of educational failure. We recognise that a life lived in poverty can lead to a life of drug abuse and exploitation. We believe that only through the elimination of child poverty can we expect the children of Scotland to live their lives to the full, and to be able to enjoy the opportunities that the rest of society take for granted. We, the undersigned, believe the time for change is here."; supports the aim of the campaign, to end child poverty; believes that this campaign highlights the critical importance at all levels of government of tackling child poverty, which denies too many children the right to a safe and happy childhood and the opportunity to achieve their potential; recognises that a key strength of this campaign is its understanding of the need to reach out beyond government to individuals and families and communities; believes that such unity of purpose can challenge poverty, and believes that signing this statement will show a commitment to the future of all Scotland’s children and a determination to act on their behalf.

That the Parliament congratulates the Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation on reaching its 25th anniversary; notes that the foundation aims to increase the health, fitness and wellbeing of women and girls by making physical activity an integral part of their lives; further notes that the foundation seeks to do this through its campaign to make sport as appealing to women and girls as it is to men and boys, make women aware of the importance of being active and encourage women who are fit and healthy to be social and cultural role models, and therefore hopes that initiatives such as the MSP and MP health and fitness programme will raise awareness of this important work.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Trades Union Congress Women’s Committee on its recent conference, bringing together women trade unionists from across Scotland to debate the key economic and social issues facing women in the Pollok constituency, across Glasgow and throughout Scotland; acknowledges the important role played by Scottish women trade unionists in campaigning for greater representation of women at every level of government, in public bodies and in the private sector; recognises the importance of addressing the impact of economic recession on women’s lives, and believes that tackling disadvantage and inequality must be high in policy and budget priorities.

That the Parliament congratulates Maria Fyfe on her recent special award from the Scottish Trades Union Congress Women's Conference; notes her critical role in the establishment of the Scottish Parliament and in her championing of 50:50 representation of women in the Scottish Parliament, and believes that the most fitting legacy for her long-term commitment to equal pay, the rights of women workers and equality for women would be to see a refreshed determination to secure increased representation for women at every level of government, in public bodies and in industry and to ensure greater priority for the rights of women at home, in the community and at work.

That the Parliament welcomes the UK Government’s commitment to improving availability of broadband as detailed in the Digital Britain report published in June 2009; welcomes the commitment to deliver a Universal Service Broadband Commitment of 2Mbps by 2012; welcomes the proposed public support for the network of tomorrow to allow for access to next generation broadband; considers the Western Isles of Scotland to be the worst area in Scotland in terms of broadband coverage and one of worst in the United Kingdom as a whole; is concerned at the disadvantages that rural areas of Scotland suffer in terms of economic, business and educational development when broadband services are inadequate, and would welcome a positive response to the report and the delivery of improved and reliable broadband services for every Scottish broadband customer.

That the Parliament congratulations the Easdale Island’s community development company, Eilean Eisdeal, on its success in this year’s hotly contested British Gas Green Streets programme; notes that it will receive £130,000 to implement a range of measures to tackle community and household energy efficiency and to lower the island’s carbon footprint; notes further its plans to use the project as a learning opportunity for contractors, construction professionals and communities across Argyll and Bute and to use British Gas’s technical expertise to showcase and demonstrate the technologies, and pays tribute to all those involved in Eilean Eisdeal on this very significant achievement and wishes the project every success.

That the Parliament urges retailers to review existing security screening and warning notices around checkout areas where chip and pin devices are used and to focus on the need for increased security for customers who are older, have young children or are disabled in order that the festive season does not provide opportunities for criminals actively targeting these groups by means of credit card theft and fraud.

That the Parliament applauds the work of Skin Care Campaign Scotland in organising the Mole Hunters event at which more than 10% of the people on the Parliament campus had their moles checked for malignancy; considers that there is a need to change patient referral times to urgent in all cases of suspected melanomas, recognising that swift diagnosis is essential; congratulates clinicians in the NHS Lanarkshire phototriage, where there is high-quality digital imaging with medical photographers that has improved the early diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanomas, and hopes that the Scottish Government will agree to the call of Skin Care Campaign Scotland that urgent action be taken to co-ordinate a major awareness-raising campaign for recognition of moles that may have changed appearance and may be malignant, knowing of the high mortality rates for such cancerous tumours.

That the Parliament notes that the Big Issue Real Lives, Real Achievements Awards Ceremony was held in Glasgow on Tuesday 24 November 2009; congratulates Barry Greenan, Scott Lawrie, Joan Anderson and Peter Corstorphine on winning Vendor awards; notes that The Big Issue Scotland is the best-selling news and arts weekly magazine in Scotland, that it has over 500 vendors working across the country and has helped change hundreds of lives for the better in the last 15 years, and looks forward to the Big Issue Foundation being able to secure the finances required to expand its work and provide additional services in Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Scottish Women’s Aid census day statistics, collected over a 24-hour period on 24 September 2009; notes that, on this day, Women’s Aid groups across Scotland supported 642 women and 307 children and young people, that 412 women and 391 children and young people needed the safety of women’s aid refuge, that 31 of the 47 women who requested refuge on this day could not be accommodated and that 12 had to be turned away due to a lack of space; notes that 101 women contacted Women’s Aid for the first time on this day; reaffirms the importance of Women’s Aid’s specialist support for women; expresses concern about the removal of ring-fenced funding and the increased funding pressures that local authorities face, and calls for a stronger commitment, matched by funding, to ensure that women, children and young people can live their lives safe in the knowledge that they will be supported by specialist domestic abuse services.

That the Parliament congratulates Andy Robinson, all 22 players and the other coaches for the victory over Australia, achieved by one of the best defensive efforts ever seen by a Scottish team, and wishes the team every success in the forthcoming match against Argentina.

That the Parliament recognises that Wednesday 25 November 2009 will mark the beginning of the 16 days of Activism Against Violence Against Women; notes that the event runs from Wednesday 25 November until 10 December, International Human Rights Day; notes that this event is held over these dates to symbolically link violence against women with human rights and to underline that such violence is a direct violation of human rights; acknowledges that, since 1991, over 2,000 organisations in approximately 156 countries have participated in the 16 Days campaign, and calls on representatives, the local community and organisations across the country to continue to work together to raise awareness of violence against women as well as to tackle the underlying social, economic and cultural causes of gender-based violence

That the Parliament congratulates Harris Tweed Hebrides on receiving the Outstanding Contribution to Style award at the Scottish Style Awards 2009, held in Glasgow on 31 October 2009; further congratulates the company’s success earlier in the year at the Scottish Fashion Awards, at which it won the Textile Brand of the Year award; considers that Harris Tweed Hebrides, which was formed in 2007 to ensure that Harris Tweed would continue to be available to its many devotees around the world, has revived the industry by forging connections with designers and companies such as Deryck Walker, Sara Berman, Judy Clarke, Vivienne Westwood, Nike and Glasgow design firm Graven Images, which used Harris Tweed in designing the city’s first five-star hotel, and commends the board of directors and staff at Harris Tweed Hebrides for their outstanding work to produce the finest tweed at the Shawbost mill.

That the Parliament welcomes the new Falcontravel/M-Travel Switzerland (MTCH AG) charter flight service linking the Highlands and Islands with Switzerland, which commences next year for the next three years; notes that Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd have provided funding for the Zurich to Inverness service, which, for 2010, will run between 15 May and 18 September; believes that this new service will bring up to 2,000 tourists to the Highlands and Islands area per year, which will assist with the ongoing economic growth of the region, and hopes that, by introducing this service, better links can be forged between Switzerland and the Highlands and Islands.

That the Parliament acknowledges that 14 November 2009 is World Diabetes Day, an official United Nations Day, which marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea that led to the discovery of insulin in 1922; notes that the campaign for 2009 is Understand Diabetes and Take Control, which aims to raise awareness of the disease and the lifelong demands imposed on the 285 million people living with diabetes; further notes with concern that the International Diabetes Federation estimates that over 344 million people worldwide are at risk of type 2 diabetes and believes that this can be easily prevented in many cases by helping and encouraging those at risk to maintain a healthy body weight and take moderate physical activity; further notes that the most recent Scottish Diabetes Survey shows that there were 219,963 people with a diagnosis in Scotland at the end of 2008 and believes that many cases of diabetes remain undiagnosed; urges the Scottish Executive to raise awareness of the symptoms of diabetes to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, and looks forward to the publication of the updated Diabetes Action Plan, which will provide strategic priorities for diabetic services in 2010 and beyond.

That the Parliament notes with concern the threat of closure facing the Mid Argyll Swimming Pool in Lochgilphead due to a financial shortfall; believes that this community-owned social enterprise, owned and operated by Mid Argyll Community Enterprise Ltd, plays a vital role in providing the communities of Lochgilphead and Mid Argyll with a first-class public swimming pool and all the associated benefits to mental and physical health that come from the activity of swimming; considers that the pool is well used by pupils from many local primary schools and by local recreation clubs and many of the tourists and visitors who come to Mid Argyll; notes further that the new Lochgilphead High School does not have a swimming pool and that closure of this pool would mean that the nearest public swimming pools were many miles away in Oban, Rothesay, Dunoon or Campbeltown; is aware that the funding shortfall facing the pool amounts to around £10,000 in this financial year and £30,000 in subsequent years, and believes that all available funding options should be explored in order to secure the future of this well-used and much-loved community asset.

That the Parliament expresses its disgust at the intolerant and discriminatory remarks expressed by BNP leader Nick Griffin on BBC’s Question Time on 22 October 2009; reasserts its commitment to the key principle in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and, in the run up to International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2009, reaffirms its commitment to tackling all forms of racism and discrimination in Scottish society, including that still perpetrated against women, ethnic minorities, Gypsy/Travellers and LGBT communities, among others.

That the Parliament congratulates the work of the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and the 300 volunteer puppy walkers across Scotland who look after and socialise guide dog puppies to the stage where they can go on to train as guide dogs; also notes that the Parliament welcomes groups of puppy walkers and their pups into the building to enable further development of these socialising skills and so that the puppies can experience different environments, and hopes that other public buildings, institutions and businesses will also welcome guide dog puppies into their establishments for similar training exercises.

That the Parliament notes that the Scottish Government’s zero waste consultation closes on 13 November 2009; expresses disappointment that the plans are not yet consistent with a truly zero waste Scotland; welcomes the Friends of the Earth Scotland report, Wasting Away, which suggests that meeting the best European recycling rates could recover £47 million worth of paper, plastic, metals and other valuable materials every year; considers that recycling this waste would cut greenhouse gas emissions by over four million tonnes; further considers that not producing the waste at all could save almost eight million tonnes; hopes that the Scottish Government will take note of these financial and carbon savings; would welcome ministers reporting to the Parliament on their conclusions as soon as possible, and would also hope that local authorities such as Dumfries and Galloway Council and others across Scotland work towards improving rates of reuse and recycling of waste.

That the Parliament welcomes the work of members of the Association of Mutual Insurers in developing a UK-wide initiative entitled Fun to Save that encourages four to seven-year-old children to become more financially capable; celebrates the recent launch of the Fun to Save website: www.funtosave.org, which is the first UK-wide free resource designed to help children learn about the importance of savings and develop healthy attitudes towards money in everyday life; recognises that this is the only website that takes a holistic approach to savings by utilising learning games, by supporting activities for parents and by supporting lesson plans for teachers; notes the involvement of HM Treasury, the UK Government’s Department for Children, Families and Schools, the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Financial Education Group in the development of this initiative, and encourages parents and teachers to engage with the Fun to Save website, where learning about the core principles of money and the benefits of saving is both accessible and fun.

That the Parliament welcomes efforts by the Teampull na Trionaid Conservation Association to preserve Teampull na Trionaid at Carinish on North Uist; notes that this scheduled ancient monument, which is thought to date originally from 1203, is one of the Western Isles’ most iconic medieval churches and was a seminary and a centre of pilgrimage before falling into disuse by the 1600s; congratulates island residents on their determination to stop further deterioration of the building and to preserve as much as possible of this site, which is integral to island history, and wishes the islanders success in raising the necessary funds to enable rescue work on Teampull na Trionaid to start as soon as possible.

That the Parliament notes that 4 November 2009 is National Stress Awareness Day; considers stress to be a contributing factor to mental ill health among students in Scotland; considers that around 160,000 students in Scotland currently at college or university will experience mental ill health; believes that great effort should be taken to improve mental health among students in Scotland, and congratulates NUS Scotland’s Think Positive project for its work in raising awareness of student mental ill health among students, university and college staff and the general public.

That the Parliament congratulates the West Highland Free Press (WHFP) on becoming Britain's first employee-owned newspaper; applauds the founders of the WHFP in practising what they preach both in their radical stewardship of the paper for the last 37 years and in their present support for this new form of ownership for the paper; recognises the significance of the WHFP since 1972 in informing and shaping political, cultural, social and community debate on issues close to the hearts of the people of the Highlands and Islands and across Scotland and in sustaining its commitment to its motto, An Tir, An Canan, sna' Daoine - The Land, The Language, The People; wishes its new owners every success, and trusts that it will serve as an example to other businesses to develop employee ownership initiatives where possible.

Action for Children : That the Parliament welcomes Action for Children’s campaign to raise awareness about the significant impact of neglect in the lives of vulnerable and difficult-to-reach children across the United Kingdom; considers that neglect leaves children without basic needs, from love and support to food and clothing; notes that serious neglect kills children in the UK and that neglect can have long-term effects on the wellbeing of children and their families and on society as a whole; also notes the key findings of the recent joint Action for Children/New Economics Foundation report, Backing the Future, that governments across the UK could do more to invest efficiently in the future of society through children and families and to address preventable social problems such as the breakdown of family relationships, drug misuse and crime, which can all lead to neglect; recognises studies suggesting that up to 10% of all children in the UK could currently be suffering from neglect and supports more of the targeted interventions that are known to work to improve the lives of the most vulnerable and can help tackle the intergenerational cycle of disadvantage, and calls on governments across the UK to give greater priority to tackling neglect through early intervention and to target expenditure on public services that prevent neglect and give children every opportunity to realise their potential.

That the Parliament congratulates CHILDREN 1st on its 125th anniversary; notes that CHILDREN 1st is the working name of the Royal Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children, an organisation that works with children, young people and their families; applauds the organisation on its long contribution to the welfare of children in Scotland, and wishes retiring Chairperson Rev Bill Brown well after 39 years' involvement with the organisation.

That the Parliament welcomes World Porridge Day on 11 October 2009, which is the celebration of a traditional Scottish dish that has had a place in homes around Scotland for generations; notes that World Porridge Day was established by a partnership between Mary’s Meals and the World Porridge Making Championship, which takes place at Carrbridge; recognises that to many people porridge is a comfort food that warms up a wet or wintry day but to the 320,000 children in Malawi who receive Mary’s Meals, likuni phala, a maize-based porridge, provides the comfort of knowing that there will be a next meal; congratulates the highland charity, Scottish International Relief, based in Dalmally in Argyll, on the tireless and dedicated work that it carries out and particularly congratulates Mary’s Meals, which feeds over 375,000 children in 15 different countries; notes that events are planned across the world from Loch Awe to Chicago, and would welcome widespread participation by hosting a big porridge breakfast or other porridge-related activities to raise money and awareness about hunger.

That the Parliament recognises 5 to 11 October 2009 as Guide Dog Week across the country and commends the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs) for using the week to raise awareness of the benefits that guide dogs can have for people with visual impairments; notes that this year’s theme focuses on the 20,000 children and young people with visual impairments in the United Kingdom and aims to show how everyone can make a difference to young people with sight problems; further notes how Guide Dogs works to boost confidence in children and young people as well as adult users of the dogs by providing long-cane mobility training and also works to develop communication and daily living skills; further notes that Guide Dogs provides funds for medical research into the prevention and cure of diseases that affect people’s sight; wishes Guide Dogs well in raising awareness of issues surrounding blind and visually impaired people in this year’s Guide Dog Week, and further wishes it well in its drive to recruit more puppy walkers.

That the Parliament congratulates Reids of Caithness, in Thurso, for its win in the 2009 Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food; recognises the hard work and innovation that goes into devising products of a high enough standard to gain a gold star, such as Reids’ Groaties; further recognises the commitment of the Reid family to the baking industry in Caithness since the 1960s and wishes them every success with their business in the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the recent charity auction held by the Clydesdale Bank at its head office in Glasgow that raised a total of £112,830; notes that, as part of the auction, a single £1 note from 1836 raised £9,000, beating the previous record of £7,000 that was set in 2001; further notes that the auction, which included new World Heritage notes featuring famous Scots and the nation’s UNESCO sites and attracted bidders from around the world, will benefit over 70 charities, and wishes the second auction of historic banknotes, being held in London later this month for the charity Help the Hospices, every success.

Bill Spiers

That the Parliament notes with regret the sad death of Bill Speirs, former General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and one of the architects of devolution; celebrates his distinguished career throughout which Mr Speirs always put the interests of Scotland before narrow party or sectoral interests; acknowledges that his role in the campaign for a Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Constitutional Convention was invaluable; believes that he was a committed internationalist and a successful campaigner through connecting culture and politics; salutes his leadership and vision as an inspiration to a generation of Scots while he made a significant personal contribution to Scotland's national life, including representing trade union members in difficult years, and sends condolences to his family at this sad time.

Rok Apprenticeship Awards

That the Parliament notes the annual apprentice awards ceremony being held by Rok Group in Dunkeld on 21 September 2009; congratulates the 160 apprentices attending the ceremony who have completed their apprenticeships with the company; welcomes the commitment that has been shown to supporting and developing the apprentices to achieve their full potential and learn a diverse range of trades that are vital to the future of the building and maintenance sector in Scotland; is pleased that high profile companies such as Rok are recognising the importance of continuing to train apprentices and take on redundant apprentices to develop the skilled workforce of the future, and wishes all the successful apprentices well for their future careers.

