Where the text of a motion or amendment is altered, the motion or amendment is re-printed with the changes marked by asterisks in the text.

Where a motion or amendment attracts additional support after it is first published, that additional support is shown separately at the end of this section.

Motions eligible for consideration for debate as members’ business in the Parliament are marked with a hash symbol (#).

Motions submitted for members’ business in the Parliament but which have not yet received the requisite cross-party support are marked with a diamond symbol (♦).

Motions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an "R".

An indication is also provided where motions and amendments have been withdrawn.

A full list of current motions is available to view each Monday in paper copy at the Chamber Desk or alternatively on the Scottish Parliament web site at Current Motions

(http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/motionsAndAmendments/motions.htm). A search facility is also available on the Scottish Parliament web site at:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/motionsAndAmendments/index.htm

New and altered motions and amendments

*S3M-5199 Sarah Boyack: Launch of a New Alcohol Charter in Edinburgh—That the Parliament congratulates the volunteers and staff at Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) and the Edinburgh Alcohol and Drug Partnership on the launch of the new alcohol charter in Edinburgh, which outlines the services that carers should expect when supporting someone with an alcohol addiction; notes that the alcohol charter recognises that carers looking after those with an alcohol dependency have a right to expect their views to be valued, to receive appropriate support, to inform practitioners of the ongoing situation and to inform the development of policy and services, and pays tribute to the important work carried out by carers supporting family members and friends with an alcohol dependency.

*S3M-5198 Marilyn Livingstone: Kirkcaldy North Primary School Praised in HMIE Report—That the Parliament notes the HM Inspectorate of Education inspection of Kirkcaldy North Primary School in September 2009; commends the strengths of the school, including that staff provide a welcoming environment for children, that the children are proud of their school and are enthusiastic learners, that parents contribute to their children’s learning in the nursery and early years classes and that there is a support structure in place for vulnerable children and their families; praises the examples of good practice found in the school, such as friendship days to promote health and wellbeing, the opportunity for outside learning in the school's discovery den and the development of a school library with the children and their parents, and congratulates the contribution of Kirkcaldy North Primary School to educational services in the community.

*S3M-5197 David Whitton: Congratulations to Turnbull High School, Bishopbriggs—That the Parliament congratulates Clare Reilly and Paul Lyons of Turnbull High School, Bishopbriggs, on winning the junior and senior sections of the 21st annual Schools Speech Contest organised by Kirkintilloch Speakers Club and notes the excellent contributions from the other contestants from Bishopbriggs Academy, Lenzie Academy, St Ninian’s High School and Kilsyth Academy, which provided the two runners-up.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie*, Ross Finnie*, James Kelly*, Mary Mulligan*, Des McNulty*, Bob Doris*

*S3M-5196 Michael Matheson: Congratulations to City Nightclub, Falkirk, Nightclub of the Year 2009—That the Parliament congratulates the City Nightclub in Falkirk on being named Nightclub of the Year at the recent Scottish Licensed Trade News awards; notes the judges comments that "City Falkirk dazzles with its sports bar and nightclub combination, complete with technology that takes clubbing to the next level"; acknowledges the hard work of the management and staff in making this venue such a success, and wishes them well for the future.

*S3M-5195 Robin Harper: Congratulations on the Launch of CIC Start Online—That the Parliament congratulates Napier University together with project partners Glasgow Caledonian University, the University of Strathclyde University, Glasgow School of Art, the Robert Gordon University, the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University on the launch of CIC (Construction Improvement Club) Start Online; notes that at the launch event, to be held on 16 November 2009, John Currie, Director of the Scottish Energy Centre, will introduce the programme; supports the main aim of this three-year project, which is to embed innovations on sustainable building design and refurbishment in practice; acknowledges that, without faster adoption of innovations, it will be difficult to achieve the Scottish Government targets for reduction of CO2 emissions through more sustainable buildings; notes that CIC Start Online will deliver a range of feasibility studies and consultancies and produce guidelines for application of innovative building design solutions, products and processes in practice and the partners’ laboratories will be used to test innovations, and further notes that through this project the partners will build capacities and establish long-term relationships with the industry to jointly develop and test innovations for more sustainable building design and refurbishment beyond the end of the project.

S3M-5194 Willie Coffey: It's Scotland's Attendance Allowance Too—That the Parliament is concerned at the proposal to scrap attendance allowance, as outlined in the consultation paper, Shaping the Future of Care Together; records its particular concern that this proposal, which will affect older and disabled people across the United Kingdom, has been put forward by the UK Government in a consultation limited to England; calls on the UK Government to maintain attendance allowance in its present form, allowing disabled people to exercise a greater degree of control over their own lives; further calls on the UK Government to commit to equal consultation with those affected across the UK about any proposals to change the UK-wide benefit system, and notes that, in response to concerns expressed by constituents, a petition has been launched on these matters, which is available to be signed online at http://www.gopetition.com/online/31844.html.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson*, Bill Kidd*, Christine Grahame*, Brian Adam*, Bill Wilson*, Joe FitzPatrick*

S3M-5193 Jim Hume: Humanitarian Work in No Man's Land—That the Parliament commends Syria for its humanitarian work in accepting an estimated 500,000 refugees into its community since 1948; recognises the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees for its work in providing protection and new homes for refugees; further recognises the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees for its work with some 4.7 million registered Palestinian refugees; notes the predicament of an estimated 5,000 Palestinian refugees, some of whom have been forced to leave Iraq and are stranded in no man’s land at the border between Iraq and Syria while others are in camps in Syria, and calls on the international community to do all it can to end the plight of these refugees by finding safe homes for them while keeping their extended families together.

Supported by: Jim Tolson

S3M-5192 Dr Richard Simpson: StAnza's Virtual Poetry Festival, the Fife Poetry Festival Online—That the Parliament welcomes StAnza’s first virtual poetry festival, a free event that, on Saturday 14 November 2009, will be linking up poets and poetry from 12 cities and towns across the world from Mumbai to Sacramento and streaming them live into the Byre Theatre, St Andrews and also via webcasts worldwide, making St Andrews, Fife and Scotland the hub of this international focus, online at http://stanzapoetry.org/virtual-festival.php, and wishes this innovative festival every success.

S3M-5191 David Stewart: World Diabetes Day—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.

Supported by: Charlie Gordon*, James Kelly*, Rhoda Grant*, Peter Peacock*, Jackie Baillie*, Mary Mulligan*, Elaine Smith*, Ross Finnie*, Patricia Ferguson*, Bill Butler*, John Park*

S3M-5190 Stuart McMillan: Inverclyde Musicians through to National Finals—That the Parliament congratulates Inverclyde Schools Concert Band for making it through to the national finals after competing at the Scottish regional heats of the National Concert Band Festival at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; notes that the band received a Platinum Award in its class, which is the highest accolade a band can achieve; further notes that it was the only band in its class to receive such an award, and congratulates all the young people for their hard work and dedication, which has paid off, and wishes them every success at the national finals, which take place in Birmingham in 2010.

Supported by: Stewart Maxwell, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Jackie Baillie, Bill Kidd*, Robin Harper*, Maureen Watt*

S3M-5189 Karen Gillon: NHS Lanarkshire Investing in Volunteers—That the Parliament congratulates NHS Lanarkshire on being awarded the Investing in Volunteers UK award, which recognises excellence in volunteering; notes that NHS Lanarkshire has more than 400 volunteers carrying out a range of roles of benefit to patients; further notes that NHS Lanarkshire was visited by Volunteer Development Scotland over an eight-day assessment period during which volunteers reported positive experiences of the support and training that they had received, and wishes everyone involved in volunteering at NHS Lanarkshire continued success into the future.

Supported by: Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, James Kelly, Andy Kerr, Mr Frank McAveety, Jim Hume, Jackie Baillie, Sarah Boyack, Bill Kidd*, Elaine Smith*, Mary Mulligan*

S3M-5188 Margaret Curran: Garrowhill Garden Estate Community Group—That the Parliament congratulates Barry Linning on winning the Front Garden Competition in 2008; notes that Mr Linning donated the prize money to the community of Garrowhill through the establishment of the Garrowhill Garden Estate Community Group; further notes that this community group has successfully secured a lease with Glasgow City Council on a piece of wasteland that it has since tidied up and replanted; recognises that this land is now regarded as a showpiece in the local community; congratulates the group on winning the Certificate of Improvement at the Beautiful Scotland Neighbourhood Awards 2009, and wishes it all the luck in the future with its plans to expand to other areas throughout the community in 2010.

S3M-5187 Sarah Boyack: City of Edinburgh Council Care Package Tendering Process—That the Parliament notes the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to change the care packages of 800 vulnerable people across the city; expresses its concerns at reports that some of the successful bidders for the provision of care packages lack the specialist skills and experience of their predecessors; further expresses concern at the council’s decision to suspend until March 2010 direct payments to individuals who wish to arrange their own care despite issuing letters to those in receipt of care informing them that staff would be on hand to deal with increased applications before the contract changes took effect; further expresses concern at proposals in the council’s report into the tendering process that recommend that direct payments be cut by 20%, a move that impacts on all service users and limits choice, particularly for those who require a substantial amount of support; recognises that the relationship between a carer and cared-for individual is built on trust that is gained over time and that a change in care provider can cause significant disruption and anxiety, and urges the council to fully consider the implications of the report at its meeting on 19 November 2009.

Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Andy Kerr, George Foulkes, Mr Frank McAveety, Dr Richard Simpson, Karen Gillon, Helen Eadie, Margo MacDonald, Marilyn Livingstone, Pauline McNeill, Jackie Baillie, Malcolm Chisholm, Robin Harper*, Des McNulty*, Patricia Ferguson*

S3M-5186 Jackie Baillie: Living Wage Outrage—That the Parliament condemns SNP-controlled West Dunbartonshire Council for voting down a motion that would have introduced a living wage of £7 an hour for its poorest workers; understands that the motion proposed by Labour councillors called on West Dunbartonshire Council to follow the example of Glasgow City Council and implement a living wage of £7 an hour for the 200 staff who earn less than this amount; notes that the cost of implementing this policy would be approximately £140,000 per year, less than half of the cost that the council was reported to be considering paying its outgoing chief executive earlier this year, and calls on Scottish ministers to support the Scottish Living Wage campaign, unlike their SNP colleagues in West Dunbartonshire.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, John Park, David Whitton, Dr Richard Simpson, Mr Frank McAveety, George Foulkes*, Des McNulty*, Patricia Ferguson*

S3M-5185 Jackie Baillie: Cruising to Victory—That the Parliament congratulates Cruise Loch Lomond, which picked up a 2009 Scottish Thistle Award in the Innovation, Celebrating Scottish Tourism Excellence category; understands that the business was recognised for its West Highland Way Rambler Cruise, which combines a cruise on Loch Lomond with a walk along the most scenic parts of the West Highland Way; notes that the company has been operating cruises on the bonnie banks for 23 years, and considers it to be an excellent example of how a local business can use the natural beauty of Loch Lomond to create new tourism opportunities.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, George Foulkes, Sarah Boyack, Elaine Smith, Stewart Maxwell, Gil Paterson, Ross Finnie, Robin Harper, Jackson Carlaw, Jim Tolson*, Mary Mulligan*

S3M-5184 Marilyn Livingstone: Scottish Coastal Rowing Project—That the Parliament welcomes the initiative of the Scottish Coastal Rowing Project, launched on 31 October 2009; notes that the aim of the project is to restart local regattas in Fife and throughout Scotland and to promote friendly intercommunal competition through racing; recognises that the project connects with the histories of coastal communities such as Dysart and East Wemyss and provides an opportunity to encourage craft skills by using a team of apprentices from Adam Smith College; commends the guiding principle that boats should be available at a low cost, consistent with safety, for use by community groups, including youth groups, as a means of constructive competition, and acknowledges the benefits that this project will bring to Fife and Scotland as a place to live and an important tourist destination.

Supported by: George Foulkes, Helen Eadie, Stuart McMillan, Mary Mulligan, Brian Adam, Jackie Baillie, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, John Park, Ken Macintosh*, Bill Kidd*, Robin Harper*

S3M-5183 John Lamont: Borders Curling Development Group—That the Parliament congratulates the Borders Curling Development Group on being shortlisted for the Big Lottery Fund’s The People’s Millions programme; notes that the group is bidding for £47,686 to help deliver the Eight to Eighty Plus project, an inclusive project that aims to introduce local people to the sport of curling regardless of age, gender, ability or experience; further notes that the project seeks to deliver significant health and social benefits to participants as well as teaching valuable team-building skills; commends the members of the group for their hard work thus far, and wishes them good luck in the vote on 24 November 2009.

Supported by: Ted Brocklebank, Jamie McGrigor, Jim Hume, Christine Grahame, Bill Aitken, Stewart Maxwell, Mary Scanlon, Jackson Carlaw, Gil Paterson

S3M-5182 John Lamont: Scottish Borders Council and Bookdonors—That the Parliament congratulates Scottish Borders Council and Selkirk-based social enterprise, Bookdonors, on scooping an award from the Local Authority Advisory Committee in recognition of their combined efforts towards increasing recycling; notes that, from its headquarters in Selkirk, Bookdonors sells unwanted books, donates books to community groups to support literacy development and ensures that any books that are not wanted are recycled; further notes that Bookdonors is on target to process 600 tonnes of books this year and has raised over £140,000 for local and national charities since 2005; commends Bookdonors for its inclusive employment practices, and wishes it a successful future as it seeks to continue its work in the Borders.

Supported by: Elizabeth Smith, Ted Brocklebank, Jamie McGrigor, Jim Hume, Christine Grahame, Bill Aitken, Derek Brownlee, Jackson Carlaw, Margaret Mitchell, Mary Scanlon, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper

S3M-5181# Alison McInnes: National Youth Orchestras of Scotland at 30—That the Parliament congratulates the National Youth Orchestras of Scotland (NYOS) as it celebrates its 30th anniversary; recognises the outstanding work that NYOS does in encouraging young musicians, not only those who play in one of its eight orchestras, but also through organising workshops in schools around Scotland; notes that in this year alone the orchestras have performed to over 10,000 people in 14 cities across six countries, and sends its very best wishes that NYOS continues to go from strength to strength over the next 30 years and more.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Iain Smith, Mary Scanlon, Mike Rumbles, Stewart Maxwell, Jim Hume, Jim Tolson, Mike Pringle, Ms Wendy Alexander, Christine Grahame, Ted Brocklebank, Ken Macintosh, Helen Eadie, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Liam McArthur, Robert Brown, Jackie Baillie, Nanette Milne, Jack McConnell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd*, Mary Mulligan*, Robin Harper*, Bill Butler*, Maureen Watt*, Nicol Stephen*, Patricia Ferguson*

S3M-5180# Jamie McGrigor: Future of Mid Argyll Community Swimming Pool—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.

Supported by: Bill Aitken, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Mary Scanlon, Ted Brocklebank, Mr Frank McAveety, Margaret Mitchell, Dave Thompson, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5179 Alison McInnes: The Isle of Islay—That the Parliament, while welcoming the decision by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd (CMAL) to hold a ballot on the name of the new ferry that is currently being built to serve Islay, notes the wishes of many islanders that, in line with the longstanding Caledonian MacBrayne tradition of naming a ferry after the island that it was built to serve, the ferry should be named the Isle of Islay in English and Eilean Ile in Gaelic and calls on CMAL to add this option to its ballot.

Supported by: Jim Tolson, Mike Pringle, Jim Hume, Liam McArthur, Nicol Stephen*

S3M-5178 Christina McKelvie: Architecture and Outreach—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that the three directly government-funded architecture and outreach programmes, ACCESS to Architecture, SUST and Senses of Place, carried out to date by the Lighthouse Trust will be retained; welcomes that these programmes will now be carried out by the Scottish design champion, Architecture and Design Scotland, and further welcomes that the staff currently operating these programmes will be retained in Glasgow.