Pilot of a National Emergency SMS Text Service

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a pilot of a UK-wide emergency SMS text service; further welcomes the work of the UK Government, telecommunications companies and RNID in developing this system, which will allow the 758,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing in Scotland to send an SMS text message to the emergency services from a mobile phone; considers that this development represents a milestone in the safety, care and protection of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and who find it difficult or are unable to use the 999 telephone service to call for help; believes that this new development will help save more lives, and, following the pilot, looks forward to a full service being rolled out in 2010.

Sea The Deal during Global Climate Week

That the Parliament welcomes the UN Global Campaign on Climate Change’s Seal the Deal campaign and Global Climate Week from 19 to 25 September 2009; notes that synchronised activities will take place in more than 100 cities across the world, including tree planting, a Green Day promoting action on climate change and a Go Carbon Neutral Day, and recognises the significance of concerted global action to promote the need for an effective global climate deal at Copenhagen in December.

UN condemns war crimes in Gaza

That the Parliament notes the findings of an official UN report that accuses Israel of deliberately using disproportionate force in the three-week operation in December 2008 and January 2009; further notes that the report, led by South African judge Richard Goldstone, found evidence "indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict"; notes the report’s finding that that there is evidence that both Israeli and Palestinian forces committed war crimes in the conflict and that it accuses Israel of imposing "a blockade which amounted to collective punishment" in the lead-up to the conflict; also notes Mr Goldstone’s recommendation that the UN Security Council seek reports within six months about its own investigations into the alleged crimes, including the potential involvement of the International Criminal Court if these reports are deemed unsatisfactory, and calls on the international community to respond to the call by President Obama earlier this year to urgently lift the siege in Gaza in tandem with a Middle East peace process.

That the Parliament congratulates and supports the 48 nations and 500 players who are seeking "fast goals, true grit and and glory" at the Arena Civica Sempione Park in Milan for the 7th Homeless World Cup; recognises that "everyone needs to wake up in the morning with a goal" and that the Homeless World Cup provides the opportunity for homeless people and volunteers to get involved and help achieve their personal goals; further recognises the power of football to unite, and wishes every participant the best of luck during the event.

That the Parliament notes with concern that Scotland’s communities are affected by suicides every day, with people of all ages, genders and cultures at risk; recognises that talking about suicide can save lives; supports Suicide Prevention Week, taking place from 7 to 13 September 2009, and World Suicide Prevention Day, held on 10 September 2009; endorses the efforts to remove stigma around suicide; commends the work of over 500 trainers who deliver suicide prevention training courses across Scotland; also commends local choose life suicide prevention coordinators and charities such as Samaritans, the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) and Breathing Space in their work to encourage people in Scotland to talk and listen, and encourages MSPs to play their part in promoting the Choose Life message, "Don’t hide it. Talk about it".

That the Parliament congratulates the salmon farming industry on its significant £500 million contribution to the economy in 2008, notably to the Highlands and Islands area, which continues to be the most significant beneficiary, netting some £290 million of economic benefits last year, with £143 million being spent on suppliers, services and wage payments, translating to an injection of £147 million, and capital investment of £81 million also being made during the last three years; welcomes the vital financial contributions to remote, rural economies, and wishes the farmers every success in the future as consumer demand for healthy and nutritious salmon products is constantly increasing.

Pulteneytown People’s Project

That the Parliament congratulates Pulteneytown People’s Project (PPP) in Wick on its £1 million Big Lottery Fund

award to build a community centre that will include an arts venue, café and crèche as well as space for local businesses; recognises the important work that the organisation does in the town and outlying areas and the difference that it has made to the lives of many people; congratulates the staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication, and wishes PPP every success with any further initiatives that it undertakes in the future.

That the Parliament notes the current landslip at the Rest and Be Thankful that has resulted in the closure of the A83; acknowledges that this is the second occasion in recent times that a similar problem has caused this road to be closed; further notes that a diversion of some 60 miles is in place for motorists; believes that the road closure will have a detrimental impact on those residents and businesses that rely on this route; recognises the vulnerability of trunk road links to the West Highlands, including the A82, and believes that the case for investment has been well made, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that the A83 is reopened quickly and that investment is provided without further delay to ensure that, where possible, there is no repetition of the problems on the A83 and that the A82 is upgraded.

That the Parliament notes the decision by Billy Stanger MBE to step down as bandmaster of the Salvation Army in Orkney after 35 years in the role; acknowledges the unstinting service that he has given to the Salvation Army since he joined as an 11-year-old boy in 1943; welcomes the fact that Mr Stanger has made clear his intention to carry on playing in the army band; looks forward to Mr Stanger's cornet playing inspiring crowds attending Armistice Day parades and other occasions for years to come, and expresses relief that the evening of music at the Salvation Army Hall in Kirkwall on Sunday 13 September 2009 far from represents the last post by Billy Stanger.

That the Parliament notes the launch of a new campaign by the Scottish SPCA to promote its animal welfare helpline number; further notes that the new helpline number has seen calls increase by 20% over the past year and believes that through greater awareness of this helpline more animals will be protected and saved from cruel or ill-treatment and animal welfare improved significantly across Scotland, and also notes that during Scottish Animal Week the Scottish SPCA will have a concerted drive to highlight the new helpline number, 03000 999 999.

That the Parliament congratulates Nevis Bakery, Fort William, on winning the prestigious three-star Gold Great Taste Award and the Scottish Speciality regional award for its Demerara shortbread, in addition to winning one gold star for its Highland oaties and its oatcakes; commends the hard work and dedication shown by Archie and Hazel Paterson and all their staff in producing such high-quality products; notes that Nevis Bakery is one of Highlands and Islands Enterprise’s (HIE) account-managed businesses and is currently working through a development plan with HIE to maximise its growth potential, and wishes Nevis Bakery every success for the future.

Uist Defence Jobs

That the Parliament welcomes the decision of Her Majesty’s Government not to proceed with proposals by QuinetiQ to run down the defence-testing establishment on Benbecula; congratulates the local taskforce led by Comraihle nan Eilean Siar and the local community in the Uists for the strong case and representations made to Her Majesty’s Government that helped secure this outcome; welcomes the visits made to the islands and to St Kilda by UK ministers in order to listen to local views during the consultation process and the vital role that the Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP played as Secretary of State for Scotland; congratulates UK ministers for the decision that they have taken, and recognises that this decision will help support the islands, retain jobs for its people, support the economy and maintain a strong defence capability for the nation and its allies.

Glasgow Gaelic School Funding

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement of funding for the Glasgow Gaelic School, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, which will help to further the progress that has been made in Gaelic-medium education in Glasgow; further congratulates the staff and parents for their dedication in bringing about that success, and also acknowledges the efforts of Glasgow City Council education department in helping to create the largest school in Scotland covering Gaelic nursery, primary and secondary teaching.

Welcome to Lothian Buses’ Pink Top

That the Parliament applauds the responsiveness of Lothian Buses to the needs of its passengers; notes that since 2000 the company has provided easy access buses culminating in an entire fleet of low-floor easy access vehicles, and welcomes the trialling of the pink top service 22, which provides a dedicated unfolded buggy space in addition to wheelchair space thus increasing the travel capacity for disabled passengers and those with young children and folded or unfolded buggies.

Waste Aware Scotland -wide

That the Parliament expresses concern at the reported £1 billion worth of food thrown away in Scotland each year, equating to an average of £550 per year thrown out by each household; notes that over two thirds of what is binned could have been used if it had been stored properly and if meals had been better planned; highlights the work of Golspie Recycling and Environmental Action Network, a community-based social enterprise recycling firm in Sutherland, and other good examples around Scotland that set a benchmark to promote positive community awareness on waste minimisation, and encourages Scottish families and households to be wiser with their waste, one of the many simple ways to reduce their carbon footprints and save money.

Eday Partnership Climate Change Fund Success

That the Parliament congratulates the Eday Partnership on its success in being awarded £46,851 from the Climate Change Fund to support the Eday Carbon Reduction Programme; notes that the funding will allow the partnership to appoint a full-time carbon reduction coordinator who will lead the work to increase the sustainability of the Eday community and to reduce the island’s annual carbon emissions by 34 tonnes by 2016; believes that this will build further on the excellent work of the partnership carried out over a number of years and covering a range of innovative projects, which, among other things, are helping to address the population decline, a problem affecting many of Scotland’s small islands, and wishes all those connected with the partnership every success for the future.

Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland

That the Parliament congratulates the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS) on recruiting its 100th member, Cancer Support Scotland (Tak Tent); considers that, with two million people already living with at least one long-term condition, this milestone highlights the need for Scotland to rise to the social and economic challenges that such conditions present; recognises that, alongside the NHS and social care services, the voluntary sector plays a vital role, with voluntary organisations providing high-quality services, peer support, advice and information; also considers that for many people this makes the difference between their opportunities being severely limited and being able to manage their conditions and enjoy a high-quality, productive life; recognises the invaluable role of LTCAS in providing a focal point for these organisations, and acknowledges LTCAS as a key strategic partner that brings the voice of people living with long-term conditions to the heart of policy making.

Mental Health Awareness Week

That the Parliament supports the objectives of Mental Health Awareness Week from 5 to 11 October 2009; recognises that mental health problems affect one in four people in Scotland and that 61% of people in Scotland know someone who has a mental health problem; further notes that people with mental health problems continue to face stigma and discrimination and experience a high rate of unemployment; supports the objectives of the forthcoming Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) forum to be held on 9 October 2009, which will gather together mental health service users from across Scotland to discuss mental health improvement and their concerns about services, and recommends that all MSPs use this week to campaign for improved mental health services across Scotland.

Deafblind Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the work of Deafblind Scotland, based in Lenzie, which seeks to enable Scots who are both deaf and blind to receive the support and recognition that they require to be equal citizens; notes with concern the difficulties faced by deafblind people in freely accessing public transport due to the varying restrictions placed by local authorities on concessionary travel for guide communicators who provide professional communication and guiding support, and believes that cooperation among all relevant bodies willensure that deafblind citizens can enjoy full access to public transport.

Senator Edward Kennedy 1932-2009

That the Parliament notes with sadness the passing of Senator Edward Kennedy, one of America’s most progressive legislators, and passes on its condolences to the Kennedy family at this sad time.

The Life of Ernest Levy

That the Parliament pays tribute to the life of Ernest Levy, holocaust survivor and inspiration to successive generations; admires the warmth and humanity that characterised Ernest’s teachings despite the brutalising experience and inhumanity that he suffered at the hands of the Nazis; feels privileged that, after leaving his native Hungary, Ernest chose to make Scotland his home; believes that his more than 40 years here has made our country a richer place; is grateful for the countless times that Ernest selflessly made himself available to talk to young and old about the horrors of the holocaust despite the toll recounting his years in Auschwitz-Birkenau and the other death camps took on him; recognises the contribution that Ernest made as cantor of the Giffnock and Newlands congregation, the love that he gave and received from his own family, the respect in which he was held in the wider community and the impact that he had on all who met him, and thanks Ernest for a life that could so easily have been cut short but instead has shone like the single light that gave him hope and inspiration at a time of hate and prejudice.

Glendale Life

That the Parliament congratulates the Glendale Trust for mounting a heritage exhibition, displayed in Borrodale school, on the life of Glendale people in the last 200 years; commends the content of the show donated by many whose families and work have enhanced the life of this corner of the Isle of Skye; recalls the important part played by Glendale folk in the crofters’ struggles of the 1880s and its unique place in the establishment of the people’s right to live on their own land, and welcomes the growing support to retain Borrodale school as a heritage centre for the area.

Arctic Convoys Memorial at Lyness

That the Parliament welcomes the planned unveiling, on the 22 August 2009, of the Arctic Convoys memorial at Lyness; further notes that this will provide long overdue recognition of the bravery and sacrifice of the many people who took part in the convoys which carried vital supplies to Russia and on which some 3,000 British and allied seamen lost their lives; believes that it is fitting that the memorial should be sited at the former naval base at Lyness on the shores of Scapa Flow, the base for the Home Fleet which provided the naval protection for the merchant ships in the convoys; applauds the international co-operation between Orkney and Russia which has resulted in the construction of the memorial, and notes that Orkney and Russia will be represented at the unveiling ceremony by the Convener of Orkney Islands Council, the Chairman of the Parliament of the Province of Ugra and the Consul General of the Russian Federation.

Congratulations to Annie Lennox

That the Parliament congratulates Annie Lennox on the success of her SING campaign and her commitment to campaigning to raise awareness of, and provide practical support to HIV/Aids in Sub-Saharan Africa; welcomes and thanks her for her offer to support the Scottish Parliament in its international development work as an ambassador; hopes that the Parliament, the cross-party groups on Malawi and International Development, and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association branch will respond positively to this offer, and further hopes that all Scots, including those in Motherwell and Wishaw, will hear the message conveyed by Annie Lennox that urgent world-wide action is required to stop the HIV/Aids pandemic.

Piping Live 2009

That the Parliament recognises the achievement of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association and Glasgow City Council in organising a successful 63rd World Pipe Band Championships event at Glasgow Green on 15 August 2009; notes that competitors and spectators came to Scotland from around the world with 15 countries being represented at the event; believes that the bagpipes are synonymous with Scotland’s culture, making this a particularly important event in this year of the homecoming; congratulates all the participants but in particular the grade 1 winners, Simon Fraser University, Canada, and further congratulates North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band, which practices in Coatbridge High School and its Pipe Major Ross Cowan for its excellent result in coming a close second to George Watson’s College in the Novice Juvenile grade.

Recognition of Andy Murray’s Achievements

That the Parliament congratulates Andy Murray for achieving the highest place ever for any Scot in world tennis and wishes him well for the future; recognises his dedication along with the hard training necessary to play tennis at the highest level, and encourages him to continue to inspire young Scots to make a mark on the world.

Hon. George Fowlds, from Fenwick to the New Zealand

That the Parliament notes that 17 August 2009 is the 75th anniversary of the death of the Hon. George Fowlds, a member of the New Zealand Parliament from 1899 to 1911, serving as Minister of Education and Public Health from 1906 to 1911; further notes that Mr Fowlds emigrated from Fenwick, Ayrshire in 1882 and that his father, the weaver, Matthew Fowlds, lived on in Fenwick and reached his centenary year in 1906; records that Mr Fowlds returned for the centenary celebration, accompanied by Sir Joseph Ward, then serving as Prime Minister of New Zealand; notes also that a commemorative service will be held in Fenwick on the anniversary, organised by the modern day Fenwick Weavers' Society, for which messages of appreciation have been received from the Prime Minister of New Zealand, the Hon. John Key, and the Mayor of Auckland City, the Hon. John Banks QSO.

That the Parliament acknowledges the benefits that insulin pumps have for people with type 1 diabetes in assisting with the condition; notes that between 4% and 14% of people with type 1 diabetes meet the criteria for eligibility for insulin pump therapy under current clinical guidance; notes the variation in financial provision across NHS boards for insulin pump therapy, whereby in Fife funding has been allocated for 10 pumps per year, whereas in Highland there is no separate budget despite all NHS boards having received funding for access to insulin pumps; further notes the differences in waiting times for eligible patients whereby in Lothian the average waiting time including waiting for training and education is estimated to be around 12 months and in Grampian and Orkney the current waiting time is six months; notes with concern the low level of insulin pump usage in Highland, which, at 0.9%, is the second lowest in Scotland, after Ayrshire and Arran; believes that further steps are required to monitor NHS boards to avoid a postcode lottery for patients with insulin-dependent diabetes, and looks forward to renewed commitment to action on diabetes in Scotland in 2010 and beyond.

That the Parliament notes the second bi-monthly Health Protection Scotland Compliance with Hand Hygiene - Audit Report; recognises the 93% compliance rate across the NHS in Scotland; congratulates NHS staff for their consistently high performance in this area; however notes with concern the performance of doctors who, at 86% compliance, are significantly below other staff groups, and believes that the Scottish Government should consider further targeted measures to ensure that medics improve their performance in this area.

That the Parliament congratulates the community of the island of Eigg on being named North Regional Winner in the Scottish Calor Village of the Year 2009; welcomes the award of £2,000 for community investment; further notes the comments of Stephen Rennie, Managing Director of Calor Gas, which recognised that the islanders had demonstrated a unique ability to sustain an almost completely self-sufficient island lifestyle with outstanding community spirit, providing everything from electricity to employment, and wishes the people of Eigg well in the next round of the competition.

That the Parliament supports the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association (Guide Dogs), Inclusion Scotland, RNIB, RNID, Capability Scotland, Scottish Accessible Transport Alliance and Scottish Disability Equality Forum in calling for a moratorium on new shared surface schemes in towns and cities until the results of the research currently being carried out by the UK Government’s Department for Transport are published; recognises that in these schemes it is not possible for certain groups of vulnerable road users to use such areas independently because they cannot tell where the pavement ends and the road begins; welcomes the research that Guide Dogs has already carried out to highlight the issue and to try to find an effective solution for all disabled people, and also recognises that the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland, in responding to the consultation, Designing Streets, requested that no new shared surface areas should be agreed by planners until the research commissioned by the Department for Transport is completed, analysed and commented on.

As an amendment to motion S3M-4433 in the name of Alasdair Allan (Uist Defence Jobs Cuts), leave out from first "expresses" to end and insert "notes with grave concern the impact of the proposals to scale down the missile test range in South Uist and the potential effect on jobs and the economy of the islands; notes the additional potential impact on St Kilda; believes that the strategic defence case for change of the current facilities has not been made and requires to be set out and scrutinised; notes the United Kingdom’s continuing membership of NATO and the importance of that membership in retaining a strategic defence capacity from which the Uists will still benefit; supports Comraihle nan Eilean Siar in the efforts that it is making to coordinate and advance the case for the retention of the defence facilities in South Uist, and urges the Scottish Government to reverse urgently the huge reduction that it has made in the budget of Highlands and Islands Enterprise that is limiting the economic development prospects of areas such as South Uist."

2009 National Samaritan Walk

That the Parliament congratulates the 116 walkers from across the United Kingdom and Ireland who took part in the 2009 National Samaritan Walk in Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, on Saturday 13 June 2009 and walked between 16 and 29 miles to raise funds for their local Samaritans branches; notes that approximately £5,000 was raised for the Inverness branch, which also organised the event; further notes the donations from local businesses, including those from the North British Trust Hotels, Highland Hotel and Inchbae Lodge, which provided free accommodation for the walkers, and commends the work of the Samaritans who provide confidential non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day, for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those experiencing suicidal feelings.

That the Parliament congratulates Scotland Sevens on its outstanding performance during the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens Festival held at Murrayfield on 30 and 31 May 2009; further congratulates Fiji for winning the Edinburgh Sevens Festival and South Africa for winning the overall IRB Sevens World Series; praises the IRB sevens as a fantastic end to a sensational month of rugby at Murrayfield hosted by Scottish Rugby; welcomes the significant economic benefit generated by the events across Edinburgh and Scotland; recognises that such events enhance Edinburgh’s reputation as a world-class destination for events, and looks forward to the forthcoming 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games in which rugby sevens will be one of the showpiece events.

That the Parliament offers congratulations to the Scotland netball team, which recently won two international games against Singapore at the Bellahouston Leisure Centre in Glasgow; commends the tremendous support given to the team by Culture and Sport Glasgow and Glasgow City Council in providing civic hospitality, which helped the team to move one place up the world league to 13th place in the International Federation of Netball Association’s world rankings, and wishes the team luck in its forthcoming matches in Barbados.

That the Parliament celebrates the life and work of Fife-born Lawrence Daly who passed away aged 84 years on 23 May 2009; pays tribute to the former general secretary of the National Union of Mineworkers in which role he led the union during some of its most turbulent years, seeing it through the dramatic strikes of 1972 and 1974 and fighting against the then Conservative government to stop pit closures and improve pay and conditions; sends its condolences to his wife, Renee, and his five children, and recognises the significance of the work undertaken by Mr Daly who fought passionately and tirelessly for social justice for all.

That the Parliament notes that 8 June 2009 has been designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day to encourage international appreciation and celebration of the world’s oceans and seas; further notes that this year’s theme is one ocean, one climate, one future; expresses grave concern about the effect of human behaviour on the health and biodiversity of the oceans, and encourages members to "wear blue and talk to two" to raise public awareness of the need to restore the health of the marine environment.

That the Parliament recognises Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi’s role as an important symbol of hope for democracy in Burma; takes the opportunity of her 64th birthday on 19 June 2009 to commend her for her longstanding bravery and inspirational defence of human rights and democratic freedoms against the country’s repressive military regime, and supports the initiative, involving human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, calling on people to write 64-word messages of support for Aung San Suu Kyi to mark her 64th birthday.

That the Parliament welcomes the Bra Nicht Moonlight Walk, which is taking place in Inverness on Saturday 6 June 2009 to raise awareness of and money for breast cancer in the Highlands; notes that the inaugural walk last year raised £14,000, of which £7,000 was donated to the Highland Breast Care Association for the benefit of people with breast cancer and £7,000 to Macmillan Cancer Support, which, along with Citizens Advice, provides support to people with cancer who are experiencing financial difficulties as a result of their illness, and congratulates everyone participating in the moonlight walk to help raise awareness of and money for tackling breast cancer.

Motion proposed by Rhoda Grant

That the Parliament notes with concern the decline in the number of blood donors in Scotland, a number that has decreased by 30,000 in the last decade; further notes that in the Highlands alone, the service requires 23,000 donors to give blood in 2009; supports the appeal by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service for donors to give blood at least once in 2009 to reverse the decline in the donor base; believes that there would be benefit in employers giving their staff paid time off to donate blood, and hopes that Scots who have not already done so will register to give blood and give the gift of life.

That the Parliament deplores and deeply regrets the short-sighted decision of the management of Hewlett-Packard to dismiss 843 employees at their Erskine site in order to outsource their jobs to plants in the Czech Republic; is well aware of the company’s profits of £5.2 billion in 2008 and of the substantial public funds given to the company based on assurances offered by company representatives in the past; views with scepticism the claim made by management that the remaining jobs at the Renfrewshire plant are comparatively safe; believes that the interests of shareholders will always swamp the needs and expectations of loyal and hard-working employees, and hopes that the dreadful consequences of this decision can be avoided.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, Remember, I’m Still Me, by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland and the Care Commission; notes that the report draws on investigations into 30 care homes across Scotland that have residents with dementia; acknowledges that the report has found a number of areas where care homes are failing people with dementia, including more than half of residents not having the opportunity to leave the care home premises; further notes that, out of a total of 182 personal plans, fewer than a quarter had adequate details and a further third contained no life history at all; is concerned by the findings of the report, which suggest the misuse of medication, with a number of residents on more than one antipsychotic medication; believes that it is vital for care homes to have as much information as possible recorded in order that they can provide a high standard of care for residents with dementia; agrees that immediate action should be taken in those cases where bad practice continues to have a detrimental effect on residents; considers that the report is further evidence of the failings in the Scottish care system, and therefore believes that a culture change in Scottish care homes is essential and that the charter of rights currently being developed by the Cross-party Group on Alzheimer’s is one important strand towards improving the quality of care and treatment for people with dementia.

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) for organising Wildlife Week, 6 to 14 June 2009; notes that there are over 230 events and activities taking place throughout Scotland, including the celebration of peatlands, woodlands and marine environments in Dumfries and Galloway, and appreciates the efforts by SWT, its sister charities and non-governmental organisations in Scotland in raising public awareness of the richness of Scotland’s natural environment and the need to preserve and enhance habitats to conserve Scotland’s wildlife and ensure that future generations can also enjoy its diversity.

That the Parliament congratulates bioscience company PWB Health on winning a gold award at the 22nd annual Excellence in Design competition in the medical/test equipment category; notes that its product, Breastlight, is a revolutionary hand-held device that uses pioneering technology to help identify early signs of breast cancer; understands that this potentially life-saving device is being trialled in multiple pharmacies in England and will soon be rolled out across the rest of the United Kingdom, and further congratulates this local independent Alexandria company on its fifth consecutive year of growth, a fantastic achievement for a small business in the current economic climate.

That the Parliament is aware of the infamous activity of loan sharks in today’s difficult economic circumstances; deplores their squalid and parasitical focusing on those without work and other citizens on low incomes; believes that measures must be taken to defeat these parasites; is convinced that an expanding credit-union movement, with the appropriate local and national support, is the most effective antidote to this obnoxious practice, especially in communities characterised by deprivation and disadvantage; praises the fine work performed in such areas by Port Glasgow Credit Union and Renfrewshire Credit Union, and believes that all of those organisations and agencies that have the wherewithal could constructively support our credit unions.

That the Parliament commends the four Glasgow-based students who set off on their incredible 4,000 mile journey from Glasgow’s George Square to Gaza on 27 May 2009 in order to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP); notes that the journey will take 40 days, passing through at least 14 countries; further notes that the cyclists’ Pathways to Palestine (P2P) idea stemmed from the continuing blockade of Gaza; congratulates the P2P team members on their innovative use of phlogging, which will allow their sponsors and supporters to follow their progress via their website and by email, and commends MAP’s continued work, which, following the recent conflict, is concentrated on providing support to young mothers and victims with burn injuries.

That the Parliament notes that the first World MS Day, established by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation and its member MS societies, will be held on Wednesday 27 May 2009; welcomes the contribution that the day can make to raising awareness of MS, national MS societies and the global MS movement; commends the MS Society Scotland for the work that it does to raise awareness and provide support for people affected by the condition, and looks forward to welcoming Ryan McLaughlin, a 14-year-old young man from Glasgow, on 16 June 2009 when he will present a petition calling for increased public awareness of the benefits of vitamin D in relation to MS, with particular regard to young children and pregnant women, as part of his Shine on Scotland campaign.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scrabster-based Captain’s Galley restaurant, its owners, Jim and Mary Cowie, and its staff for earning the crown of UK’s Best Seafood Restaurant of the Year Award at the 2009 Seafood Awards in London; hails the Cowies for their commitment to local produce, with all of the seafood on their menu coming from sustainable sources within a 50-mile radius of the restaurant; notes that the restaurant already holds a Press and Journal Highland restaurant of the year title, won a top prize in the Taste of Scotland category at the Scottish Thistle Awards and that in 2007 Mr Cowie was named UK Seafood Chef of the Year; applauds the aims of the Seafood Awards, organised by Seafish, which are designed to encourage enterprise, innovation and best practice across all areas of the seafood industry, and finally wishes the Captain’s Galley and all other entrants good luck in the upcoming 2009 Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards.

That the Parliament congratulations Professor Donald Meek of Falkirk, originally from Tiree, on becoming the first recipient of Bòrd na Gàidhlig’s Sàr Ghàidheal award for outstanding contributions to the Gaelic language; also notes that the bòrd, in conjunction with the Scottish Arts Council, has instituted the Duais Dhòmhnaill Meek (the Donald Meek Literary Award) aimed at young Gaelic writers and scholars; believes that these are appropriate recognitions of Professor Meek’s contributions to Gaelic culture over the years, and hopes that future generations will be encouraged and inspired to develop their skills in the language as a result.

That the Parliament congratulates His Excellency President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and Hon Joyce Banda on their inauguration as President and Vice President of the Republic of Malawi following the general election held on 19 May 2009; notes that the interim report by the Commonwealth Observer group that the elections, only the fourth multi-party elections in Malawi’s history, were peaceful and well-managed; wishes all new and returning members of parliament every success for the next parliamentary term, and looks forward to Scotland and Malawi continuing to work together to support Malawi’s development.

That the Parliament congratulates the Multiple Sclerosis Therapy Centre, Mid Argyll (MS Argyll), based in Lochgilphead, on winning a prestigious 2009 GlaxoSmithKline IMPACT award; notes that these IMPACT awards, which are organised by GlaxoSmithKline in partnership with the King's Fund, recognise the work of voluntary organisations working in community health; further notes that MS Argyll, as one of three Scottish winners, did exceptionally well to beat hundreds of other applications from across the United Kingdom to win an award of £25,000; commends the valuable work of all those involved with MS Argyll, which was set up to provide help, support and advice for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families and carers; notes that the centre helps to improve the quality of life of many MS sufferers, their families and carers in a cheerful and informative environment, and wishes MS Argyll every success in the future as it continues to provide such a valuable and positive support service to local people in Argyll and Bute.

That the Parliament congratulates Inverness City Football Club on winning the Scotscoup North Division Two junior league in the club’s inaugural season in that league; notes that Inverness City FC is the first amateur club in decades from the Highland capital to be part of the Scottish Junior Football Association, and wishes the club well in finding a suitable ground for next season so that they can build on this success.

That the Parliament congratulates the midwifery team at the Vale of Leven Hospital on the recent recognition of its gold standard service for all its mums and babies; notes that the specialised team at the Community Maternity Unit scored almost 100% in every category of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative; further notes that this award, which will be delivered later this year, recognises top level care provided to pregnant women and new mums, and applauds all the continued hard work and high standards of everyone involved with the midwifery team at the hospital.

That the Parliament congratulates Co-operative Development Scotland on raising awareness of the practice of social accounting following a flagship pilot project with the Social Audit Network to introduce social accounting to six co-operative and social enterprises in Scotland; commends the contribution to the project played by Highland Home Carers, Highland Wholefoods, Loch Fyne Oysters, Scotwest Credit Union, West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative and the Wise Group, and believes that organisations that can demonstrate their wider social impact beyond financial performance will gain a competitive edge and ensure that co-operatives, social enterprises and voluntary organisations thriving in Scotland contribute to economic growth.

That the Parliament notes that 2009 is the 75th anniversary of the British Council; recognises the impact that it has had in Scotland, including supporting over 1,000 international activities in schools, managing global study and work opportunities for around 900 home and international students each year, showcasing Scottish culture to 300,000 Indian visitors at this year’s Scottish Pavilion of the Kolkata Book Fair and hosting the biennial Performing Arts Showcase at the Edinburgh Fringe, which wins the United Kingdom in excess of £1 million of bookings and has made it possible for Scottish productions to tour the globe, and wishes the British Council well for its 75th celebration reception in the Parliament’s Garden Lobby on the evening of Wednesday 20 May 2009 and for the years to come.

That the Parliament notes with concern that the EU Council of Ministers has voted to press ahead with the introduction of compulsory electronic identification (EID) of sheep across the European Union; recognises that this decision was taken despite outright opposition from some member states and growing unease among others about the cost and practicalities of such a scheme; doubts that a system of EID can be found that is workable on most of Scotland’s sheep farms, particularly those in the Highlands and Islands; further notes that £3 million has been committed to a large-scale pilot to try to find a workable and cost-effective solution, and believes that the European Commission has much to learn from observing the pilot and, should a solution not be identified, that a derogation from a compulsory EID scheme would be in the best interests of Scotland’s sheep farmers.

That the Parliament notes that the Royal Gibraltar Regiment will fire the guns at Edinburgh Castle on Tuesday 2 June 2009 to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the regiment; further notes that this celebration pays tribute to the association that Gibraltar has enjoyed with many Scottish regiments; congratulates the Royal Gibraltar Regiment on its 70th anniversary, and wishes the regiment every success for the next 70 years.

That the Parliament congratulates the Dementia Services Development Centre in Stirling together with Alzheimer Scotland and the Care Commission for winning the award from the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland in the carer involvement and support category for the Beyond Barriers project, which aimed to improve quality of life for carers and family of dementia sufferers.

That the Parliament congratulates Deaf Connections, which received £16,850 from the Climate Challenge Fund for its project, DEAFinately Greener; endorses plans to ensure that all deaf people across Scotland have equal access to information and advice about climate change in British Sign Language (BSL); highlights the opportunity to overcome communication barriers and empower deaf people to reduce their carbon footprints, and welcomes the continued efforts of the Climate Challenge Fund in encouraging people and communities to take steps to reduce carbon emissions.

That the Parliament supports National Thrombosis Week, from 11 to 15 May 2009; praises campaigners Jane and Gordon McPherson of Langbank and Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity for their continued and strenuous efforts to raise awareness in this area; notes that thrombosis has been and remains a major cause of death in Scotland; regrets that this fact is not widely known; further notes that members of the public and even many medical professionals have little or no understanding anent the causes and effects of thrombosis, particularly the dangers of hospital-acquired thrombosis, which kills in excess of 3,000 patients in Scotland every year, more than hospital-acquired infections, even though the majority of these deaths could easily be prevented with a simple mandatory risk assessment, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government, NHS boards and all other interested parties to implement mandatory risk assessments in the near future.

That the Parliament acknowledges the vital importance of Scotch whisky to the Scottish and wider UK economies; notes that Scotch whisky exports earned £97 per second for the United Kingdom last year; further notes that in 2008 the value of shipments increased by 8% to over £3 billion according to the Scotch Whisky Association and that, for the fourth consecutive year, bottled malt and Scotch whisky exports increased in value by £497 million and £2.43 billion respectively; therefore believes that Scotch whisky is proving to be recession resilient in the current volatile global market; appreciates that the major investment made by distillers will stand the industry in good stead during the economic downturn, and raises a dram in support of the Scotch whisky industry at home and abroad.

That the Parliament is proud to mark Europe Day on 9 May 2009, the celebration of the founding of the European Community; observes that on 9 May 1950 Robert Schuman presented his proposal on the creation of an organised Europe, indispensable to the maintenance of peaceful relations, and that this proposal, known as the Schuman Declaration, is considered to be the beginning of the creation of what is now the European Union; welcomes the EU’s success in achieving and maintaining peace in the European continent as well as becoming a promoter of peace in the world; considers that Scotland has benefited greatly from EU membership on economic, social and cultural grounds; believes that Scotland’s place is at the heart of Europe; encourages the people of Scotland to join the other peoples of Europe in celebrating our common future and common values and to engage in the European democratic process by using their votes in the European Parliament elections on 4 June 2009, and calls on public institutions across Scotland to fly the flag of the European Union to mark this day.

That the Parliament notes with concern the Scottish Government’s intention to put an end to advertising public notices in newspapers; believes that this will adversely affect many local newspapers as it will amount to a loss of approximately £10 million in advertising revenue at a time when the industry is at its most vulnerable and crucially that this will mean that public notices are less accessible to the general public; also notes that not everyone has access to the internet, with only 44% of people in Glasgow having access to the internet compared with the national Scottish average of 64%, that this proposed change will reduce the access that people have to key announcements that affect their community and that it is therefore a backward step for the democratic process, and calls on the Scottish Government to review this decision and ensure that there is no diminution in the accessibility of public notices.

That the Parliament notes with disappointment the refusal of VisitScotland to promote the country’s new chef of the year, Charles Lockley, on its website and in its brochures; congratulates Mr Lockley, a Michelin-star chef, who was awarded the Scottish Chef of the Year Award on 10 May 2009 and who also has four AA rosettes awarded to his restaurant at the Boath House Hotel in Auldearn; considers that as a public agency VisitScotland should use its public funding to promote properly the Highlands and Scotland, including Mr Lockley and his award-winning organisation, and urges the Scottish Government during this Year of Homecoming to ensure that VisitScotland does all that it can to promote award-winning establishments, such as the Boath House Hotel in Auldearn.