S3M-5177 Kenny MacAskill: Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees to the general principles of the Criminal Justice and Licensing (Scotland) Bill.

Supported by: Fergus Ewing

S3M-5176 Jim Mather: Arbitration (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees that the Arbitration (Scotland) Bill be passed.

Supported by: John Swinney

S3M-5175 Fiona Hyslop: Schools (Consultation) (Scotland) Bill—That the Parliament agrees that the Schools Consultation (Scotland) Bill be passed.

Supported by: Keith Brown

S3M-5171 Christina McKelvie: Apprentices—That the Parliament notes the reported plans of the UK Government to implement savage cuts in funding for apprenticeships and training places; further notes the comments of Andy Kerr MSP in the chamber on 28th January 2009 that "At this time in the economic cycle, it is vital that we invest in apprenticeships", and congratulates the Scottish Government on its foresightedness in realigning the modern apprenticeship framework, increasing the number of places available and implementing the ScotAction package to protect the apprenticeship programme in difficult economic times.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Wilson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd*, Dave Thompson*, Michael Matheson*, Maureen Watt*

*S3M-5171.1 David Whitton: Apprentices—As an amendment to motion (S3M-5171) in the name of Christina McKelvie, leave out from "plans" to end and insert "ambition of the UK Government to ensure that three quarters of people participate in higher education or complete an advanced apprenticeship or equivalent technician-level course by the age of 30; welcomes the publication of Skills for Growth – A national strategy for economic growth and individual prosperity on 11 November 2009; further welcomes the passing of the Apprenticeships, Skills, Children and Learning Bill and looks forward to the Bill receiving Royal Assent; understands that this Bill provides for a statutory framework for apprenticeships and creates a right to an apprenticeship for suitably qualified 16 to 18-year-olds; further understands that, thanks to this Bill, Scottish workers will benefit from the right to request time off for training; understands that SNP MPs failed to support this Bill in the final stage of its passage through the Houses of Parliament despite this right to request time off for training being supported by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning; considers that, far from implementing savage cuts for apprenticeships and training places, the Skills for Growth strategy will create 35,000 new advanced apprenticeships over the next two years; considers that the 7,800 extra apprenticeship places, the apprenticeship guarantee and the modern apprenticeship summit were agreed by the Scottish Government only following pressure during budget negotiations earlier this year, and welcomes Labour's continued commitment to skills and training for the people of Scotland."

S3M-5170 Ross Finnie: On-call status of Community Maternity Units Undermines Their Futures—That the Parliament notes NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s decision to change the operation of the community maternity units (CMU) at the Vale of Leven Hospital and Inverclyde Royal Hospital to an on-call service at nights and weekends; believes that this will undermine the confidence of mothers-to-be in the use of the CMUs, and further believes that such a change in the operation of the CMUs is incompatible with the undertaking given by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to keep them open for a trial period of three years while concurrently running a public awareness campaign to promote and increase usage of the CMUs.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Mike Rumbles, Mike Pringle, Stuart McMillan, Trish Godman, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Wilson

S3M-5169 Cathy Jamieson: The Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) etc. Order 2009—That the Justice Committee recommends that nothing further be done under the Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) etc. Order 2009 (SSI2009/332).

S3M-5168# Anne McLaughlin: The Future of East Coast Rail Services—That the Parliament expresses concern over reports that the east coast rail link between Glasgow Central and London King’s Cross is to be axed, resulting in a loss of 40% of capacity, or 22,000 seats a week, to direct services between London and Glasgow; notes that such a move will also affect travel between Glasgow and the north of England; further notes that the west coast main line is prone to engineering works and delays and that, with no east coast main line, Glasgow business and tourism will be put at a disadvantage; considers that these proposals by the UK Government are a mistake, and believes that the nationalised east coast main line should continue to offer regular direct services to Glasgow from London King’s Cross.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Brian Adam, Stewart Maxwell, Christopher Harvie, Gil Paterson, Kenneth Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Dave Thompson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Michael Matheson*

S3M-5167 Ted Brocklebank: Congratulations to Fife Constabulary on Policing the G20 Summit at St Andrews—That the Parliament commends Fife Constabulary for its successful policing of the G20 summit of finance ministers held in St Andrews on 6 and 7 November 2009 and considers that the summit went ahead with minimum disruption and orderly demonstrations, showing that St Andrews is an ideal location for international meetings and conferences.

Supported by: Bill Aitken, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, John Park, Nanette Milne, Mary Scanlon, Jackson Carlaw, Margaret Mitchell, Gil Paterson, Jack McConnell*

S3M-5166 Ted Brocklebank: Congratulations to Rufflets Hotel, St Andrews—That the Parliament congratulates Rufflets Country House Hotel in St Andrews on being named Country House Hotel of the Year in the Golf Tourism Scotland Gold Standard Awards; further congratulates the hotel’s assistant front manager, Sam Adam, on winning the title of Young Industry Person of the Year, and considers that this demonstrates once again that St Andrews has many hotels to be proud of and that it is a major contributor to Scotland’s tourist industry.

Supported by: John Lamont, Jamie McGrigor, Gil Paterson, Nanette Milne, Bill Kidd, George Foulkes, Hugh Henry, Mary Scanlon, Margaret Mitchell, Stuart McMillan, Iain Smith

S3M-5162 Marilyn Livingstone: SkillBuild 2009 Success—That the Parliament notes that the final of SkillBuild, the United Kingdom’s largest skill-based competition, was held on Tuesday 6 October 2009 at South Lanarkshire College and welcomed over 100 apprentices and young tradespeople from across the United Kingdom; congratulates the participants from Scotland, who were awarded four gold medals in such disciplines as joinery and roof sheeting and cladding; acknowledges the contribution of ConstructionSkills, the sector skills council for construction, which organised the competition, and recognises that competitions such as SkillBuild provide an opportunity to promote excellence among those undertaking apprenticeships, which are of vital importance in ensuring Scotland’s future economic success.

Supported by: Mr Frank McAveety, Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Patricia Ferguson, Cathy Jamieson, George Foulkes, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Mary Mulligan, John Park, Bill Kidd*

S3M-5159# Jack McConnell: World Aids Day and Annie Lennox—That the Parliament recognises the importance of World AIDS Day on 1 December 2009 and its aim of highlighting the challenges and consequences of the HIV epidemic around the world, particularly the impact on development in sub-Saharan Africa; acknowledges that UNAIDS estimates that there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children; notes that around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and die before they are 35; congratulates all those individuals and organisations in Scotland that campaign to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and provide practical support to HIV/AIDS victims, wherever they live; congratulates, in particular, Annie Lennox on the continued success of her SING campaign, which will be two years old on 1 December, and believes that positive consideration should be given to her recent offer to support the Scottish Parliament in its international development work, with an ambassadorial role.

Supported by: Peter Peacock, Sarah Boyack, David McLetchie, Christina McKelvie, Hugh O'Donnell, George Foulkes, Jim Hume, Andy Kerr, Bob Doris, Mr Frank McAveety, Helen Eadie, Linda Fabiani, Ms Wendy Alexander, Rhoda Grant, Mike Pringle, Liam McArthur, David Stewart, Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone, Ted Brocklebank, Dr Richard Simpson, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, John Park, Bill Kidd*, Malcolm Chisholm*, Robin Harper*, Bill Butler*, Des McNulty*, Patricia Ferguson*

S3M-5158 Patricia Ferguson: North Glasgow Housing Association and Young Possil Futures—That the Parliament notes the coaching in the community session organised by North Glasgow Housing Association for Young Possil Futures at the recent Falkirk v St Mirren SPL game; further notes that as well as a coaching session for the 40 young people who attended the event, the programme involved a full match-day experience including a tour of the stadium, visit to the dressing rooms and access to the park side, players and officials; congratulates everyone involved in organising this event, and welcomes the fact that this is part of a wider programme of engagement being developed by North Glasgow Housing Association to benefit the local community.