That the Parliament notes with concern reports of the continuing decline in bee numbers and in the number of other key pollinators; notes the importance of bees for the production of honey and, along with other species, their vital importance in food production and in support of biodiversity; supports measures to research and understand better what may be causing the reported declines as a basis for appropriate further actions; further notes that in some areas, such as Colonsay, the varroa mite, which is known to be responsible for some of the decline in bee numbers, is not present, and considers that the Scottish Government should make every effort to maintain that position and sustain bee and other key pollination numbers.

That the Parliament notes that 11 to 17 May 2009 is Local Newspaper Week, which has the theme of building stronger communities, highlighting the important roles played by the 120-plus weekly, bi-weekly, paid-for and free newspapers that serve local people and businesses throughout Scotland's cities, towns and villages; acknowledges the local press as Scotland's most socially inclusive local mass communication medium; applauds the significant investment made by publishers to deliver to an increasingly digital agenda and increase their digital audience; notes that members of the Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association are facing the most severe crisis in revenue generation and profitability in living memory, attributable to the long-term decline in paid-for newspaper circulations, the emergence of advertising-dependent internet services and the loss of recruitment advertising and licensing revenue to initiatives such as myjobscotland, developed under the auspices of the Scottish Government's Local Government National Shared Services Board and led by COSLA, and is extremely concerned about the collateral damage to the democratic process and to the local newspaper industry that would result from the proposed introduction of a publicly funded web portal for the publication of public information notices.

That the Parliament acknowledges that Dementia Awareness Week 2009 takes place from 31 May to 7 June; is aware that Alzheimer Scotland estimates that in 2009 there are 67,000 people with dementia in Scotland, including 1,640 people under the age of 65; notes that this number is expected to rise to 114,000 by 2031; acknowledges that it is disappointing to note that Dementia Awareness Week follows a year in which a number of highly critical reports have highlighted the inefficiencies and failures in the quality of care of people with dementia in the community, in care homes and in long-term hospital care; notes the recent Care Commission report, Better care, every step of the way, which reflects the findings of 1,036 inspections and three investigations that found that 43% of homes did not realise that they were to deliver palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses such as dementia; further notes the recent Care Commission report, Gradings So Far, which has shown significant variations in the quality of care received by elderly people in care homes when compared to other groups; considers that the poor quality of care at home services revealed in a recent Panorama investigation is simply unacceptable and particularly harmful to those people with dementia who may not be able to speak out for themselves; therefore supports the work of the Cross Party Group on Alzheimer’s, which calls for a Charter of Rights for people with dementia; further welcomes the decision by Alzheimer Scotland, in supporting this initiative, to host a series of roadshows across Scotland in June 2009, starting in Irvine on Friday 5 June, to consult people with dementia, their carers and other stakeholders on the content of a Charter of Rights; notes that the Charter of Rights seeks to ensure that individuals and their families have a clear set of rights from diagnosis through to end of life, and therefore considers that a fundamental culture change in care services would help ensure the highest quality of service provision to people with dementia.

That the Parliament welcomes the merger of Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged in Scotland; congratulates both organisations on joining forces to support older people by providing services and campaigning on the issues that impact on the lives of older people, and recognises the contribution that the merged organisation will make in supporting older people to meet the challenges of combating fuel poverty and securing high quality services, including appropriate personal care, transport and housing.

That the Parliament congratulates the staff and management of Yeadon’s of Elgin bookshop on its being named the Scottish Independent Bookshop of the Year 2009; further congratulates all involved for its earning a place in the final shortlist of five for this year’s British Book Industry Independent Bookshop of the Year award; notes that Yeadon’s of Elgin is one of Scotland’s oldest continuously trading bookshops and that it will begin publishing its own titles again this year, reviving a tradition that ran between the 1880s and 1940s, and finally wishes Yeadon’s of Elgin the best of luck in securing its place as Britain's best independent bookshop at The Nibbies in Cambridge on 1 June.

That the Parliament supports International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2009, which has the theme, good occupational health for all workers; notes that International Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates the two million workers who die from accidents and diseases at work, the 1.2 million who are injured and the 160 million who fall ill each year due to unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces; notes that such deaths greatly exceed the number of deaths caused by war and that many such deaths are preventable by improved health and safety; calls for this day to be widely observed in Scotland through action to improve safety and provide a healthier working environment, and believes that the Scottish Government and others should formally recognise International Workers’ Memorial Day as an annual event when they take stock and advance plans for health and safety improvements and seek to provide a healthier working environment in the year to come.

That the Parliament congratulates the New Europe Film Festival, at the Edinburgh Filmhouse between 16 and 27 April 2009, for bringing films from the 12 new Member States of the European Union to Scotland with a view to increasing intercultural dialogue between Scottish citizens and the thousands of eastern Europeans who have immigrated to Scotland since the 2004 EU enlargement and to increase awareness, knowledge and understanding about the culture and way of life of the eastern European nations and peoples featured in the festival.

That the Parliament notes plans to examine the feasibility of a new St Kilda visitor centre by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar; recognises the social and cultural significance of the United Kingdom’s only dual UNESCO world heritage site, which was permanently evacuated in August 1930, for future generations; further recognises that this comes following the inspiration of St Kilda – A European Opera, which was performed in 2007 simultaneously in the Western Isles, France, Belgium, Germany and Austria and which celebrated the history of the island and the hardship faced by the community; also notes moves to include St Kilda in the proposed Harris National Park due to the shared history of the people of St Kilda and Harris, and believes that St Kilda has a large part to play in the future economic wellbeing of the Western Isles.

As an amendment to motion S3M-3958 in the name of Linda Fabiani (Scottish Government and STUC), leave out from "the support" to end and insert "that the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) has been calling on the Scottish Government to establish a Scottish Investment Bank for some time; considers that the Scottish Government’s proposed Scottish Investment Bank comprises the rebranding of three existing funds that will continue to operate in their own right; urges the Scottish Government to explain how the proposed bank will raise funds and create jobs, and welcomes the STUC’s enthusiastic welcome of the substantial measures in the UK Budget aimed at rebalancing the UK taxation framework and the assistance aimed at boosting growth in offshore wind farms and carbon capture and storage."

That the Parliament notes the success of Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s Teaching Awards, which recognise the outstanding contribution of staff at the university; highlights that over 2,700 students nominated staff for being exceptional teachers and that over 620 staff were nominated; believes that the scheme is a positive way for students to push for high standards of teaching, especially in research-intensive institutions; congratulates other schemes being run at universities across Scotland, and further highlights the teaching awards as best practice in recognising the hard work of staff at the University of Edinburgh and encouraging excellence in teaching, as well as in research.

That the Parliament mourns the passing of Jack Jones, former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, International Brigader, Liverpool city councillor and president of the National Pensioners’ Convention; applauds his lifetime commitment to improving the lives of working people; recognises that he fought fascism, poverty and inequality with his heart and soul, and extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends and many comrades around the world.

That the Parliament condemns the high APR of 399.7% offered on personal loans by Greenwood Personal Credit and the 189.2% APR attached to the new Provident Personal Credit pre-paid debit card; considers that, during this time of economic turbulence, financial services companies should refrain from charging excessive interest rates while the Bank of England interest rates remain at 0.5%, and is concerned that these rates are targeted at those people currently suffering the most financial hardship and serve only to increase poverty levels and reinforce poverty among people already struggling to make ends meet.

That the Parliament notes that thousands of miners suffer from a form of osteoarthritis of the knee, also known as miners’ knee; further notes the recommendation of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council that coal miners with the condition who have worked underground for 10 years or more should be able to claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; welcomes the recent announcement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that miners’ knee will now be added to the list of prescribed diseases, ensuring that former miners will now be able to apply for state compensation through Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit; believes that this is a fitting announcement in the 25th anniversary year of the miners’ strike; recognises the work that has been carried out over the years by the National Union of Mineworkers to improve the rights and welfare of miners and former miners, and hopes that members of the Scottish Parliament will work with the National Union of Mineworkers in Scotland for the benefit of all miners, former miners, mining families and mining communities across Scotland.

That the Parliament notes that 2009 is the 40th anniversary of the founding of Scottish Ballet by Peter Darrell; recognises that the company has begun its anniversary year in typically innovative style by commissioning the new ballet, Carmen, from choreographer Richard Alston, cementing a new partnership with the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and increasing its outreach and education programme; wishes the company every success in its anniversary year, and hopes that its new home, the Tramway, will allow it to build on its many achievements.

That the Parliament notes the announcement by Secretary of State for International Development Douglas Alexander MP of a £9 million increase in the Department for International Development’s health programme in Malawi; welcomes the fact that this money will be used to tackle problems suffered by women after complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and expresses the hope that maternal mortality rates in Malawi will decrease as a result of this investment.

Congratulations to Gordon and MacPhail

That the Parliament congratulates the Elgin-based and family-owned firm, Gordon and MacPhail, on winning a prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade 2009 following a 94% increase in the value of its total exports over the last five years; notes that this local company, which began in 1895, employs 130 people in Elgin and Forres, stocks around 300 different whisky brands and currently exports around 60% of all its bottled products; further notes that the company has recently expanded its export department and plans to boost international sales, which last year amounted to around £3.6 million across 50 different markets; recognises the dedication and hard work of all the staff who have worked to make the company one of Scotland’s leading independent whisky specialists, and wishes Gordon and MacPhail every success for the future.

Meat Inspection at Abattoirs

That the Parliament deplores the proposed 9% increase in meat inspection charges at abattoirs; calls on the Scottish Government to instruct the Food Standards Agency to drop this proposal; recognises that any increase will have a detrimental effect on the farming industry in the present economic climate; further recognises the work of meat hygiene inspectors and fears that this increase will make it more difficult for them to carry out their work, and urges the Scottish Government to look at ways to develop small local abattoirs in order to promote local food production.

Motion proposed by Rhoda Grant

Sheep Electronic Identification

That the Parliament notes the outcome of the Council of Ministers’ negotiations on sheep electronic identification; acknowledges that HM Government and the Scottish Government worked hard to find an alternative; further acknowledges the work undertaken at European level by National Farmers Union Scotland; is disappointed that this alternative was not achieved, while recognising that the EU Commissioner for Health has offered a degree of flexibility regarding the implementation; notes that the United Kingdom has launched a consultation on the implementation, and urges the Scottish Government to consult farmers and crofters in Scotland in order to find ways to implement the legislation that causes the least harm to the industry.

That the Parliament notes that 29 March 2009 marks the 10th anniversary of the election broadcast in which Alex Salmond condemned NATO’s air strikes against Yugoslavia as an unpardonable folly; considers that Alex Salmond's remarks followed a decade of wars provoked by Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic; recognises that NATO, in its first military action since being created in 1949, was attempting to compel Slobodan Milosevic to end his oppression of the Kosovar Albanians and to agree to a solution that would restore their autonomy and work towards full independence; also notes that Alex Salmond compared the NATO raids on Yugoslav military targets with those of the Luftwaffe's wartime London blitz and the bombings of Clydebank; believes that Slobodan Milosevic was relying on voices like Alex Salmond’s to undermine international political unity opposed to the genocide in Kosovo, and further considers that the SNP continues to ignore Kosovo when it is looking for independence movements to compare itself to and that this shows that the SNP is never genuinely interested in the rights and wrongs of a foreign conflict but in its own narrow nationalist electoral agenda.

That the Parliament notes the 90th anniversary of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund (RAFBF) on 31 March 2009, marked by the celebratory event in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle; further notes the significant contribution that the RAFBF has made to existing and ex-service personnel and their families across Scotland; in particular, praises the RAFBF on its recent announcement of a £750,000 contribution to Erskine Hospital Ltd to build housing for ex-service personnel and their families; welcomes the RAFBF’s support to promote concessionary rates for a number of council services for all veterans across Scotland as a mark of respect to those who have served their country; looks forward in anticipation to the celebrations, and wishes the RAFBF every success in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates the Open University on its 40th anniversary; notes that the university is the only one in the United Kingdom dedicated to distance learning and that the university currently has around 150,000 undergraduate students and 30,000 postgraduate students; further notes that 70% of undergraduates are in full-time employment while studying; recognises that the university seeks to ensure that everyone who has a desire to learn should have the chance, regardless of background and circumstance, so that people can gain new qualifications, find a better job, broaden their horizons and fulfil their potential, and thanks supporters, colleagues and friends across the education and skills sector in Scotland for the many achievements of the Open University over the last 40 years.

That the Parliament recognises that people with coeliac disease have an autoimmune disease for which the only treatment is a lifelong adherence to a gluten-free diet; considers that 59% of people diagnosed with coeliac disease are most concerned about the lack of safe gluten-free options offered in restaurants and similar places; urges chefs and caterers to improve the availability of gluten-free choices, and commends and supports Coeliac UK for its eating out campaign to make eating out possible for people with the condition, which will significantly improve their quality of life and create more business for the hospitality sector.

100^th. Birthday of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland

That the Parliament notes that March 2009 marks the 100th birthday of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the charity that owns Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park; recognises the key contribution that the zoo and wildlife park make to the economy of Scotland as key tourist attractions as well as the hugely valuable conservation, education and research work that the RZSS does across the two locations and beyond; applauds the hard work and dedication of all of the society’s staff and volunteers over the years and the dynamism that has allowed it to change with the times, and wishes the RZSS well for its centenary celebrations and for the years to come.

That the Parliament congratulates John Clark and Andrew Kellock of Millburn Academy on their nomination for an Unsung Hero accolade in the Young Scot Awards 2009 for preventing their class minibus from crashing after their teacher collapsed at the wheel; notes that John, aged 13, managed to grab the wheel and steer the bus to safety while Andrew, aged 12, brought the bus to a stop by pulling on the handbrake; commends John and Andrew for their composure and bravery in preventing what could have been a devastating accident, and wishes them both the best of luck at the awards ceremony on 9 April 2009.

That the Parliament welcomes the news that the Crown Office has begun offering support to those of its staff at risk of suffering mental trauma; notes that this will be beneficial not only to the individuals involved and the Crown Office but also to wider society by reducing the stigma attached to mental health problems; notes that these staff have to deal with the consequences of the most disturbing and barbaric acts on a regular basis; recognises the importance of their work to the justice system and to wider society; applauds them for their continued dedication, and hopes that this will encourage other professions to address the risk of second-hand shock among those who deal with the victims and aftermath of traumatic and disturbing incidents.

That the Parliament welcomes the proposal for a new post bank to be run as part of the post office network that was launched on Tuesday 17 March 2009 by a coalition of trade unions, businesses, pensioner and pressure groups and charities; notes that the proposed model would strengthen the role of the post office network, making it more viable, creating new job opportunities and securing its role for the future; further notes that it would mark a return to the form of relationship banking abandoned by our biggest banks and ensure a stable source of finance in the heart of communities that could provide financial services to three million people still not using banks, including the most disadvantaged people, pensioners, people who live in very remote rural areas and the many small businesses that are looking for alternative sources of finance, of which two out of five would consider banking with a post bank; recognises that the post office network is a unique national resource on which communities, businesses and individuals depend, and believes that setting up a post bank provides a unique opportunity to answer both concerns around secure and equitable finance and the future of the post office network.

That the Parliament welcomes Carolina Amador Perez, international relations officer of the federation of Cuban women, the FMC, and Gilda Chacón Bravo, of the international department of Cuba’s trade union congress, the CTC, who are visiting Scotland from 12 March to 4 April 2009 as part of a tour of the United Kingdom; is pleased that, as Cuba celebrates 50 years of its revolution, this tour offers the opportunity to discuss what this has meant for women in that country; notes that the FMC is one of the largest women's organisations in the world, with more than three million members aged 14 and above; congratulates the FMC on its work, which has contributed to the fact that women now make up 42% of elected parliamentary positions in Cuba, the third largest representation of women in any parliament in the world, and congratulates women of the CTC who have leading roles in Cuba's trade union movement.

That the Parliament notes with concern that couples seeking fertility treatment in the NHS have to wait for 20 months in Glasgow, 13 months in Lanarkshire, 13 months in Ayrshire and Arran, 15 months in Dumfries and Galloway, three years in Lothian, six months for Lothian self-funding, up to 18 months in Grampian, up to 14 months in Highland, 12 months in Tayside, up to two years in Fife and up to two years in Forth Valley and that Orkney decides on a case-by-case basis; is pleased to learn that Shetland has no waiting restrictions; is extremely disturbed to note that Fife NHS board ranks among the worst providers of the service in Scotland in that each frozen embryo is counted as a cycle when other NHS boards require fresh and frozen embryo(s) to count as a cycle and that Fife NHS board only provides two cycles whereas other NHS boards provide three, thereby effectively giving Fife couples a third less of an opportunity for this treatment that some other couples in Scotland have; expresses particular concern that when a woman is in a relationship with a partner who has a child from a previous relationship she is denied access to any form of NHS provision in this area of specialism, and considers that NHS Lothian provides an example in increasing the age at which it accepts prospective fertility treatment candidates in consideration of the fact that many couples will not know that they need fertility treatment until their late 30s and are subsequently restricted by the unacceptable waiting times.

That the Parliament welcomes the bursaries that have been awarded by the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust to four students from the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Aberdeen for projects that will enhance knowledge and understanding of the marine environment; notes that the trust will donate £15,000 over the next three years to fund bursaries for the university’s pioneering new MSc degree in applied marine and fisheries ecology, which is designed to produce cutting edge research to help the fisheries managers of the future; considers that these bursary awards underline the commitment of Scottish fishermen to protect the marine environment and ensure a sustainable future for fisheries, and wishes students Laura Clark, Lucine Edwards, Heather McMillan and Emma White every success with their respective projects on deepwater species, small cetaceans, Lamnid sharks and the deepwater fish, orange roughy.