S3M-5157 Marilyn Livingstone: Safe Drive Stay Alive—That the Parliament commends the Fife Community Safety Partnership and its commitment to reducing casualties on Fife roads through its educational Safe Drive Stay Alive initiative; recognises that the campaign delivers a theatre-style performance that focuses on the emotional impact that a road traffic collision has on emergency service personnel, accident victims and their families; welcomes the fact that, in an attempt to reach young people before they begin to drive, the initiative is aimed at all fifth year pupils and those likely to leave after fourth year; notes that last year over 5,000 young people saw the road show, and wishes the initiative every success as it is replicated around Scotland to educate young people.

Supported by: Iain Smith, James Kelly, Bill Butler, Elaine Murray, Bill Kidd, Mary Mulligan, Hugh O'Donnell, Trish Godman, Jim Tolson, Robin Harper, John Park, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackie Baillie, Des McNulty, Tricia Marwick, Margaret Mitchell, George Foulkes, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson

S3M-5156 David Whitton: Saving 109 Jobs at MacGavigan—That the Parliament notes the saving of 109 jobs at John MacGavigan Ltd in Bishopbriggs, a maker of dashboards and other car-interior products, as a result of a management buy-out by two members of its management team; further notes the help provided by Scottish Enterprise and East Dunbartonshire Council to take MacGavigan out of administration, and wishes the new management and workforce the best of luck in the future.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, Pauline McNeill, Patricia Ferguson, Mary Mulligan, Joe FitzPatrick, Des McNulty, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Cathie Craigie, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd, Marilyn Livingstone, Trish Godman, Dr Richard Simpson, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry

S3M-5155 Stewart Maxwell: Congratulations to Medics Against Violence—That the Parliament congratulates Medics Against Violence (MAV) for its recent recognition at the Scottish Policing Awards for an outstanding contribution to tackling violent knife crime; notes that the educational programme created by MAV was established to teach young people about the dangers of violence and weapon carrying and has been running in schools across the west of Scotland for the last year; recognises that the experience of MAV's founding members, Dr Christine Goodall, an academic oral surgeon, and Mark Devlin and David Koppel, both maxillofacial surgeons, is invaluable in showing young people the consequences of violent knife crime; notes the contribution of the Violence Reduction Unit, the World Health Organization and, in particular, Campus Police Officer PC Geoff Smith in making the programme a success; applauds the commitment shown by the programme's many dedicated volunteers, and supports any future initiatives that aim to raise awareness of the impact of violence-related injuries, particularly those caused by knife crime.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Jackie Baillie, Patrick Harvie, Aileen Campbell, Anne McLaughlin, Mike Pringle, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Bill Wilson, Joe FitzPatrick, Ken Macintosh, Dave Thompson, Bill Kidd, Hugh Henry, Richard Baker, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson*

S3M-5154 Ian McKee: Bring Down Those Walls—That the Parliament celebrates the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, widely considered to be the most significant event in history since the end of World War II, which changed Europe and the rest of the world; considers that the fall of the wall in 1989 marked the end of communism in Europe, leading to the end of the Cold War, the disappearance of the Iron Curtain and the reunification of Germany; notes the subsequent accession of eastern European countries into the European Union; considers that the Berlin Wall was a shameful object of the Cold War that divided Europe, and the rest of the world, into opposing ideologies; firmly believes that freedom and liberty are values that must always be upheld; condemns the use of physical separation to divide peoples and societies, and hopes that this 20th anniversary will act as an example and bring hope to those peoples across the globe whose beliefs and differences are still divided by walls and other physical barriers.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Anne McLaughlin, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Liam McArthur, Bill Wilson, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan, Christine Grahame, Gil Paterson, Hugh O'Donnell, Dave Thompson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Robert Brown, Michael Matheson*, Jack McConnell*

S3M-5153 Sandra White: Tackling Domestic Abuse—That the Parliament commends the Scottish Government for providing £2.4 million to fund the Caledonian System, a new comprehensive system to address domestic abuse; believes that 50,000 cases of domestic abuse recorded in Scotland in 2007-08 is too many; further believes that this new comprehensive programme will better protect women and children through intervention programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence to reduce the likelihood of reoffending, additional services for victims of domestic abuse and new protocols for the sharing of information between agencies involved with the families concerned, and calls on local authorities to apply for a share of the £2.4 million funding to help reduce the devastating effects of domestic abuse and to make progress in reducing the cyclical nature of violence.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Nigel Don, Joe FitzPatrick, Anne McLaughlin, Christine Grahame, Brian Adam, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Aileen Campbell, Elaine Smith, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson*, Maureen Watt*

S3M-5152 Elizabeth Smith: Congratulations to Calum Macintyre—That the Parliament warmly congratulates Calum Macintyre from Kinross High School who, at 16, has become the youngest person to climb to the summit of Ama Dablam, which is one of the most technically difficult mountains in the Himalayas, and pays tribute to him and all his colleagues in Team Ascent who, in the course of their mountaineering adventures, have raised money for cancer charities.

Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Ted Brocklebank, Jamie McGrigor, Bill Aitken, John Lamont, Sandra White, John Park, Trish Godman, David Whitton, Nanette Milne, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jackson Carlaw, Mary Scanlon, Dr Richard Simpson, Margaret Mitchell, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-5151 Patricia Ferguson: Young Possil Futures Shortlisted for The People's Millions—That the Parliament congratulates Young Possil Futures on being shortlisted to go forward to The People’s Millions public vote that will take place on 24 November 2009; notes that the nomination is in respect of the Get Up and Go Activity project that will create opportunities for young people aged between five and 18 to experience and participate in a wide range of outdoor activities and will help to address the issue of territorial boundaries and encourage young people to work as a team, and wishes the project every success.

S3M-5150 John Swinney: Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution—That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in paragraph 3(b)(ii) or (iii) of Rule 9.12 of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

S3M-5149 Murdo Fraser: Broadband for Rural Scotland—That the Parliament notes the vital importance of good quality broadband to households and businesses in remote and rural parts of Scotland; is concerned that there is now a two-tier communication system in Scotland that is holding back business growth in rural and remote areas; notes that many rural areas of Scotland are not receiving an improved broadband service, while its cities are continually able to access a faster and better service; further notes that there are a number of telephone exchanges that are full or near to full capacity in Tayside, such as Strathardle, Fern and Menmuir; understands that there are growing concerns about the quality, speed and cost of the Scottish Government-supported Avanti service to remote and rural areas, and urges the Scottish Government to do more to ensure that all parts of the country have access to good quality broadband at affordable rates.

S3M-5148 Richard Baker: Concern over the Future of Glencraft—That the Parliament notes with concern the fears expressed by the management of Glencraft that Aberdeen City Council may not support its modified business plan, which could result in the Glencraft factory that provides employment for blind and other disabled employees closing; recognises that the organisation has transformed the lives of its employees and has received funding from successive councils for decades; notes with concern that this is the second time in two years that the current administration has threatened to close the factory; notes with regret the current uncertainty faced by employees of Glencraft who are yet again left facing the prospect of closure; notes the efforts of the trade union, Community, which resulted in the factory being saved from closure, and welcomes its determination to do so again; notes that the issue was raised by Anne Begg MP at Prime Minister’s Questions on 4 November 2009 during which the Prime Minister affirmed his support for Glencraft and highlighted the importance of helping those most in need of support; notes that an emergency meeting of Glencraft’s board of governors has been arranged for 6 November 2009, and urges Aberdeen City Council to work cooperatively with the board or management of Glencraft and Community to secure a sustainable future for Glencraft.