That the Parliament congratulates the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland (SCCYP) and NHS Scotland on their joint event at the Parliament on 12 March 2009, which highlighted and showcased the work of the Young People's Health Advisory Group (YPHAG); notes that this joint initiative between SCCYP and NHS Education for Scotland on behalf of NHS Scotland enables young people to input to health issues and act as a sounding board on health policy development; was pleased to welcome the YPHAG members, Heather Turnbull, Gary Buchanan, Jenny Hart, Stuart McNally and Jamie Ross, to the Parliament to talk about their work and why they think that it is important to involve young people in the design and delivery of healthcare and health services; acknowledges that listening to young people and taking their opinions into account ultimately leads to better decisions; notes that this pilot is now coming to an end, and hopes that the good work will be built on and taken forward with the establishment of similar groups in each of the NHS boards in Scotland.

That the Parliament notes that 12 June 2009 is Anne Frank Day, the 80th anniversary of the birth of Anne Frank; welcomes the establishment in 2008 of Anne Frank Scotland as the new education programme for the Anne Frank Trust UK; further welcomes the work carried out by Anne Frank Scotland with young people to develop an understanding of positive citizenship and human rights; further notes that the programme is focussed on Glasgow, Edinburgh and Fife and supports the expansion of the programme across the whole of Scotland; looks forward to the opportunity for the Parliament to host the travelling exhibition, Anne Frank: A History for Today, which is the centrepiece of the programme; understands that the exhibition uses Anne Frank’s story and the history of the Holocaust to address contemporary challenges and discrimination in Scotland, and hopes that all MSPs sign up to the Anne Frank Declaration to mark this anniversary as a recognition of the millions of children and young people who have been victims of persecution and to challenge the prejudice and hatred that harms us all.

That the Parliament notes that 5 May is International Midwives’ Day 2009; welcomes the contribution that midwives make to the health and wellbeing of women and their babies in Scotland and around the world; recognises that levels of maternal and infant mortality, especially in the developing world, are unacceptable; believes that achieving UN Millennium Development Goal 4 (Reduce child mortality) and Goal 5 (Improve maternal health) would amount to a giant leap for better maternal and infant health globally; acknowledges that more can always be done in Scotland to reduce our own levels of maternal and infant mortality, especially in remote and rural areas; supports greater international action to reduce maternal and infant deaths globally, and strives to provide ever-safer care for Scotland’s own women and children.

That the Parliament recognises the valuable social role that the postbus service plays in remote areas of the west and north Highlands; therefore notes with regret the decision by the Royal Mail to withdraw the three postbus routes in the west Highlands from Diabaig to Achnasheen, Applecross to Torridon and Torridon to Strathcarron and two routes in the far north of Scotland from Thurso to Tongue and Tongue to Bettyhill; considers that the Royal Mail is unwilling to negotiate further with Highland Council over this matter and continues to avoid the issue, and asks the Scottish Government to step in and secure the postbus service, which is vital to many people in these communities.

That the Parliament rejects the SNP government’s proposals for a separate quota management and licensing system, which are potentially damaging to the fishing industry; believes that the proposals create new bureaucracy for fishermen; calls on the Scottish Government to publish any legal advice that it has taken on the competence of the proposals; urges the Scottish Government to take a coordinated approach with Her Majesty’s Government and the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland to develop a marine strategy for the benefit of the fishing industry and marine conservation, and calls on the Scottish Government to encourage cooperation across all sectors, including local fishing communities, to enable them to work to develop regional fisheries management and also work with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to ensure reform of the Common Fisheries Policy to enable the devolution of decision making to regional management structures.

White-coated Roe Deer

That the Parliament is concerned by reports in The Sunday Times on 9 March 2009 that a rare white-coated roebuck discovered on an estate in Dumfriesshire is being auctioned by the person owning the stalking rights for the estate; understands that deer numbers need to be controlled and that stalking is a legitimate way of undertaking such control but believes that targeting an individual animal because of its rarity is unacceptable, and further believes that this animal will make a far greater contribution to nature tourism and the local economy if it is allowed to survive rather than if it is shot by the highest bidder.

Congratulations to GLAVmed

That the Parliament welcomes the pioneering work that Scottish charity the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) is engaged in to make affordable livestock vaccines available to some of the world’s poorest livestock keepers in many of the Commonwealth states; recognises that for millions of people, in many Commonwealth states, livestock ownership provides a way to escape absolute poverty, and welcomes friends from overseas who will attend the celebration on 11 March 2009 of the 10th anniversary of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association including two members of the Maasai community from northern Tanzania.

Credit Unions, Pioneering Roles in the Community

That the Parliament notes the important role of credit unions within the Glasgow Pollok constituency, across Glasgow and throughout Scotland; in particular, congratulates Pollok Credit Union on its unique and pioneering decision to set up an enterprise trust to take over the running of Pollok Post Office, manage a daycare nursery and offer a budgeting service to those with multiple debt problems, thereby securing jobs and services in the local community and beyond; recognises the real opportunity that these partnerships can provide in offering financial services and money advice to communities feeling the impact of economic recession, and considers that all possible ways by which further such enterprises can be encouraged should be explored.

Physical Activity for Life, Try the Three Routes from Parliament

That the Parliament notes the joint NHS Health Scotland and Scottish Environment LINK Physical Activity for Life event that was one of the Scottish Environment Week events held in the Scottish Parliament; further notes that the core message of the event was that Scotland’s outdoor environment offers many opportunities for enjoyable physical activity; recognises that these opportunities are not restricted to Scotland’s countryside but can also be found in our towns and cities, as demonstrated by the Ramblers Scotland Walk the Path to 2014 - Three Routes from the Scottish Parliament publication, and encourages members and staff to explore the bronze, silver and gold routes as part of a commitment to taking 30 minutes of exercise five days a week.

25^th. Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike

That the Parliament notes that 8 March 2009 is the 25th anniversary of the National Union of Mineworkers National

Executive Committee granting special permission to members to take strike action in defence of jobs; recalls that Polmaise in Stirlingshire was one of the first proposed pit closures that prompted the national industrial action; remembers those who died while on picket lines; further remembers the pivotal role of women’s groups in supporting families and mining communities during the strike; recognises the devastating impact that the pit closures and dispute had on communities across Scotland; understands the importance that the miners’ strike plays in the history of trade union relations in the United Kingdom, and welcomes the positive and constructive role that trade unions continue to play in the modern workplace and their vital involvement in areas such as health and safety, equalities and trade union learning.

Women’s Environmental Network

That the Parliament notes that the Women’s Environmental Network aims to empower women to make positive environmental change, increase awareness of women’s perspectives on environmental issues and influence decision-making to achieve environmental justice for women; further notes the publication of Gender and Environmental Chemicals, a scoping study to identify key gender-related issues for international policy-making on chemicals management and safety, commissioned by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which recommends how best to have a gender perspective and input to environmental policy and processes; recognises that the biological, physiological and sociological differences between men and women need to be taken into account when considering how exposure to chemicals in the environment may affect them; considers that a gender equality approach needs to be taken to protect women’s health and help women participate more in environmental decisions about policies, processes and forums; believes that it is essential that women are brought into the mainstream of environmental decision-making processes, whether community-based or those initiated by governments; is concerned that new research shows that environmental and occupational exposures to toxins are contributing, or suspected of contributing, to a range of serious health problems in humans, as well as in many other species, and in particular notes the evidence of problems arising from early exposures, pre-natally and in infancy; notes that, in view of the strength of evidence for the hormone-disrupting actions of BisphenolA (BPA), several US States, Canada and several commercial firms have voluntarily withdrawn products containing BPA; believes that, as a precautionary measure, polycarbonate plastic baby-feeding bottles and other drinks bottles should be removed from sale, and further believes that a toxic use reduction programme should be considered.

Shelter’s Edinburgh Families Project

That the Parliament expresses both concern and regret over the closure of the highly successful Edinburgh Families Project, which was set up and run by the charity, Shelter, from 1998; notes that this project was the first of its kind in Scotland that delivered intensive support specifically to meet the needs of families struggling to leave behind a history of homelessness or families at risk of homelessness; further notes that a unique aspect of the project was its separate support and advocacy for children and young people through working with child-support workers qualified in drama, art or play therapy; recognises that this project transformed the lives of 415 families, directly helping around 800 children, during its 10-year history; wishes the staff from the project well in finding alternative employment, and believes that the Scottish Government must consider the impact of losing such a valuable homelessness prevention project at the time when the target of ending homelessness by 2012 looms large and must also ensure that housing and homelessness services, support and provision are properly resourced and delivered throughout Scotland as a matter of urgency.

See Me Campaign

That the Parliament notes that one in four of the population will experience mental health problems, while many more will suffer from poor mental wellbeing, at some time in their lives; commends those companies signing up to tackle discrimination against those with mental ill-health; notes that the recent NHS Ayrshire and Arran annual workplace conference had the theme of mental wellbeing in the workplace; welcomes the news that, following the conference, a further nine firms, including Johnnie Walker whisky makers Diageo and Kilmarnock firm New Horizons Creative Solutions, signed up for the see me campaign, bringing the number of Ayrshire firms that have signed up to 26, and endorses the message from Suzie Vestri, director of the see me campaign, that we can all play a part in stamping out the stigma of mental ill-health.

Thanks to Scottish Gymnastics

That the Parliament congratulates all the coaches, volunteers and others from the world of Scottish gymnastics who participated in the Beginner and Intermediate Floor and Vault Competition for girls aged from eight to 16, held at the Bell’s Sports Centre in Perth, which attracted individuals and teams from Shetland to Dumfries and all points in between and thanks all those who give up their time to ensure that events such as this are a success but, more importantly, to provide the expertise and advice on a long-term basis to encourage our young sports enthusiasts, which assists in keeping Scotland’s young people fit in body and mind.

Sick Kids Hospital Edinburgh New Pyjamas Campaign

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the new pyjamas campaign, which aims to raise a £15 million contribution to the new Sick Kids hospital in Edinburgh; notes that all money raised by the new pyjamas campaign will pay for equipment and services that are not covered by the NHS budget; further notes that this will supply the hospital with equipment that is at the forefront of paediatric healthcare; welcomes that money raised by the campaign will also be used in a variety of ways to support parents and patients; commends the new pyjamas campaign on breaking new ground for charities by building a social networking site on the fundraising website, www.newpyjamas.org, so that the campaign will be able to contact an ever-increasing number of potential supporters of the new Sick Kids hospital, and wishes the campaign every success with its fundraising.

Firefighter safety and data Collection

That the Parliament applauds the selfless commitment of firefighters to their role in what can so often be very dangerous and extreme circumstances; notes with concern the increased number of firefighter deaths as highlighted in the Fire Brigades Union report, In the Line of Duty; further notes the lack of safety-critical operational guidance for fire authorities highlighted in that report and the deficiency of data collection in respect of firefighter deaths and other serious incidents, and calls for greater clarity and standardisation in the recording and investigation of firefighter fatalities and injuries and for more comprehensive safety guidance for fire authorities.

Swimathon 2009

That the Parliament encourages active participation in Swimathon 2009, the world’s biggest swimming fundraising event, organised by Marie Curie Cancer Care; notes that this event will take place from 16 to 19 April 2009 at over 500 pools across the United Kingdom; recognises that over the last two years 30,000 swimmers took part, raising over £3 million, 70% of which went to help fund the work of more than 2,000 Marie Curie nurses who provide care for terminally ill people, the remainder going to the Swimathon Foundation to promote the health benefits of and increased participation in swimming for people of all ages, and acknowledges that further information can be found at www.swimathon.org.

Prostrate cancer Awareness Month 2009

That the Parliament supports The Prostate Cancer Charity in launching the It Matters campaign, during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month 2009, to highlight that more investment is needed to tackle prostate cancer; notes that 2,500 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year in Scotland and between 750 and 800 men die of the disease each year; calls on the Scottish Government to monitor prostate cancer patient experience through the Better Together programme; further notes that in order to decrease mortality from prostate cancer there is a need to invest in more research to develop a new generation test for prostate cancer capable of distinguishing between aggressive and slow-growing forms of prostate cancer, and further calls on the Scottish Government to play an active role in providing leadership in the global search for such a test.

Go4SET

That the Parliament recognises and supports the ongoing work of the Go4SET (go for science, engineering and technology) national programme, led by the Engineering Development Trust, in helping talented young people achieve their potential in engineering, science and technology careers; applauds the hard work and effort of the students of all the participating schools in developing their excellent projects in the area of sustainable engineering, as recognised at the Go4SET Edinburgh Celebration and Assessment Day, held on 24 February 2009 at the University of Edinburgh, and congratulates Balerno High School on being awarded the Best Overall Project award and Dollar High School for receiving the Innovation award.

President Mugabe’s Birthday Sinks Country Further Into Destitution

That the Parliament condemns the appalling behaviour of Robert Mugabe in marking his 85th birthday on 21 February 2009 with a sumptuous banquet in Harare as the start of a week of extravagant celebrations that included a $100-a-ticket gala dinner and advertised musical extravaganza; notes that Mr Mugabe’s latest show of excess comes at the same time that Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, declared that it would take around £3.5 billion to rehabilitate the country’s collapsed health, social and education systems; deplores the involuntary removal of cattle and money from the starving people of Zimbabwe by their president and notes that each district was expected to donate 50 cattle and to raise $1,500 to go toward the week's celebrations, and finally calls for Mr Mugabe to honour the power-sharing agreement with Prime Minister Tsvangirai and work efficiently and cooperatively to rebuild their nation and bring their people out of destitution.

Access to Small Claims

That the Parliament notes Ian Hamilton’s claim of negligence against the Royal Bank of Scotland; regrets the decision by Sheriff Simon Pender that prevents Ian Hamilton from pursuing his case in the small claims court; believes that this prevents ordinary people from pursuing legitimate claims at reasonable expense, and calls for a review of procedures to allow such claims to be heard in the small claims court.

One World Action’s More Women, More Power campaign

That the Parliament notes that 8 March 2009 is International Women’s Day; is proud, but not complacent, that women represent a third of all members of the Scottish Parliament; is determined that recent progress in Scotland will not mean that the issue of women’s political representation falls off the agenda; considers that this issue is a matter of justice and democracy and is essential to tackling poverty and inequality; encourages MSPs to support One World Action’s More Women More Power campaign for greater political representation globally and in the United Kingdom, and calls for urgent action to implement Article 7 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women on ending discrimination in political and public life.

Running Out Of Time campaign

That the Parliament welcomes the Running Out of Time campaign, launched by ENABLE Scotland to highlight the needs of older carers of people with learning disabilities; recognises the huge pressure on these carers and the fears that they have about what will happen to their children when they, their carers, die or are no longer able to care; supports ENABLE’s call for action by local authorities and the Scottish Government to identify elderly carers, and urges the Scottish Government to meet the key demands of the Running Out of Time campaign for better support now for older carers and help for them to plan for the future and put something in place for their sons or daughters so that older carers can have peace of mind.

Community Service Volunteers

That the Parliament commends Community Service Volunteers (CSV) for its strong track record in supporting retired people to engage with their local communities as volunteers; congratulates the CSV-RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme) voluntary drivers project in West Dunbartonshire, which organises the pick-up and return to their homes of elderly people and other patients who would otherwise be unable to attend local health clinics and hospitals; notes that direct government funding for this and other similar volunteering schemes ends in March 2009; expresses grave concern that local authorities across Scotland are not making financial provision for these services to continue despite Scottish ministers advising projects to seek funding through community planning partnerships, and would welcome the provision of suitable financial support to ensure that the work of well-used and successful projects, including CSV-RSVP in West Dunbartonshire, can continue.

Cultural and Social Enterprise

That the Parliament considers that social enterprises have an important role in the promotion of social cohesion and sustainable development within our communities, generating substantial social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits; notes the emergence of cultural social enterprises throughout Scotland, building on the long history of cultural organisations using entrepreneurial talent to deliver social benefits and creating a bridge between the artistic and business communities; considers that the social enterprise model delivers high quality businesses that use their more-than-profit ethos to meet social needs and are capable of delivering sustainable growth despite economic recession, in circumstances where traditional commercial organisations would struggle to survive; notes, however, that support for social enterprise is currently provided through many diverse routes and believes that it would greatly benefit the sector if there were greater clarity and a more coordinated approach between funding bodies; congratulates the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition for its membership-led championing of the cause of the diverse range of cultural and other social enterprises, and wishes the coalition and the sector every success for the future.

Scottish Government Should Set Fairtrade Example

That the Parliament welcomes Fairtrade Fortnight; notes that the Scottish Government spends almost £100 million on food for schools, hospitals and workplaces every year and calls on it to set a positive example by ensuring that at least 10% of this expenditure is spent on fairtrade products, thereby making Edinburgh the fairtrade capital of Europe, and recognises that this target would set a great example to supermarkets, businesses and consumers and that the fairtrade movement has made a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people by ensuring that farmers and workers get a fair price from the trade of their products and making a vital contribution to combating poverty.

European Victims’ Week

That the Parliament notes that 19 to 24 February 2009 is European Victims’ Week; further notes the findings of the European Union Crime and Safety Study that showed that in 2005 Britain had the highest coverage rate of support agencies for crime victims, with Scotland topping the league table of countries providing specialist support to victims of crime; acknowledges the hard work undertaken by all the individuals and agencies who provide a high quality of service to victims of crime, and encourages the Scottish Government to support Victim Support Scotland’s call to establish a victims’ commissioner for Scotland.

Ken Rundle, Winner of the Inaugural NFU Scotland Ambassador Award

That the Parliament notes the important role that Ken Rundle has played in Scottish agriculture, both as a journalist for the BBC and as head of communications at the Scottish Agricultural College; recognises that, for over two decades, he has championed the Scottish agricultural industry, working tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that farming stories were not forgotten by the general public while, at the same time, ensuring that even the difficult stories were covered with fairness and integrity; believes therefore that he is a worthy winner of the inaugural NFU Scotland Ambassador Award, and offers him congratulations for winning the award.