Supported by: Lewis Macdonald, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, David Whitton, Pauline McNeill, Andy Kerr, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, John Park, Ken Macintosh, Marlyn Glen, Johann Lamont, Cathy Jamieson, Patricia Ferguson, Ms Wendy Alexander, Elaine Murray, Sarah Boyack, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Robin Harper, Karen Gillon, Hugh Henry, Jack McConnell

S3M-5147 Stuart McMillan: Glenfiddich Piping Champion—That the Parliament congratulates Stuart Liddell of Inveraray, who beat nine of the best solo pipers in the world to become the Glenfiddich Piping Champion of 2009; notes that the pipers in the competition must perform in both the piobaireachd and the march, strathspey and reel traditions, and further notes that this is one of the highest achievements in the piping world.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Rob Gibson, Jamie McGrigor, Willie Coffey, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Elaine Smith, Ken Macintosh, Hugh Henry, Dave Thompson, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Maureen Watt*

S3M-5146 Karen Gillon: Glespin Gardeners Group Shortlisted for Big Lottery Fund's The People's Millions Programme—That the Parliament congratulates Glespin Gardeners Group on being shortlisted for the Big Lottery Fund’s The People’s Millions programme, which is run in partnership with the ITV network; notes that the group's project, the Glespin Community Garden, is seeking £49,105 to create a community garden based on a design that highlights the industries of mining, haulage and rail, which helped shape the village; further considers that the garden will provide unique opportunities for villagers to learn new horticultural and landscaping skills; wishes the group luck when its bid goes to a public vote of ITV viewers on 23 November 2009, and congratulates all the shortlisted projects for their hard work so far.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Jamie McGrigor, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Aileen Campbell, Pauline McNeill, Angela Constance, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, Des McNulty, Sarah Boyack, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper

S3M-5145 Stuart McMillan: World Drumming Championships—That the Parliament congratulates Barry Wilson, leading drummer of the Scottish Power Pipe Band, for winning his third consecutive title as World Solo Drumming Champion on 24 October 2009 and notes that Barry won by gaining the most aggregate points over the March, Strathspey and Reel and Hornpipe and Jig events.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie McGrigor, Willie Coffey, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Elaine Smith, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson, Maureen Watt*

S3M-5144 Christina McKelvie: NHS Lanarkshire Reaches Finals of Health, Work and Wellbeing Award—That the Parliament wishes NHS Lanarkshire good luck at the finals of the prestigious UK National Business Awards on 10 November 2009, where it is one of the finalists competing for the Health, Work and Wellbeing Award; notes that this category recognises organisations that successfully maintain a safe and healthy working environment beyond legal obligations, promote healthy lifestyle choices, support staff with a health condition to remain in work and promote positive wellbeing and management practices throughout the organisation; congratulates occupational health staff in NHS Lanarkshire for their achievements in working to build an organisation that values and protects the health of its workers, and encourages employers across Scotland to follow their example by doing the same.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson

S3M-5143 Marlyn Glen: Hate and Discrimination Have No Place in Scottish Society—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.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Joe FitzPatrick, Ken Macintosh, Elaine Smith, Liam McArthur, Hugh O'Donnell, Mike Pringle, Lewis Macdonald, Dave Thompson, George Foulkes, Ian McKee, Malcolm Chisholm, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5142 Ross Finnie: Congratulations to St Kenneth's Primary School—That the Parliament congratulates St Kenneth’s Primary School in Greenock for its excellent HM Inspectorate of Education report, having received three very good ratings and two good ratings, and notes that the school's maritime history project, for which pupils produced informative leaflets on the shipbuilding history of the Clyde that were distributed at a local museum, was also praised in the report.

Supported by: Jim Hume, Hugh O'Donnell, Anne McLaughlin, Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Robert Brown

S3M-5141 Jim Tolson: Guide Dog Puppies in the Scottish Parliament—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.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Iain Smith, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Nanette Milne, Paul Martin, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, Ken Macintosh, Joe FitzPatrick, Cathy Jamieson, Jim Hume, Hugh O'Donnell, John Park, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Patricia Ferguson, Mike Pringle, Margaret Mitchell, Hugh Henry, Bill Butler, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Robert Brown, Jack McConnell*, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5140 Christina McKelvie: Memorial to Blantyre's International Brigaders—That the Parliament is pleased to note the unveiling in Blantyre of a permanent monument to local International Brigaders Thomas Brannan, William Fox and Thomas Fleck, who died fighting in the Spanish Civil War; believes that this memorial is a fitting way to commemorate the heroism of these and other Scots who gave their lives to defend democracy against fascism, and commends the support and generosity shown by South Lanarkshire Trades Council and by ordinary people in Blantyre to ensure that future generations will remember this courageous sacrifice.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Wilson, Joe FitzPatrick, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Elaine Smith, Rob Gibson, Bill Butler, Angela Constance, Christopher Harvie, Robin Harper

S3M-5135 Dr Richard Simpson: Sir John Crofton—That the Parliament is united in sadness at the death of Sir John Crofton and considers that Scotland has lost one of its most inspirational health pioneers; further notes his many achievements, such as the development of a new and effective way of treating tuberculosis (TB) in the 1950s that reduced TB in Edinburgh to almost zero in six years; commends his contribution to raising awareness about the harm caused to public health by tobacco, arguing for policies to control smoking and tobacco and calling for smoke-free legislation long before it became law in Scotland, knowing the important contribution that it would make to future public health; recognises the pivotal role that Sir John and his wife, Dr Eileen Crofton, also played in founding ASH Scotland in 1973 and believes that the ban on smoking in public places implemented by the previous Scottish Executive is a fitting tribute to his lifetime work, and welcomes the launch, earlier this year, of the Crofton Award by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland in partnership with ASH Scotland to recognise the achievements of young people in reducing tobacco and smoking-related harm in Scotland and in honour of Sir John and Lady Eileen Crofton’s tireless work over the decades on tobacco control.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Hugh Henry, Stewart Maxwell, Bill Butler, Mr Frank McAveety, George Foulkes, James Kelly, Mary Mulligan, Jackie Baillie, Jim Tolson, Marlyn Glen, Des McNulty, Helen Eadie, Mike Pringle, Elaine Smith, Irene Oldfather, Trish Godman, Robin Harper, Pauline McNeill, John Park, Malcolm Chisholm, Karen Whitefield, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Jack McConnell, Elaine Murray*

S3M-5134 Mr Frank McAveety: Commonwealth Games Fitness Challenge—That the Parliament congratulates Playbusters on developing Connecting Generations Commonwealth Games Fitness Challenge, a programme that aims to bring together both old and young for sporting activities; recognises its efforts to increase fitness levels, break down generational barriers and raise awareness of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow; further recognises the Big Lottery Fund for its generous grant to start the programme, and wishes Playbusters well in the continuing good work it does in the east end of Glasgow.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Anne McLaughlin, Pauline McNeill, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, Bob Doris, James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, Hugh Henry, Ken Macintosh, Paul Martin, David Whitton, Sandra White, Des McNulty, Mary Mulligan, Karen Gillon, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5133 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Britain Needs Better Banks—That the Parliament welcomes the small concession announced by HBOS that a £10 buffer zone will apply before the proposed new flat fee is charged on authorised overdrafts but believes that this does not go far enough; considers that most customers who need to use their overdraft facility will be worse off as a result of the change from charging interest to a daily fixed fee of £1; notes that a £1 fee on a £100 overdraft is the equivalent of 365% APR; welcomes the Britain Needs Better Banks campaign being run by consumer magazine Which? to highlight unfair practices in banking, and calls on the partially state-owned HBOS to stop punishing customers on lower incomes and reconsider the decision to introduce these unfair charges.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, George Foulkes, Elaine Smith, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-5132 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Dr Elsie Inglis £50 Notes—That the Parliament welcomes the feature of suffragette, Dr Elsie Inglis, on the Clydesdale Bank’s new £50 note, which entered circulation on 2 November 2009; notes that Edinburgh’s own Florence Nightingale was born in India in 1864 and was brought to the city by her father where she attended the Edinburgh School of Medicine for Women; highlights that she set up the Scottish Women’s Hospitals movement in 1914 with field hospitals set up in countries including France, Belgium, Serbia and Greece; further notes that the release of the £50 notes coincides with the 100-year anniversary of the Edinburgh suffrage march, which Elsie Inglis played a significant role in organising, and wishes the Dr Elsie Inglis Scottish Women’s Hospital Trust every success in its campaign to fund a statue to Dr Inglis in Edinburgh.

Supported by: Sandra White, Joe FitzPatrick, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Mike Pringle, Elaine Smith, Rob Gibson, David Stewart, Liam McArthur, Maureen Watt, Gil Paterson, Trish Godman, Ken Macintosh, Robin Harper, Brian Adam, Aileen Campbell, John Park, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie, Bob Doris, Christopher Harvie, Sarah Boyack, Ian McKee, Jack McConnell, Hugh Henry

S3M-5131 Jamie Hepburn: Campsie Fells Regional Park—That the Parliament notes discussions that have taken place between East Dunbartonshire, Stirling, Falkirk and North Lanarkshire councils with Scottish Natural Heritage and Forestry Commission Scotland regarding the possible establishment of a Campsie Fells regional park; further notes the success of Scotland’s existing regional parks, Clyde Muirshiel, the Pentland Hills and the Lomond Hills, in promoting sustainable development in these areas; believes that there is considerable merit in regional park designation for the Campsie Fells, and encourages all relevant bodies and organisations to continue exploring this exciting possibility.

Supported by: Liam McArthur, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, John Wilson, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Des McNulty, Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-5130 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Sir John Crofton—That the Parliament notes with sadness the passing of health pioneer Sir John Crofton, who died on Tuesday 3 November 2009 in Edinburgh, aged 97; highlights Sir John’s inspirational health career that included his development of a new and effective way of treating tuberculosis (TB) in the 1950s and the reduction of TB in Edinburgh to almost zero in six years with his groundbreaking and revolutionary Edinburgh method of treatment with a combination of drugs; further notes that his work led to the mass BCG vaccination that reduced TB in Britain from 50,000 recorded cases in the 1950s to just 5,500 in 1987; acknowledges that Sir John spent much of his life fighting to raise awareness about the harm caused to public health by tobacco and called for smoke-free legislation long before it became law in Scotland, and notes that Sir John and his wife, Dr Eileen Crofton, played a pivotal role in founding the tobacco control charity, ASH Scotland, in 1973 and that a Crofton Award was recently launched by ASH Scotland and the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland, recognising the achievements of young people in reducing tobacco and smoking-related harm in Scotland.

Supported by: Stewart Maxwell, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Alasdair Allan, Ian McKee, Brian Adam, Des McNulty, Bill Kidd, Mike Pringle, Trish Godman, Malcolm Chisholm, Jack McConnell

S3M-5129 Mr Frank McAveety: Congratulations to the Holy Cross Primary School—That the Parliament congratulates Holy Cross Primary School for its recent outstanding review from HM Inspectorate of Education; commends the head teacher for his leadership, teachers for their dedication to improving performance and all staff in the school for providing such a caring environment for the pupils; recognises the motivation and enthusiasm of the pupils, and praises the inclusive approach to meeting children’s needs and fostering a positive environment for students of all social, economic and national backgrounds.

Supported by: Paul Martin, Charlie Gordon, Bill Butler, Pauline McNeill, Des McNulty, Claire Baker, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Rhona Brankin, Sandra White, Trish Godman, Mary Mulligan, Jamie McGrigor, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5128 Joe FitzPatrick: One Parent Families Scotland 65th Anniversary—That the Parliament congratulates One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) on its 65th anniversary; welcomes the work carried out by OPFS to ensure that all families, especially those headed by a lone parent, have the support, information and confidence needed to play a full part in Scotland’s economic and social life; notes that OPFS is the biggest childcare-at-home provider in Scotland, supporting the lives of almost 9,000 families and 4,000 children each year and building their capacity to be full and active contributors to Scottish society; further congratulates OPFS on 25 years in Dundee, where it has carried out programmes such as the 101 project, which offers specialist information and support to lone and young parents and their children, including supporting them towards learning, training, volunteering or employment, and wishes OPFS and all its staff continued success in the years to come.

Supported by: Sandra White, Liam McArthur, Jack McConnell

S3M-5127 John Swinney: The Draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2009 Amendment Order 2009—That the Finance Committee recommends that the draft Budget (Scotland) Act 2009 Amendment Order 2009 be approved.

Supported by: Bruce Crawford

S3M-5126 Kenny MacAskill: The Draft Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Participating Countries) (Scotland) (No.3) Order 2009—That the Justice Committee recommends that the draft Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (Designation of Participating Countries) (Scotland) (No.3) Order 2009 be approved.

Supported by: Fergus Ewing

S3M-5125 Robin Harper: School Design and A+DS—That the Parliament welcomes the creation of Architecture and Design Scotland’s (A+DS) unique web application, Smarter Places; further welcomes that the website, www.smarterplaces.org, empowers pupils, parents, teachers and wider communities to explore ideas about the type of school that they would like to see by creating virtual scrapbooks of interesting elements of schools from across Scotland; notes the benefits to school design that can be achieved when positive consultation with school users is undertaken, and expresses the hope that all local authorities will enthusiastically adopt the approaches set out in Smarter Places.

Supported by: Liam McArthur, Rob Gibson, Ken Macintosh, Bill Wilson, Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Hugh O'Donnell

S3M-5124# Elaine Murray: Friends of the Earth Report, Wasting Away—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.

Supported by: Liam McArthur, Sarah Boyack, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5123 Mr Frank McAveety: Tollcross Community Trust Expansion—That the Parliament notes the ongoing success of the Tollcross Community Trust in dealing with £987,436 of debt and recording £320,130 in financial gains for clients in 2008-09; further notes the need to assist the organisation with converting 1061 Tollcross Road into suitable premises to expand its capabilities; recognises the outstanding work of its five current volunteers in assisting the Tollcross area with its pressing financial needs, and wishes the Tollcross Community Trust well in the continuing service it provides in the east end of Glasgow.

Supported by: John Park, Trish Godman, David Stewart, Paul Martin, Des McNulty, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5122 Dave Thompson: Going the Extra Mile—That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Bible Society in reaching its ambitious target of raising £200,000, in partnership with the Bible Society of Brazil, to purchase, equip and run a purpose-built vehicle to operate as a multifunctional and mobile medical, dental and spiritual care centre around urban and rural regions of north-east Brazil and wishes it success in achieving the new target of £250,000 to keep the vehicle running for an additional year.

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Jamie McGrigor, Bob Doris, Andrew Welsh, Gil Paterson, Pauline McNeill, Stuart McMillan, Nigel Don, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance

S3M-5121 Liam McArthur: Dan Buglass—That the Parliament notes with great regret the death of Dan Buglass, who, for over three decades, has been a leading Scottish agricultural journalist serving, with distinction, both the print and broadcast sections of the media; recognises the vital role played by agricultural journalists, not only in serving the needs of farmers and others in the industry, but also in educating and informing the general public and so helping to build bridges of understanding between Scotland’s largely urban population and one of its most important industries, a role in which Dan Buglass excelled; believes that Scotland’s agricultural world will be a duller place without his presence at shows and other trade events, and offers its condolences to his family on their loss.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Elaine Murray, Mike Pringle, David Whitton, Des McNulty, Jim Hume, Bill Kidd, Nanette Milne, Mr Frank McAveety, Alex Johnstone, Margaret Mitchell, Sarah Boyack, John Lamont, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, David McLetchie, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Tavish Scott, Robin Harper, Ross Finnie, Hugh O'Donnell, Peter Peacock, John Scott, Jack McConnell

S3M-5120 Nigel Don: Leonard Cheshire Disability Review 2009—That the Parliament welcomes Leonard Cheshire Disability’s research report, Disability Review 2009; notes that this is the third in a series of annual UK-wide surveys that detail the experience of disabled people by examining areas such as education, employment, social care and citizenship; further recognises that the report highlights that 9% of respondents report that they have been the victim of disability hate crime, 63% of respondents are in fuel poverty and 50% of respondents who are living in poverty and need social care support are having to pay towards their social care, in some cases covering all the costs of their care; therefore commends the report and encourages all political parties and the wider community to help remove the many barriers that are put in place for disabled people by working together to remove these barriers, and hopes that Leonard Cheshire Disability’s Disability Review 2010 will show a positive change in the experiences of disabled people.

Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson

S3M-5117 Bill Wilson: Evidence-based Approach to Drugs Essential—That the Parliament deplores the Home Secretary’s sacking of Professor David Nutt from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs; considers that he was fired for having the integrity to criticise UK Government policy on the classification of drugs as unsupported by scientific evidence; believes that this development is but the latest example of gross mishandling of the drugs issue by the UK Government and that its refusal to base policies on scientific evidence has seen the number of addicts soar in the last few decades, with devastating consequences for many; contends that if the UK Government spent less time worrying about signals and more time worrying about the evidence there would be less drug addiction, lower crime rates and fewer deaths, and urges the Scottish Government to continue with an evidence-based approach to drug addiction.

Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Robin Harper

S3M-5111 Stuart McMillan: Strathclyde Police Pipe Band Shortlisted—That the Parliament congratulates Strathclyde Police Pipe Band on being shortlisted for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2009 in the Scottish Pipe Band of the Year category; notes that the pipe band has achieved this fantastic success despite the recent upheaval and uncertainty surrounding its future; further notes that this displays the popularity and high level of attainment achieved by the band over the last year, and calls on Chief Constable Stephen House to consider this news when making decisions regarding the future of the pipe band.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Sandra White, Anne McLaughlin, Ian McKee, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Elaine Smith, Cathy Peattie, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Willie Coffey, Ms Wendy Alexander

S3M-5109# Sandra White: Detention of Children at Dungavel—That the Parliament expresses serious concern over figures obtained from the UK Border Agency that show that, between October 2008 and September 2009, 103 children were detained at Dungavel in Scotland; notes that, in the last five years, 889 children from 488 families throughout the United Kingdom have been held for over 28 days, thus requiring UK ministers to personally approve continued detention; considers that these figures show that, despite the welcome commitment and efforts of the previous administration and the current Scottish Government to end the practice of the detention of children at Dungavel, children and families from Glasgow and throughout Scotland are still being subjected to this unacceptable practice, and would welcome further efforts from all political parties in Scotland to ensure that this practice is ended.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Elaine Smith, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Linda Fabiani, Angela Constance, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Patrick Harvie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Anne McLaughlin, Alasdair Allan, Christine Grahame, Ian McKee, Robert Brown, Robin Harper, Christopher Harvie, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Hugh O'Donnell, Dave Thompson

S3M-5108 John Park: It's Fun to Save—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.

Supported by: Claire Baker, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackie Baillie, Dr Richard Simpson, Trish Godman, Elaine Murray, James Kelly, Marlyn Glen, Ken Macintosh, Hugh Henry, Jack McConnell, Pauline McNeill, Hugh O'Donnell, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5107 Sandra White: Assurances Sought over Future of RBS Insurance Workers—That the Parliament notes that plans for a sell-off of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s (RBS) insurance division as part of a wider process of restructuring at the bank may have a direct impact on jobs in the sector in Scotland and particularly in Glasgow, where around 1,600 jobs are based; welcomes ongoing discussions to ensure that both jobs and headquarter functions are maintained in Scotland, and seeks assurances from those involved in the proposed sell-off of the RBS insurance division that any final decision will, as a priority, protect the future of the workforce.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Angela Constance, Aileen Campbell, Anne McLaughlin, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-5106 Alasdair Allan: Teampull na Trionaid—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.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam, Jamie McGrigor, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Angela Constance, Sandra White, Ken Macintosh, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5105 Bob Doris: Glasgow Caledonian University Leading the Way on Widening Access to Higher Education—That the Parliament believes that access to a university education should be widened to ensure that people from all communities, including those from the most deprived backgrounds, can benefit and should be based on talent and ability and not on social background or ability to pay; notes that this is particularly important in Glasgow, given the recent University and College Union report that placed three Glasgow constituencies, Glasgow north east, south west and east in the poorest performing 7% of constituencies in the United Kingdom, based on adults having a university degree; notes that the matter is compounded by the lack of any qualifications at all by many adults in these areas, most notably in Glasgow east, which ranks 623 out of 629 in terms of qualifications; in this context congratulates Glasgow Caledonian University on being the only Scottish university to receive both the UK Award for Lifelong Learning and the award for Widening Participation Initiative of the Year; acknowledges that this is the second year that Glasgow Caledonian University has been recognised for its excellence in education after receiving the 2008 Award for Outstanding Support for Overseas Students; recognises the great contribution to Glasgow’s communities that the university and its Caledonian Club have made, and highlights the students’ and faculty’s continued effort to promote lifelong learning and higher education.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Alasdair Allan, Angela Constance, Aileen Campbell, Ian McKee, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Elaine Smith, Gil Paterson, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie

S3M-5104 Stuart McMillan: Hidden Killer Campaign—That the Parliament congratulates the Health and Safety Executive for its awareness campaign targeting tradesmen across Scotland to beware of the hidden killer of asbestos; notes that the campaign aims to raise awareness of the risks posed by asbestos and how workers can best protect themselves; further notes that official figures show that about 20 tradesmen a week in the United Kingdom die from asbestos-related diseases and that this number is rising, and urges tradesmen everywhere to pay attention to the campaign in order to protect themselves and colleagues from the threat of asbestos-related conditions.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Bob Doris, Mike Pringle, Angela Constance, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Ian McKee, Shirley-Anne Somerville, John Park, Elaine Smith, Sandra White, Jackie Baillie, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Michael Matheson, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5103 Stewart Maxwell: Celebrating Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species—That the Parliament joins in the celebrations of the 150th anniversary of the publication of naturalist Charles Darwin’s most famous work, On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, first published on 24 November 1859; considers that it has made an unsurpassed contribution to the understanding of evolution, natural selection and consequently the tracing of man’s primitive beginnings; recognises the strength of the theory of evolution and considers that it has stood the test of time, despite many attempts to disprove it, for over 150 years since its publication, and notes that Darwin’s path to prominence started as a medical student at the University of Edinburgh.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Angela Constance, Patrick Harvie, Liam McArthur, Jackson Carlaw, Ian McKee, John Park, Des McNulty, Sandra White, Ross Finnie, Robin Harper, Hugh Henry, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Christopher Harvie, Christina McKelvie, Sarah Boyack, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5102 Patricia Ferguson: Hawthorn Housing Co-operative—That the Parliament congratulates Hawthorn Housing Co-operative on the opening of its new offices on 30 October 2009: notes that this is the latest milestone in the life of the Hawthorn Housing Co-operative, which has since 1984 worked to improve the housing stock and environment in its area; recognises the achievements of the chair, Helen Graham, and all past and present members of the management committee for their hard work and commitment to date and the staff for their efforts on behalf of the Hawthorn Housing Co-operative, and wishes them well as they work in partnership with Maryhill Citizens Advice Bureau to improve accessibility to advice on welfare rights and with Cadder Housing Association to introduce an estate caretaking initiative.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack

S3M-5101 Claire Baker: Think Positive, Tackling Mental Ill Health among Students in Scotland—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.

Supported by: Pauline McNeill, Karen Whitefield, Johann Lamont, Jackie Baillie, Joe FitzPatrick, John Park, Dr Richard Simpson, Angela Constance, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Elaine Murray, Liam McArthur, David Whitton, James Kelly, Des McNulty, Mr Frank McAveety, George Foulkes, Ken Macintosh, Cathie Craigie, Mary Mulligan, Malcolm Chisholm, Robin Harper, Aileen Campbell, Rhona Brankin, Alison McInnes, Hugh Henry, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Irene Oldfather, Jamie McGrigor, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Dave Thompson, Tom McCabe, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5100 Patricia Ferguson: Ripped-off Glasgow—That the Parliament notes that the decision to cancel the Glasgow Airport Rail Link is estimated to have cost 1,300 jobs in the city and has been criticised by CBI Scotland, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and local community leaders who have described it as a dagger in the heart of Glasgow; notes that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde this year received its worst funding settlement since devolution; notes that Glasgow does not receive a specific additional supplement to reflect the large number of non-residents who use its services; notes that, despite an increase in the Scottish Government's overall budget, it is cutting the housing and regeneration budget; believes that this decision, coupled with recent cuts to the Housing Association Grant, will disproportionately affect Glasgow; believes that local families and businesses in Glasgow deserve better, and urges the Scottish Government to give Glasgow a fair deal, not rip it off.