NFU Scotland

That the Parliament recognises the key role played by NFU Scotland in supporting Scotland’s farmers who make up one of Scotland’s most important industries, an industry that sustains local economies and communities across rural Scotland and produces top quality food for our tables; congratulates Jim McLaren on his re-election as President of NFU Scotland and Allan Bowie and Nigel Miller on being elected as vice-presidents, and recognises the excellent service given to NFU Scotland and to Scottish agriculture by Stewart Wood, who stands down after two years as vice-president of the organisation.

ICE for emergencies

That the Parliament welcomes the joint initiative by Grampian Police, Grampian Fire and Rescue and the Scottish Ambulance Service in their promotion of ICE, In Case of Emergency; notes the special contribution to emergency care by Bob Brotchie, a paramedic with East Anglian Ambulance Service, who first promoted this campaign; further notes that mobile phones are now carried by the majority of people and that, if an accident or emergency were to occur, having a next of kin’s phone number under the name ICE would mean that emergency service personnel or hospital staff could quickly contact a loved one or relative, who could be able to provide life saving information about the patient; believes that this simple action can save much angst and worry, and encourages everyone to store an ICE number in their phone.

Congratulations to North Sea rescuers

That the Parliament remembers the significant dangers faced by everyone working offshore in the North Sea oil industry; recognises that the safety of those workers is always of paramount concern, and congratulates all those involved in the successful rescue of all passengers and crew from the stricken helicopter that ditched near the ETAP (Eastern Trough Area Project) platform on Wednesday 18 February 2009.

Save the Chinese Healthy Living Centre

That the Parliament notes the important work done by healthy living centres throughout Scotland and, in particular, the work of Glasgow’s Chinese Healthy Living Centre, which for five years has provided a valuable service to the Chinese community in Glasgow; acknowledges that the project has raised awareness of health issues within the community and has raised the confidence of the community through its work; considers that the project has provided a very valuable service to the Chinese community and to wider society in the city; regrets that the management board has had to announce the closure of the project with effect from 1 April 2009, and urges the Scottish Government to provide the resources to enable the project to continue its invaluable work across Glasgow.

OKI Job Losses

That the Parliament notes with concern the announcement by OKI (UK) Limited that 40 people on permanent contracts are to be made redundant at its manufacturing facility in Cumbernauld; regrets that this measure is a direct result of the current economic downturn, and calls on the Scottish Executive to work with all other public agencies to ensure that every assistance is offered to the workforce and their families at this difficult time.

Removal of Funding from the Retired and senior Volunteer Programme

That the Parliament expresses its concern over the intended removal of funding from the successful Retired and Senior Volunteer Programme (RSVP), which is run by national charity Community Service Volunteers (CSV); believes that the withdrawal of this funding constitutes a tiny fraction of the Scottish Budget and will lead to staff members who develop and coordinate the programme losing their jobs and some 16,000 older volunteers being left without support and other benefits provided by those coordinators; recognises that RSVP volunteers currently provide more than 6,400 hours of valuable service to their communities each week, in schools, hospitals, GP practices, care homes and environmental projects, and calls on the Scottish Government to reconsider its intended withdrawal of central funding to this valuable programme.

Congratluations to Scottish Bioenergy Coperative Ventures

That the Parliament congratulates Scottish Bioenergy Cooperative Ventures Ltd for winning the Shell Springboard North Region awards panel this year; notes that Scottish Bioenergy Cooperative Ventures won the award for its inspirational project entitled Biodiesel - building a small-scale algae bioreactor, which is an innovative system of capturing CO2 emissions to grow algae and then use that algae to produce biodiesel and fertiliser; further congratulates all companies shortlisted in the north region final, including Sustainberry CIC, Kyle Electronic Design Ltd, Ocean Flow Energy Ltd, DRD Power Ltd and Shetland Composites, and wishes Scottish Bioenergy Cooperative Ventures Ltd all the very best in the UK final, to be judged on 3 March 2009.

Volunteer Development Scotland, 25^th. anniversary

That the Parliament congratulates Volunteer Development Scotland, Scotland’s Centre for Excellence in volunteer development, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009; notes that since 1984 Volunteer Development Scotland has played a key leadership role in creating a distinctly Scottish approach to volunteer development by responding to the needs of the people of Scotland; acknowledges that in partnership with many organisations, in particular Scotland’s volunteer centres, it has established internationally recognised ways of working that continuously enhance the quality of the volunteering experience, and looks forward to Volunteer Development Scotland continuing to work throughout its silver jubilee year and beyond to ensure that the importance of volunteering is recognised throughout Scotland.

International Women’s Day

That the Parliament welcomes the many events being organised throughout the world to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March 2009; notes the role that this day plays in recognising, promoting and celebrating women’s issues worldwide; considers that there are still many aspects of women’s rights, representation and welfare that need to be addressed through a gendered policy approach, including the gender pay gap, the under-representation of women in senior positions within the public and private sectors and as elected representatives, and with regard to the provision of violence-against-women support services; recognises the requirement under the Gender Equality Duty for the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to undertake needs analyses and equality impact assessments, and believes that these are central to single outcome and other agreements.

Titian’s Diana and Acteon

That the Parliament welcomes the continuing availability of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon for viewing in Scotland into the future; regrets the manner in which this issue arose and the threat to a Scottish future for this painting brought about by the approach of the Duke of Sutherland; calls on the Duke of Sutherland to remove any similar threat now or into the future to any other painting currently housed in Scotland by donating those paintings to the national galleries of London and Scotland; further urges the Duke of Sutherland to donate the £50 million received for Titian’s Diana and Actaeon to the people of Sutherland, the Highlands and Scotland more widely as one small step toward redeeming a tarnished reputation.

The Commonwealth @ 60

That the Parliament commends the theme of Commonwealth Day 2009, the Commonwealth @ 60 serving a new generation, which highlights the importance to every nation of the understanding of and contribution to making improvements to lives, particularly those of young people, across the Commonwealth; notes that this also marks the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth and recognises the valuable role of the Commonwealth in strengthening relationships between nations across the world; welcomes the continued contribution of Scotland and its people to those relationships; reaffirms its support for the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and commends the CPA for its work to raise awareness on energy and climate change, human trafficking and all initiatives targeted at improving parliamentary democracy; also notes that, during the third session of the Parliament, the CPA Scotland branch continues to develop relationships with Malawi and other CPA branches; commends the Scottish Government for its continuing commitment to Malawi and other Commonwealth countries, and further notes Scotland’s longstanding work throughout the Commonwealth.

Edinburgh’s The Soap Co.

That the Parliament commends Edinburgh-based social enterprise The Soap Co for its policy of incorporating a diverse and socially inclusive workforce into its business; praises the use of traditional and environmentally conscientious methods in the production of its goods; applauds The Soap Co's use of the social enterprise not-for-profit model, which provides a financially stable, social and sustainable business model that many Scottish businesses could adopt and benefit from in the midst of the current recession; recognises the need to promote the development of social enterprises like The Soap Co across Scotland, and welcomes the contribution of Social Firms UK in helping to facilitate this.

More than My Illness

That the Parliament highlights a survey by children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent that found that 97% of children and young people with cancer say that it is important for them to be able to return home during their treatment but that many parents in Scotland say that they do not get the support that they need when their child is at home; notes that children and young people say that living with cancer is about more than their illness; expresses concern at findings that about half of parents who want support with the education of their child with cancer, such as access to home tutoring, are not getting it or are finding that it is insufficient; recognises the need to help children and young people and their families in rural and urban areas across Scotland to keep up with their ordinary lives; welcomes CLIC Sargent’s report, More Than My Illness, published on 13 February 2009, proposing innovative ways of reaching families of sick children across Scotland; notes the success of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and the CLIC Sargent nurse in helping to coordinate and plan aspects of care and support for children in Aberdeenshire; further welcomes the commitment to both specialist and local support made by the National Delivery Plan for Children and Young People’s Specialist Services in Scotland, and highlights the need for key workers to better coordinate and plan all aspects of care and support for every child and young person with cancer.

Film G

That the Parliament congratulates Jessica Ferguson, Amy MacNeil and Kenny MacDonald, from Castlebay High School, Isle of Barra, on winning MG Alba’s FilmG competition; notes that their film, An Dùsgadh (Waking), won the top award of best film in the young people category in this innovative Gaelic online digital short film competition; recognises the level of creative talent uncovered by this competition and the number of new Gaelic short films now available online at http://filmg.mgalba.com/en/viewfilms.php?1, and believes that the future of Gaelic media looks very exciting and that competitions like this are crucial to the continued survival of the Gaelic language.

Review of Legal Aid

That the Parliament is concerned that offenders convicted of serious crimes are able to receive significant sums in legal aid to undertake vexatious appeals against sentence and against the consequences of their crimes, for example in terms of lost pension entitlements; considers that the criteria for eligibility of legal aid should be reviewed to prevent the use of public funds for gratuitous serial appeals by persons convicted of serious crimes such as rape, and further considers that such actions compound the injury and distress cause to victims of these crimes and may deter rape victims from reporting offences.

Keep Respite Care at Fyneview

That the Parliament notes the proposal under consideration by Argyll and Bute Council to cut funding to the Fyneview Respite House in Lochgilphead; considers that there has been a lack of consultation with all service users and carers in Argyll and Bute regarding the future of Fyneview; understands that there are no other respite facilities for 18 to 64-year-olds in the area, making Fyneview an invaluable resource for the community; believes that Argyll and Bute Council should not terminate respite care at Fyneview, particularly as the Scottish Government has made an extra £9 million available to enable local authorities to provide additional services for carers and an extra 10,000 respite weeks on top of existing service, and therefore calls on the council to reject the proposal.

That the Parliament welcomes the Map of Gaps 2 report and website www.mapofgaps.org from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the End Violence Against Women coalition; notes with alarm that three million women across the United Kingdom experience violence each year; further notes that over a quarter of local authority areas across Britain have no specialised violence against women support services, such as rape crisis centres, refuges, domestic violence outreach projects and services for black and minority ethnic women; recognises the need for local authorities and other public bodies to undertake needs assessments under their gender equality schemes and to ensure both sufficiency and diversity of provision; welcomes that, as with the previous report from December 2007, Scotland leads the way in provision and that this, in part, is due to Scotland being the only part of the UK to take an explicitly gendered policy approach to violence against women; is concerned however that the removal of ring-fenced funding for local services may be leading to a dilution of focus and support, and calls on the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that rigorous needs analysis and equality impact assessment, as required by the Gender Equality Duty (GED), are central to future single outcome agreements.

That the Parliament is deeply concerned with the proposals by Argyll and Bute Council to close all outlying libraries in Helensburgh and Lomond as part of a budget cut; notes that Cardross, Cove, Rosneath, Tarbet and Garelochhead libraries are all well used by local residents; believes that libraries are central to our communities and provide a range of educational opportunities; acknowledges their significant role in promoting literacy; supports the Save Our Libraries campaign, and believes that Argyll and Bute Council should withdraw these proposals.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Rugby Union (SRU) on its recent event at the Scottish Parliament on 14 January 2009 to highlight its extensive work and success both on and off the field; was pleased to welcome the Scottish national team head coach, Frank Hadden, Scottish internationals Ally Hogg and Thom Evans, and other senior SRU officials to the Parliament; welcomes figures released by the SRU showing a 21% increase in the number of people playing rugby and in particular a 24% increase in the number of young people of both sexes participating in rugby; also welcomes the SRU’s efforts to work together with interested stakeholders in our communities to widen access to rugby for all; supports the SRU and the Scotland national team in their forthcoming Six Nations campaign, set to kick-off at Murrayfield on 8 February 2009 against Wales; wishes them the best of luck in what is set to be an exciting Six Nations given the team’s recent form, and acknowledges the economic benefits that Six Nations games at Murrayfield bring to Edinburgh and the wider Scottish economy.

That the Parliament congratulates the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival on its 10th birthday during Scotland's Year of Homecoming 2009, the year of the 250th birthday of Robert Burns; acknowledges that, since its inception, the festival has developed close links with many Speyside businesses and communities as it works to provide an ever-improving range of events, facilities and services for local people and an increasing flow of international visitors; further applauds the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival for playing an important part in helping people to acquire a deeper knowledge and appreciation of their dram and in introducing whisky to new audiences, including a growing and discerning female market, and finally, as a taster for the event, notes that the preliminary round of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards is taking place in the Parliament on 29 January 2009.

That the Parliament notes with particular concern the proposal by the Scottish Government to merge the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and some of the functions of the Care Commission; recognises that the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an organisation that is focused on the rights of individuals within the context of mental health legislation while NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is a broader body seeking to raise standards within the NHS in Scotland; agrees that the strength of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is in its ability to monitor, visit and assist people with mental health problems independently of government and the NHS and that, as such, the findings contained within its reports are highly valued by experts in the field; acknowledges that the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is not solely concerned with matters pertaining to health and can become involved in issues relating to care in prison, welfare benefits and how the criminal justice system deals with victims with mental disorders, and therefore believes that it is crucial for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to be wholly independent and continue to operate with a full remit.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Council of the Scout Association on securing the biggest increase in scout membership for 20 years, particularly in the 14-17 Explorer scout section and in female membership; welcomes the establishment of the 8th Blackford Salaam group as the first Muslim scout group in Scotland; notes the new regional support structure recently launched and applauds the focus on developing scouting in localities where the organisation has been underrepresented, and urges the Scottish Government to support scouting in all relevant ways, including encouraging public and private organisations alike to allow time off work for scout leaders where necessary, and supporting continued investment in the facilities and programmes offered by the national activity centres.

That the Parliament notes the continued relevance of Holocaust Memorial Day, the international day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and of other genocides; further notes that Renfrewshire Council, chosen to host the Scottish National Holocaust Memorial Day, marked the day with, among other things, a series of events under the positive title, One Great Tapestry; A Celebration of Diversity, at which a major theme was "stand up to hatred"; believes that an appreciation of peoples and cultures the world over should be an integral part of the Scottish identity, as suggested by this title, and expresses the hope that Scotland will continue to welcome those fleeing persecution, stand up to hatred and have the courage to condemn all those who infringe human rights.

That the Parliament pays tribute to the moving courage and sacrifice of Scottish missionary Jane Haining who, following the outbreak of the Second World War, ignored orders to return to Scotland from Budapest, refusing to leave the Jewish orphans in her care, and, as a result, was arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz-Birkenau in July 1944; celebrates the example of moral courage that her actions set for young people today; recognises the honour bestowed on her by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial authority, in naming her as Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis, and supports the Holocaust Educational Trust, The Scotsman and others in calling for a posthumous honour for Jane Haining and other heroes of the Holocaust in recognition of their bravery and selflessness.

That the Parliament expresses deep concern that many victims of historic child abuse are being denied formal redress through the courts or compensation for the abuse that they suffered while in the care of local government, health authorities and charitable organisations; recognises their anger at the continued barriers that they face in seeking restitution, and calls on the Scottish Government to match the support given to similar victims in other jurisdictions.

That the Parliament supports Beating Bowel Cancer’s Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign, formerly the Loud Tie campaign, on the charity’s 10th anniversary; notes that the campaign aims to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, dispelling the embarrassment so often associated with the disease; also notes that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Scotland, with around 1,600 people dying from the illness and over 3,500 new cases being diagnosed each year; further notes with concern that 75% of those under the age of 35 recently polled by YouGov were not aware that bowel cancer was the United Kingdom’s second biggest killer cancer; recognises that early clinical detection and intervention could save the lives of 90% of those diagnosed if detected early enough; welcomes the continuing roll-out of the national screening programme in Scotland to people aged 50 to 74; urges people to take part in the national screening programme by returning their self-test kits; notes that while the risk of bowel cancer increases with age it also affects a significant number of younger people; supports further improvements in bowel cancer services in Scotland that build on increased patient involvement and public awareness delivered through managed clinical networks, and encourages MSPs to support the Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign between 26 January and 1 February 2009 on behalf of Beating Bowel Cancer.

That the Parliament notes that 14 October 2009 will be the 70th anniversary of the loss of HMS Royal Oak when the German U-boat, U-47, penetrated the defences protecting Scapa Flow and torpedoed the battleship, sinking her with the loss of 833 lives; notes that many boy sailors aged between 15 and 17 were drowned that night and that, as a result, Churchill ordered that boy sailors were no longer to serve on ships on active service, a point drawn out vividly in the recently published book on the sinking, Last Dawn; further notes that the sinking is remembered every year at a service held over the site of the wreck when Royal Navy divers replace the white ensign that still flies on the submerged wreck, and remembers the sacrifice of those who lost their lives that night in the defence of Britain.

That the Parliament recognises the impact of the quality of a school’s environment on the effectiveness of the education of its pupils and believes that the dilapidated state of a number of school buildings in the north Highlands impedes the education of many pupils; recognises Highland Council's lack of financial resources to renovate and build schools, and regrets the lack of a funding mechanism that would allow Highland Council to initiate a much-needed schools refurbishment and new-build programme.

That the Parliament notes that polio is still endemic in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria, where 1,600 cases were reported last year, and welcomes the investment of £100 million by the UK Government as part of a new fund of £435 million in partnership with the Bill and Melissa Gates Foundation, Rotary International and the German Government to be used to help eradicate polio through a range of initiatives including immunisation and additional supplemental vaccination of children in high risk areas.

That the Parliament congratulates all the finalists of the Evening Times Scotswoman of the Year Awards; recognises the huge contribution that all these women have made to the lives of others, their communities and Scotland; in particular congratulates the winners of the Scotswoman of the Year award, Jean Donnachie and Noreen Real, and, in celebrating the achievement of all these women, reaffirms its determination to act to ensure that women achieve their full potential and to tackle the inequalities that women continue to face in their daily lives.

That the Parliament congratulates Mary Miller on winning the Evening Times International Scotswoman of the Year award; acknowledges her long and sustained commitment to the people of Glasgow and in particular Castlemilk; celebrates the compassion, sacrifice and courage she displays in working with local communities in Zimbabwe, in particular supporting families facing HIV/AIDS, and considers that this award acknowledges this remarkable woman whose energy, humility and deep humanity offer a remarkable example of a life well lived in the service of others and who is an inspiration to us all.

That the Parliament congratulates Aileen McGlynn on winning the Evening Times Scots Sportswoman of the Year award in recognition of her stunning success in winning two cycling gold medals at the Paralympics in Beijing; notes the pride of her community in Cardonald, Glasgow, and of all of Scotland in her success; salutes her as a fabulously talented role model for young women to encourage their involvement in sport, and celebrates the powerful message her victory represents to all those who face barriers through disability or disadvantage about what can be achieved with grit, determination and ambition.

That the Parliament congratulates Volunteer Development Scotland, Scotland’s Centre for Excellence in volunteer development, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2009; notes that since 1984 Volunteer Development Scotland has played a key leadership role in creating a distinctly Scottish approach to volunteer development by responding to the needs of the people of Scotland; acknowledges that in partnership with many organisations, in particular Scotland’s volunteer centres, it has established internationally recognised ways of working that continuously enhance the quality of the volunteering experience, and looks forward to Volunteer Development Scotland continuing to work throughout its silver jubilee year and beyond to ensure that the importance of volunteering is recognised throughout Scotland.

That the Parliament recognises and shares the concern felt by the creative and cultural industry in Scotland at the Scottish Government’s latest decision concerning Creative Scotland; believes that the decision to include measures to establish Creative Scotland in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill is wrong, and calls on the Scottish Government to reintroduce the Creative Scotland Bill so that there can be proper scrutiny of the Bill by the most appropriate committee with the most appropriate minister leading the Bill and so that there can be a speedy end to the uncertainty that is currently being experienced by many groups and individuals within the creative and cultural industry in Scotland.

The Late Sir Bernard Crick

That the Parliament notes with sadness the passing away of Sir Bernard Crick, who devoted his life to political and constitutional philosophy, championing the political system as the only tested alternative to government by coercion, and contributed to the understanding of citizenship and published influential works, including George Orwell: A Life, and notes that Sir Bernard was interested in the notion of positive citizenship throughout the world, including in his adopted homeland of Scotland, that he will be sadly missed by all who knew him and by democrats everywhere and that the legacy of his works will live on.

AC/DC - We Salute You

That the Parliament recognises the significant musical contribution of rock band AC/DC, whose founding members, Angus and Malcolm Young, moved from Scotland to Australia and joined with Bon Scott, another Scottish émigré, to create what has become a musical legend with the band selling an estimated 150 million albums worldwide and establishing themselves as one of the best-selling rock bands of all time; notes that the popularity of AC/DC continues to grow and welcomes their forthcoming performance at Scotland’s national football stadium on 30 June 2009, and finally acknowledges the musical inspiration that the band has provided to thousands of Scottish musicians who have themselves gone on to great international success.

Show Racism the Red Card - Tackling Islamaphobia

That the Parliament congratulates Show Racism the Red Card (SRTRC) for successfully launching in the Parliament its DVD, entitled Islamophobia, which aims to raise awareness of the rising scourge of Islamophobia; believes that the DVD and accompanying education pack produced by SRTRC should be available to every school pupil in Scotland; expresses concern that in the recent Scottish Social Attitudes Survey 50% of Scots viewed Muslims as a cultural threat, and commits to working hard and collectively with grassroots organisations to eradicate this problem from every tier of our society.

The 2008 Homeless World Cup

That the Parliament congratulates Scotland’s Homeless World Cup squad and The Big Issue on another successful tournament, held this year in Melbourne, Australia, and believes that, although the team did not retain the trophy that it won last year in Denmark, the players and coaches have plenty to be proud of in reaching the semi-final and notching up nine straight victories en route.

Congratulations to the Highland Press—That the Parliament congratulates The Inverness Courier on being chosen as the Newspaper of the Year and the West Word, Arisaig, which has been awarded the Community Newspaper of the Year by the Highlands and Islands Media Awards judging panel; further congratulates the journalists and photographers at The Inverness Courier, the West Highland Free Press, The Orcadian, The Shetland Times, The Oban Times and the Stornoway Gazette who will be awarded prizes at the Highlands and Islands press ball being held at the Newton Hotel, Nairn, on Friday 6 February 2009, and wishes all of the winners every success for the future.

First Minister must set the record straight

That the Parliament notes the answers given by the First Minister to Tavish Scott MSP on Thursday 8 January 2009 in the Chamber (Official Report, c. 13822) regarding funding for the Scottish Inter Faith Council (SIFC); notes that the First Minister stated that funding was "resolved"; notes that the convenor of the SIFC has indicated that the matter was not resolved at the time of the First Minister’s statements; believes that the First Minister therefore misled the Parliament and that he should make a statement clarifying and apologising for this position; believes that the precedent has been set in previous sessions of the Parliament that the correct action for a minister who has, even inadvertently, misled the Parliament is to return to the Parliament as soon as possible to correct the inaccuracy and apologise, and that the Presiding Officer should play a constructive and appropriate role in ensuring that this happens.

That the Parliament notes that Sunday 21 December 2008 will be the 20th anniversary of the Lockerbie air disaster; remembers with sadness the indiscriminate murder of 270 people from 21 countries and the consequences of this atrocity on their families, the community and the individuals involved in its aftermath, and recalls the courage and kindness of the people of Lockerbie at the time and over the past twenty years.

That the Parliament cautiously welcomes City of Edinburgh Council’s announcement that Portobello High School will be rebuilt and open by 2014; notes with concern that a funding gap of £8.5 million to rebuild Portobello High still remains; considers that the SNP government has broken its promise to match Labour’s school building programme brick-for-brick and that the parents and children of James Gillespies, Boroughmuir, St John’s and St Crispin’s schools will all be extremely disappointed; recalls that over seven years, 1999 and 2006, the Labour-led council commissioned 34 new schools, and believes that over seven years, 2007 to 2014, the Lib Dem/SNP-led council will have commissioned just one new school.

That the Parliament notes with deep concern the Scottish Government’s proposal to lease 25% of the most commercially viable, publicly-owned Scottish forests to private investment companies for up to 75 years; further notes that the 25% could equate to 40% of production for the Forestry Commission, which could significantly diminish essential income for investment in maintaining tourist activities such as the 7stanes network and for creating new leisure-access initiatives such as mountain biking, walking, orienteering and other community woodland projects; recognises the importance of Scotland’s woods and forests and the potential for raising capital for expansion of woodland cover; considers that Forestry Commission jobs and associated jobs are under threat; recognises that timber and wood processing companies depend on security of wood supply and that Forestry Commission cutting contracts face an uncertain future if those cutting rights are taken away; urges the Scottish Government to commit to maintaining sufficient availability of wood for these industries; considers that the Scottish Government should commission a comprehensive survey of wood availability and demand, in conjunction with Forestry Commission Scotland, Forestry Commission Wales and Forestry Commission England and with the wood industries; recognises with concern the detrimental effects that this proposal could have on the Scottish landscape, economy and environment, and calls for its immediate withdrawal from the Scottish Climate Change Bill.

That the Parliament notes with grave concern the growing humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe; considers the situation to be so severe that only a change in leadership and the restoration of democracy can begin to tackle the problems faced by Zimbabwe’s people, and calls on the international community to apply pressure to the country’s president, Robert Mugabe, to stand aside and make way for the democratic forces in Zimbabwe to begin the process of rebuilding their nation.

That the Parliament congratulates the Inverness Food Bank Centre, part of Blythswood Care’s Highland Food Bank project, which has now been running for over three years, providing emergency three-day supplies of food to individuals and families in financial crisis; notes that in 2007, 1,700 people were fed by the project, an increase of 70% from 2006, and that in the first nine months of this year 1,674 people were fed by the project; also notes that the project covers mainly Inverness and Easter Ross, but also Nairn, Aviemore, Gairloch, Skye, Sutherland and Caithness with the demand for the project in Easter Ross being such that a new Food Bank Centre has now been opened in Invergordon, and wishes the Highland Food Bank continued success and support in the future.

Edinburgh Waverley is a secure station

That the Parliament congratulates those at Edinburgh Waverley station who have helped in its re-accreditation under the Secure Station Scheme; notes the nationwide role that the scheme plays in promoting good practice and fostering partnerships between the British Transport Police and local stakeholders in the implementation of security measures, and recognises the importance of safe public transport in encouraging everyone to make greater use of more sustainable methods of travel and in reducing the country’s carbon emissions.

Arrest of British Missionaries

That the Parliament notes with concern the arrest in the Gambia of Christian missionaries David Fulton, formerly of Troon, and his wife, Fiona, and the fact that they have been charged with sedition; also notes with concern that Mr Fulton is being held at a high security jail outside the capital, Banjul, and that his wife is being held with their two-year-old adopted daughter at a police station in the capital; further notes the criticisms made of the human rights and civil liberties record of the Gambian Government by international rights organisations, and calls on the UK Government to exercise all possible influence to have Mr and Mrs Fulton released.

Relaunch of Scottish Youth Parliament Website

That the Parliament welcomes the relaunch of the Scottish Youth Parliament’s website; notes that improved features include a redesign and a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament (MSYP) finder facility aimed at improving links between young people, MSPs and MSYPs; believes that the Youth Parliament continues to play an important role in representing the views of young people in Scotland, and encourages all MSPs, and the wider public, to make use of the new website.

Action on Alzheimer’s Christmas Campaign

That the Parliament commends The Daily Mail for its Action on Alzheimer’s Christmas Campaign; recognises that dementia is no respecter of social class, intelligence or ability; notes that Scotland will see the number of people with dementia increase from 65,000 to an estimated 108,000 in 2031; acknowledges the commitment made by President Sarkozy of France to make dementia a priority during his six-month presidency of the European Union; therefore recognises the importance that campaigns such as these can play in removing the stigma and social isolation that people with Alzheimer’s and dementia can face, and agrees that more work needs to be done to support research into the disease and improve the quality of care for people with dementia and their carers.

NFUS and the Scottish Fair trade Forum Join Forces

That the Parliament welcomes the link-up between the National Farmers’ Union Scotland (NFUS) and the Scottish Fair Trade Forum (SFTF) to promote a fair deal for producers in Scotland and in the developing world; notes the two organisations’ common goal of ensuring that producers are paid a fair price for their goods, which will allow farmers to operate sustainably regardless of where they farm in the world, and encourages people to actively support and buy local produce and Fairtrade products.

Agenda for Change Pay System

That the Parliament notes that at the end of October 2008 there were 1,991 substantive staff still to be assimilated to the Agenda for Change pay system and 12,598 bank staff in the same position; believes that reaching a conclusion on the banding of these staff is important in maintaining staff morale in the NHS, and calls on the Scottish Government to do all in its power to require NHS boards to tackle this issue with the greatest priority and to have completed the process for both substantive and bank staff by February 2009.

16 days of activism to challenge violence against women

That the Parliament endorses the global 16 days of activism to tackle violence against women; welcomes the demonstration organised outside the Parliament by Amnesty International and Scottish Women’s Aid (SWA) on 4 December 2008; recognises that gender-based violence is a fundamental abuse of human rights; supports the calls by Amnesty International UK (AIUK) and SWA for women with "no recourse to public funds" (NRPF) to have the same rights to access refuge and services as domiciled Scots women and children when fleeing violence; notes that the NRPF rule applies to women with insecure immigration status; recognises that this includes women with spouse visas, work visas, student visas and other temporary visas, and women who have been illegally trafficked, as well as women who have overstayed their visa; accepts the research undertaken by AIUK and SWA that found that women subject to the NRPF rule find it almost impossible to secure places of safety because they usually leave a violent situation with nothing and find that they cannot claim the required benefits that fund accommodation and support; notes that only 24% of women seeking refuge between 2007 and 2008 who are subject to the NRPF rule were accommodated; is concerned that some local authorities will provide support to children only, which would separate children from their mothers; calls on the short-life working group on this issue to report back to the Parliament; supports the calls by SWA and AIUK for the Scottish Government to make available immediate emergency funding to help women in Scotland until a permanent solution is in place and to ensure that the needs of women subject to the NRPF rule are addressed in the strategic framework on violence against women, and urges the Home Office to exempt women fleeing violence from the NRPF rule.

Isle of Barra, Scottish and UK Calor Village of the Year

That the Parliament congratulates the Barra community on winning both the Scottish Calor Village of the Year title and also the inaugural UK Calor Village of the Year award; commends the work of those campaigners who have brought welcome and deserved plaudits for the island, and recognises the efforts of the community in the initiatives that secured these achievements and will benefit the wider community socially, economically and environmentally for years to come.

Alexander Stoddart

That the Parliament congratulates the sculptor Alexander Stoddart on his statue of James Clerk Maxwell, regarded as one of the world’s greatest ever scientific figures; notes that the statue was made at the Black Isle Bronze Ltd foundry in Nairn, and further notes that James Clerk Maxwell’s discovery of the nature of electromagnetic waves led the way to the invention of everyday means of communication such as radio and television and the mobile phone.

ScotRail Franchise Extension

That the Parliament notes the resignation of Guy Houston, the finance director of Transport Scotland, following the publication of an Audit Scotland report that criticised his participation in key meetings to discuss the extension of the ScotRail franchise without declaring his financial interests in First ScotRail’s parent company, FirstGroup; notes also that the report is critical of Transport Scotland for not consulting external bodies on the franchise review; further notes that the report highlights that the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, Stewart Stevenson MSP, was not presented with a fully-documented business case, and believes that the Scottish Government should now call a halt to the franchise extension and instigate a full inquiry by the Scottish Parliament and that there should be an emergency statement from the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change.

Huntingdon’s Disease

That the Parliament recognises that Huntington’s disease is a devastating, high-risk, inherited, neurological condition that causes a profound form of dementia and mental ill health; notes that the Scottish Huntington’s Association (SHA) was established in 1989 by families living with the disease because they could not get help with health and social care services; congratulates SHA in approaching its 20th anniversary in 2009 and on providing Huntington’s disease services staffed by skilled nurses that make a significant difference to the lives of those affected by the disease; expresses its concern that only nine out of the 15 NHS boards provide this service, and calls on the Scottish Executive to make sure that all people living with the condition have access to support that will maximise their quality of life.

Iolaire Disease

That the Parliament notes that 1 January 2009 is the 90th anniversary of the tragic sinking of HMY Iolaire, which sank after hitting the Beasts of Holm rock only a mile away from the safety of Stornoway harbour at 1.55 am on New Year’s Day 1919 and only a few dozen yards from the safety of the shore; notes that the official death toll was 205 of the 284 crew and naval ratings on board who were returning from serving in World War 1; realises that this represented a huge loss of life after the hundreds of islanders who had already been lost in WW1, and recognises that this is one of the most devastating ever losses of life in UK waters in peacetime and that around 40 of the men who survived owed that survival to the courage of John F MacLeod from the Ness area of Lewis who managed to swim ashore carrying a line, which enabled a number of men who might otherwise have perished to drag themselves ashore.

International Day of Disabled People

That the Parliament welcomes International Day of Disabled People on 3 December 2008, themed dignity and justice for all of us; commends all those who have overcome their difficulties to become role models for others wishing to achieve the same, such as Julie McElroy, who, alongside 10 physically disabled teenagers, trekked through the Andes and over the highest active volcano in the world, as seen in the BBC documentary, Across the Andes: Beyond Boundaries, and notes that, to mark International Day of Disabled People, Julie will deliver a speech to Cardonald College on leadership, team-building and her motivation to succeed and, more importantly, give her audience the inspiration and self-belief to believe that nothing is impossible.

Recovery Zones for Bee Populations

That the Parliament welcomes the European Parliament’s overwhelming vote in favour of providing recovery zones for bee populations; notes how reliant Scottish agriculture is on bees for pollination and food security; expresses its concern over the recent sharp decline in bee numbers, and calls on the Scottish Government to follow the European Parliament’s lead by identifying areas of pollen and nectar-rich land in Scotland that can subsequently attract subsidy or other supports to provide conditions that will allow our vital bee populations to begin to recover.

Voluntary and Public Sectors

That the Parliament welcomes the inaugural Herald Society Awards, presented in conjunction with the Big Lottery Fund; congratulates all the winners of the 2008 awards; acknowledges that these awards recognise inspirational work and achievement in a wide range of categories by individuals and teams from the public and voluntary sectors, and believes that it is appropriate that success stories are celebrated and shared.

That the Parliament notes the increased vulnerability of homeowners to repossession, particularly those with mortgages from sub-prime lenders; notes with deep concern that Scottish households currently have less protection from repossession than people elsewhere in the United Kingdom, and calls on ministers to act on the recommendations of organisations involved in debt management, and the joint statement by spokespeople from the Scottish Labour Party, Scottish Liberal Democrats, Scottish Green Party and Margo Macdonald MSP, by facilitating the introduction of a Scottish equivalent to the pre-court protocol introduced in England to place an enforceable duty on both lenders and courts to ensure that repossession is genuinely a last resort, to introduce licensing of sale and lease-back schemes and to provide vulnerable families facing repossession with an automatic right to legal aid.

That the Parliament recognises the enormous benefits brought to cattle quality and cattle health throughout the Highlands and Islands as a result of the Bull Hire Scheme operated by the Crofters Commission over many years; welcomes the potential for improved markets and prices obtained from good-quality, health-certified stock; notes the practical arrangements that the scheme offers to allow good over-wintering provisions and health checks for the bulls, which might otherwise be beyond the reach of many crofters; regards the scheme as a sensible and practical way that government can support small-scale and remotely-located crofting enterprise; notes the widespread concern of cattle-breeding crofters about the proposal to end the scheme, and urges the Scottish Government to reconsider its decision to end the Bull Hire Scheme and commit to retaining a scheme as a sound and practical way of supporting crofters and quality cattle production in some of our most remote Highlands and Islands areas.

That the Parliament considers that the Forestry Commission Scotland has a central role with regard to sustainable development and to combating climate change; recognises the Scottish Government’s commitment to increase forest cover from 17% to 25% by 2020; expresses its dismay at the proposal to lease Scottish woodland to commercial companies for up to 75 years, a decision that could, in the long term, threaten productivity, employment, sustainable use of woodland and environmental policy making, and calls on the Scottish Government to withdraw forthwith from any negotiations that may have been started and to renew its commitment to continue to support the Forestry Commission Scotland's important work on both climate change and sustainable development.

That the Parliament notes the proposals to abolish the current Bull Hire Scheme for crofters; is aware of genuinely felt concerns among crofters over this proposal and the potentially more costly and inconvenient options that might replace the scheme; believes that the current Bull Hire Scheme has widespread support within the crofting sector and has played an extremely important part in maintaining the quality of cattle stock in the crofting counties, and further believes that some form of bull hire scheme is in the best interests of crofters and stock quality in the crofting counties.

That the Parliament believes that no person should be left stranded or isolated as a consequence of an inability to board a bus; calls on bus operators in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland to accelerate their programmes for replacing old vehicles, particularly on principle routes, to ensure that more low-floor accessible buses are available; notes that many disabled people, elderly people and parents with prams are unable to access transport to vital services, and recognises the efforts made to date by some bus operators but strongly believes that the current stock of low-floor buses is insufficient to meet need and that bus operators should introduce accessible buses on key routes.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling on 4 December 2008; notes that the net proceeds from the sale of the book will be used to support the work of the Children's High Level Group (CHLG); congratulates CHLG on its work so far in helping around 250,000 children in eastern Europe who are growing up in unacceptable conditions, and hopes that fans around the world will enjoy The Tales of Beedle the Bard while helping to benefit institutionalised children in desperate need of a voice.

That the Parliament expresses disappointment at the Scottish Government’s decision not to push ahead with a ban on electric shock training devices until the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research is completed in 2010; notes that the Welsh Assembly has already announced a ban on their use in Wales and is currently drafting legislation; further notes that a wide range of organisations, including the Kennel Club, veterinary surgeons, respected dog trainers and behaviour experts, call for the sale and use of electric shock collars to be prohibited in Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to review its decision.

That the Parliament congratulates the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust on being the only finalist from Scotland in NESTA’s £1 million Big Green Challenge; commends the community of Eigg for leading the way towards becoming a zero-carbon-energy community; believes that the project will also allow other communities to reduce their impact by learning from Eigg’s experience through the Build Your Own Green Island scheme when it is launched in early 2009, and congratulates NESTA for running the Big Green Challenge, which will help us all to learn lessons about how to reduce our environmental impact.

That the Parliament welcomes the passage of the boat, Dignity, which travelled from Cyprus to Gaza with 11 European parliamentarians including three members of the Scottish Parliament on board; recognises that this is the third boat to challenge the siege of Gaza, which has become a permanent blockade and which has affected every aspect of Palestinian life to the point where they are now in receipt of the largest food aid programme in the world; is concerned about the impact of the blockade on ordinary Palestinians, denying them basic health care rights as there is a shortage of medicine, proper medical equipment and severe restrictions on leaving Gaza for referral treatment, which has resulted in many deaths as recorded by the World Health Organisation; supports the efforts of Edinburgh Direct Aid to send aid to Gaza, and recognises that action by the international community, to secure an end to the siege of Gaza and implement international law, is key to encouraging long-term peace in the Middle East.

That the Parliament welcomes the Back to a Life survey of stroke survivors report; calls on the Scottish Government to listen to the views of the large number of people in Scotland with communication difficulties following a stroke and who responded to the survey; recognises the impact, following a stroke, of communication difficulties on people’s lives; supports the development of more, improved and better integrated communication support services in hospitals and in communities; further supports the development of accessible public communication services throughout communities and the establishment of accurate data collection processes to better evaluate and inform local communications service planning, and calls on the Scottish Government to make a firm commitment to act on these issues in Scotland’s refreshed Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy.

That the Parliament notes that Scottish learning difficulties charity Mindroom has launched a major campaign aimed at securing more integrated support for children and adults with learning difficulties; notes the research indicating that more than one-in-six children has a recognised learning difficulty and calls for greater medical and statistical research in this area; strongly supports Mindroom’s focus on integrating support for people with learning difficulties under three pillars, namely, assessment and diagnosis, research and development, and education and training; believes that the creation of centres combining these facilities under one roof represents a potentially revolutionary way of supporting people with learning difficulties and their families, and would welcome creation of the world’s first such Mindroom in Scotland, allowing Scotland to take a global lead in promoting integrated support for those with learning difficulties.

That the Parliament congratulates the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland and warmly welcomes the launch of 2014 Communities, a new and dedicated fund aimed at securing a legacy from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games; notes that this is the first such fund in Scotland or the United Kingdom to provide dedicated funding to help create and support a legacy for communities across Scotland arising from the 2014 Games; further notes that through 2014 Communities the Big Lottery Fund will offer small grants to fund and support grassroots involvement in sport and physical activity, focusing on increasing the number of people participating in or volunteering for such activity, and believes that, by opening this new fund now, to run right up to the 2014 games, people across Scotland will have an early opportunity to benefit.

- That the Parliament warmly congratulates Barack Obama on his election as 44th President of the United States of America; believes that his election represents, in the words of the Prime Minister, "a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written" and is a watershed event in the history of the USA, parts of which experienced racial segregation within living memory; admires President-elect Obama’s campaign, which placed emphasis on unity over division, and believes that his election is testament not only to himself as an individual, his party and all those who have supported him in his campaign, but also to the achievements of a non-violent civil rights movement, which has inspired other struggles against injustice and helped to transcend divisions in countries around the globe; further believes that President-elect Obama shares the values of progressive politics in Scotland and the United Kingdom, and looks forward to engaging constructively with his administration for the betterment of our respective countries and the wider world.

Carers’ Rights Day

That the Parliament supports Carers’ Rights Day 2008, a campaign run by Carers Scotland; recognises that nearly three quarters of carers in Scotland are financially worse off as a result of caring and supporting family, friends or neighbours, with many falling into poverty and debt while they save the country an estimated £7.6 billion each year, and seeks to increase the uptake of benefits by carers, raise awareness of carers’ rights and the support for which they are eligible.

World Diabetes Day

That the Parliament welcomes the United Nation’s declaration of November 14 as World Diabetes Day; further welcomes the arrival in the Scottish Parliament of Diabetes UK Scotland’s exhibition, which aims to raise awareness of the impact that the condition has on children and young adolescents in Scotland; recognises that Scotland has one of the highest rates in the world for Type 1 diabetes and that more than 90% of young people with diabetes in Scotland are at risk of serious health complications because they lack the information and support to manage their condition properly; congratulates Diabetes UK Scotland on the publication of the Making Connections toolkit, which aims to give young people an improved transition from paediatric to adult services in hospitals and gives them advice on living with diabetes as young adults, and calls on the Scottish Government to support fully children and young people with diabetes.

World Aids Day

That the Parliament recognises the importance of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2008 and its aim of highlighting the challenges and consequences of the HIV epidemic around the world; acknowledges that there are 33 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide and that countries face a myriad challenges in halting the spread of the virus and improving the lives and experiences of people affected; recognises that HIV diagnoses in Scotland have been increasing in recent years with 2007 seeing the highest annual number on record; acknowledges that it is estimated that there are 5,500 people now living with HIV in Scotland; regrets that a recent poll found that people in Scotland had comparatively poorer rates of HIV knowledge than in other areas of the United Kingdom; considers that this lack of public understanding about the virus and how it is transmitted compounds and exacerbates the stigma and prejudice experienced by many people living with HIV in Scotland, and therefore supports this year’s theme of Respect and Protect, which highlights the responsibility of everyone to transform attitudes to HIV and encourage actions that stop its spread.

EU Council of Ministers Call for Action on Alzheimer’s Disease

That the Parliament welcomes the acknowledgement by the Council of the European Union that Alzheimer’s disease is a European priority; agrees that Alzheimer’s disease is a major challenge for all European societies; notes that the council has acknowledged the importance of better understanding, detecting, preventing and finally combating the mechanisms that trigger neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s; further notes that the council has recognised the value of strengthening co-operation, co-ordination and financial support for research efforts across Europe; acknowledges that the current EU Presidency has also made a commitment to Alzheimer’s, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to amend its European priorities to include action on Alzheimer’s as a key priority area and to work with key Scottish stakeholders to recognise the contribution that Scotland can make to developing innovative approaches to neurodegenerative disease Europe-wide.

Carers’ Rights Day

That the Parliament welcomes Carers’ Rights Day 2008 on Friday 5 December, aimed at increasing awareness of the invaluable role of carers across Scotland in looking after a disabled or vulnerable loved one, as well as the advice and support available to them; notes with concern research by Carers Scotland that nearly three quarters of the estimated 666,000 carers in Scotland are financially worse-off as a result of caring, with many living in poverty; is further concerned that many carers do not realise the range of financial help and advice that they are entitled to; therefore congratulates Carers Scotland on its work to improve the uptake of available assistance through the publication of its booklet Looking after someone: a guide to carers’ rights and benefits and its website www.carerscotland.org, which also includes details of over 1,000 outreach events in conjunction with similar organisations across the United Kingdom, and further notes the role that MSPs of all parties can play in the Parliament and in their constituencies or regions to help ensure that carers receive the support that they richly deserve.

Support the PCS Strike on 10 November 2008

That the Parliament expresses its solidarity with the members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) in Scottish and UK government departments in their national industrial action over a 2% pay cap; notes that, amid spiralling food, fuel and transport prices, financial insecurity and Retail Price Index and Consumer Price Index inflation rates at 5% and 5.2% respectively, low-paid public sector workers should not be condemned to below inflation effective pay cuts; commends Scotland’s civil servants for the sterling work that they do in providing vital services to the public, and urges Scottish and UK ministers to review pay policies that are penalising their own workforces at this time of unprecedented and significant developments in the economic climate.

Epilepsy Scotland

That the Parliament commends the efforts of Epilepsy Scotland in its work to increase understanding and awareness of epilepsy and ensure that the appropriate services and support are available across Scotland; notes that this serious neurological condition affects one in 130 people of all ages in Scotland and values the Scottish Government’s recognition of the important role that epilepsy specialist nurses (ESN) have in patient care, and, finally, congratulates and applauds Epilepsy Scotland’s efforts in raising £65,000 from its annual Wags dinner events in Edinburgh and Glasgow and £31,000 from the colourful art sale of works from some of Scotland’s finest artists, including Peter Howson.

The Cost of Child Poverty in the UK

As an amendment to motion S3M-2787 in the name of Bill Wilson (The Costs of Child Poverty in the UK), leave out from "commends" to end and insert "considers that the SNP government has decided to reward those who are better-off by offering them tax cuts and penalise the less well-off by cutting local services that many children, disabled and older people depend on; believes that a lack of government funding to local authorities is responsible for cuts to nursery places and a reduction in hours, school kitchen closures, reduced support for one-parent families and funding cuts to respite care services for disabled people as well as cuts to Sure Start funding for vulnerable children and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to use the budget process as an opportunity to revise its settlement with local government; notes, in addition, that the SNP government has delivered a schools settlement described as awful by EIS General Secretary Ronnie Smith, and further believes that these cuts have plunged more people into poverty rather than lifted them out, highlighting a stark contradiction to its claim to redistribute wealth."

Non- Native Invasive Species

As an amendment to motion S3M-2777 in the name of Richard Lochhead (Non-Native Invasive Species), insert at end "and asks the Scottish Government to review existing legislation and report back to the Parliament on whether it considers that current legislation requires to be strengthened to ensure that the issue of non-native species is addressed more effectively."

Mental Health in the Workplace

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives on establishing a pilot project to raise awareness of the overall benefits of healthy inclusive workplaces in relation to mental health and improving support for workers with mental health issues and hopes that the knowledge gained from this pilot will lead to a further reduction in stigma and contribute to a healthier working environment.

Gael Power - BBC Alba, Publication of First Viewing Figures and Freeview

That the Parliament welcomes publication of the first viewing figures for BBC Alba of over 610,000, which is substantially larger than the audience of 250,000 that the BBC wanted to attract; believes that this is a good indication of the future success of the channel and congratulates BBC Alba for its variety and originality in programming, for example showing the Scotland versus Russia women’s football match; is concerned that BBC Alba is only available to those with subscriptions to Sky, Freesat and Virgin Media, but not on Freeview, the most popular digital system; further believes that the exclusion of BBC Alba from Freeview denies many Gaelic speakers, and those with an interest, a chance to view the channel and also to be included in the viewing figures, and calls on the BBC to address access to Freeview sooner than 2010 and to establish how many viewers are unable to view the channel but would if Freeview were available.

Neonatal Care in Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the 2008 report into neonatal care in Scotland by Bliss, the charity for babies born too soon, too small or too sick; notes with concern that Scotland has a higher rate of premature births than England and Wales and that this rate has been steadily increasing for at least the last 25 years, and further welcomes the commitment of Bliss to Scotland with the opening of a Scottish office.

All Citizens Equal

As an amendment to motion S3M-2762 in the name of Bill Wilson (All Citizens Equal), insert at end "and acknowledges the right of those from ethnic minorities born in Scotland to choose to play international football for countries other than Scotland, free from being singled out for abuse owing to this perfectly legitimate decision."

Shetland Times Petition on Airline charges -

That the Parliament notes that airlines are adding extra charges to their basic ticket prices; further notes that such extra charges often include the use of debit and credit cards and seat reservations; is concerned that such charges often seem to bear very little relationship to the actual costs that the airlines face and that such extra charges have been imposed on the air services between Shetland and the UK mainland; understands the concerns that this has raised and believes that there should be no charge for using a debit card or for reserving a seat and that the charges applied to credit cards should reflect the actual cost to the airline, and congratulates Shetland Times on its petition campaign to see seat reservation and debit card charges dropped and credit card charges lowered.

Lerwick Airport Authority achieves Highest Environmental Certification -

That the Parliament notes that Lerwick Port Authority has been awarded an ISO 14001 certificate, the highest environmental standard certificate in the world, in recognition of the efforts that have been made to improve the environmental practices of the operation of the port; further notes that this has been achieved by introduction of new management procedures with built-in environmental benefits, including the monitoring of all fuel and electricity used in port premises and vehicles and the recycling of all waste; recognises that, as the same standards have been achieved by the Peterson SBS oil service base in the port, Lerwick is now the only UK port capable of decommissioning oil and gas rigs while upholding the same environmental standards as the oil industry, and congratulates the port’s management and staff on the efforts they have made in order to reach the high environmental standards that holders of the ISO 14001 certificate have to achieve.

Girlguiding UK : Girls plus action equals change -

That the Parliament congratulates Girlguiding UK on its Changing the World project; notes that 18 charities have teamed up with Girlguiding UK to offer members of the organisation support and suggestions to raise awareness, money or take direct action to make the world a better place; further notes that, as guiding nears its centenary in 2010, over 4,000 girls in Scotland and 50,000 across the United Kingdom are on waiting lists to join this great organisation and that, without the commitment of its leaders and volunteers, many girls and young women would not have the opportunity to enjoy guiding by making new friends, having fun, being challenged by new experiences, thinking for themselves and working as part of a team, and wishes the 3,460 members in Glasgow all success in making a difference in society today.

World Osteoporosis Day -

That the Parliament marks World Osteoporosis Day on 20 October 2008; welcomes the recent publication by the National Osteoporosis Society of Your bones and osteoporosis: What every man, woman and child should know, a major report that shows that almost half of 18 to 24-year-olds do not know that there are steps they can take to keep their bones healthy, with more than half unaware that exercise can help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and one in three unaware about the positive role that diet can play; notes these statistics and the importance of taking action to prevent osteoporosis in later life, and supports the recommendations to improve the public’s knowledge of bone health across all ages in Scotland.

Plight of Wives of Miami Five—That the Parliament welcomes the visit by Olga Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, the wives of two Cuban nationals, René González and Gerardo Hernández, who are here as part of a UK-wide trip to highlight their own and their husbands’ plight; recognises that their husbands, members of a group of men known as the Miami Five, are currently serving long prison sentences in the United States of America since being arrested while trying to gather information on Miami-based groups allegedly responsible for terrorist attacks against the Cuban people; is concerned that the wives have been denied US visas, meaning that they cannot visit their husbands and have not seen them for over eight years; agrees with Amnesty International that this action is "contrary to standards for humane treatment of prisoners and to states’ obligations to protect family life"; further considers that it is inhumane, unjust and cruel, and believes that the US authorities should grant visas to enable the women to visit their husbands.

Scudamore Report into Foot and Mouth Disease - As an amendment to motion S3M-2635 in the name of Richard Lochhead (Scudamore Report into Foot and Mouth Disease), leave out from "to minimise" to end and insert "such as the role that local abattoirs might play and the unique circumstances of Scotland’s islands; notes however the continuing difficulties experienced by the pig industry, and calls on the Scottish Government to take urgent action to support the Scottish pig industry and to consider further action to minimise the potential future disruption to the Scottish livestock industry."