S3M-5099# Johann Lamont: Congratulations to the West Highland Free Press—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.

Supported by: David Stewart, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Linda Fabiani, Cathy Peattie, Jackie Baillie, Mr Frank McAveety, Karen Whitefield, Hugh Henry, Karen Gillon, James Kelly, Cathy Jamieson, Claire Baker, Trish Godman, Lewis Macdonald, Bill Butler, Jack McConnell, Mary Mulligan, Margaret Curran, Des McNulty, David Whitton, Robin Harper, Ken Macintosh, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Dave Thompson

S3M-5098# Aileen Campbell: Save Lesmahagow's Jubilee Hall—That the Parliament notes with concern plans by South Lanarkshire Council to close and sell the Jubilee Hall in Lesmahagow; notes that this concern is shared by many members of the local community, the Community Council and various groups and users of the hall; believes that the Support the Jubilee Hall fun day, held by hall users on 31 October 2009, will further demonstrate the concern and opposition to the decision that exists locally, and considers that the hall continues to play an important function in Lesmahagow and is an important part of the town's heritage that should be preserved.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Ian McKee, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5097 David Whitton: Local Government Boundary Commission Decision to Keep Princes Gate in East Dunbartonshire—That the Parliament welcomes the revised recommendations published by the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, proposing that Princes Gate housing estate in Bishopbriggs remain within East Dunbartonshire; notes that the revised recommendations will also retain the site to the rear of the Aldi supermarket designated for affordable housing, the loss of which would have had a detrimental effect on East Dunbartonshire Council’s being able to make provision for affordable housing, allow children from Princes Gate the opportunity to continue their education with siblings and friends in East Dunbartonshire Council schools and allow children living in Princes Gate in receipt of special needs provision to continue to receive this from East Dunbartonshire Council social work services; congratulates the residents of Princes Gate for conducting a disciplined and determined campaign to get to this point, and hopes that all residents and elected representatives of Princes Gate residents in East Dunbartonshire Council, the Scottish Parliament and the UK Parliament make representation to the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland prior to the close of consultation on 28 January 2010.

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Des McNulty, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Gil Paterson, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5096 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Black Community Development Project—That the Parliament welcomes the relaunch of the Black Community Development Project (BCDP) as the Community Organisation for Race Equality (CORE); notes that the new name and constitution will be formally introduced at an event on Friday 27 November 2009; further notes that the BCDP was established to combat racism and discrimination in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh; highlights the great work and contributions made by the BCDP over the last 15 years, and looks forward to the project’s continued success with a new identity and vision for the future.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Ian McKee, Anne McLaughlin, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Malcolm Chisholm, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-5095 Lewis Macdonald: Opening of Union Square, Aberdeen—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the Union Square shopping centre in Aberdeen; notes the multi-million investment in both the rail and bus stations at Guild Street; believes that city centre regeneration is key to the future prosperity of Scotland’s cities and regions, and looks forward to the tourism and economic benefits that the development will bring.

Supported by: Patricia Ferguson, Bill Kidd, Nanette Milne, Jackie Baillie, Mr Frank McAveety, Claire Baker, Pauline McNeill, Richard Baker, Nigel Don, John Park, Des McNulty, Maureen Watt, Mary Mulligan, Hugh Henry, Jamie Stone, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Marlyn Glen, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5094 Christina McKelvie: Better Value for Public Purse—That the Parliament congratulates Royal Mail on securing a £17 million contract with the Scottish Government for postal services; notes that this is a contract across 89 Scottish public sector organisations, thus guaranteeing Royal Mail the custom from this wide range of bodies for the first time; considers that the delivery of this contract by Procurement Scotland will save the public purse nearly £3 million per year, and further considers that the contract may help to protect the Royal Mail in the face of the hostility shown to it by the UK Government, including the deregulation of postal services nearly four years ago and epitomised by the comments of Pat McFadden MP in the House of Commons on 20 October 2009 that "Competition exists in the postal service, and it will not go away and cannot be wished away. I want a Royal Mail that is fit to win in that market, rather than one that simply wishes competition to go away. The most fundamental challenge to Royal Mail is not competition from other mail companies but competition from other communications technologies. That must lie at the heart of the response to the threatened dispute."

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Brian Adam, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White

S3M-5093♦ Brian Adam: Tax Incentives Needed for Oil and Gas Industry—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement by TAQA Bratani that it has started production on its first new North Sea oil well in the Cormorant field and also welcomes the announcement of a discovery of light oil in the West of Shetland by Hurricane Exploration PLC, the first time that a basement reservoir has been planned and drilled in the UK continental shelf as an exploration target; believes that these excellent examples show that further investment in the UK continental shelf can produce rewards; however notes with concern recent comments from Oil and Gas UK that 50,000 jobs could be put at risk if tax incentives are not created to increase investment and that offshore platforms, pipelines and infrastructure would fall into disrepair, and would therefore welcome further tax incentives for the oil and gas industry to protect investment and jobs in the north east and help drive the economy out of this recession.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Ian McKee, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White, Dave Thompson

S3M-5092 Bill Wilson: Ethical Procurement in the NHS—That the Parliament welcomes the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency publication, Ethical Procurement for Health: Guidance, a document for use by the NHS in England to promote stronger, fairer and more ethical trade in the health sector; considers that the need for such a publication was underlined by the findings of a recent delegation of the British Medical Association’s Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group to Pakistan, which found, amongst other things, that, in a single street in Sialkot, 10 children were at work making surgical instruments, including some as young as seven, and calls on NHS Scotland to use Ethical Procurement for Health: Guidance as the basis for developing similar guidance in Scotland.

Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Jackie Baillie, Robin Harper, Linda Fabiani, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Ian McKee, Dave Thompson

S3M-5091 Johann Lamont: Living Wage—That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow City Council on the success of the Glasgow Living Wage campaign; notes that already more than 100 companies have followed the lead of Scotland's largest local authority and signed up to a policy guaranteeing all employees a wage of at least £7 per hour, and urges all local authorities to consider launching living wage campaigns.

Supported by: Cathy Peattie, Jackie Baillie, Mr Frank McAveety, Cathy Jamieson, Patricia Ferguson, Ms Wendy Alexander, Karen Gillon, James Kelly, Michael McMahon, Claire Baker, Trish Godman, John Park, Dr Richard Simpson, Malcolm Chisholm, Patrick Harvie, Marlyn Glen, Robert Brown, Elaine Smith, Des McNulty, Sandra White, George Foulkes, Hugh Henry, Elaine Murray, Pauline McNeill, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5090 Bill Wilson: Support for the UN Goldstone Report—That the Parliament welcomes reports that the UN General Assembly will debate, from 4 November 2009, the UN report, Human Rights In Palestine And Other Occupied Arab Territories, Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which found both Israeli and Palestinian forces guilty of human rights violations; deplores the fact that the Government of Israel refused to cooperate with the UN mission; notes that Israeli violations listed in the report include the destruction of industrial infrastructure, food production, water installations, sewage treatment plants and housing, the use of white phosphorus, the use of civilians as human shields, reprisals against civilians, the collective punishment of civilians in Gaza for the detention of Gilad Shalit, the repression of dissent in Israel, including the restriction of access to information and the ill-treatment of human rights defenders, and also notes that the mission was "of the view that the Israeli system overall presents inherently discriminatory features that make the pursuit of justice for Palestinian victims very difficult" and that "the current constitutional structure and legislation in Israel leaves very little room, if any, for Palestinians to seek compensation"; further notes that Palestinian violations listed include not according Gilad Shalit his rights as a prisoner of war, internal violence and targeting of Fatah affiliates by security services under the control of the Gaza authorities and reprisals against civilians in the form of rocket attacks that have, among other things, adversely affected the right to education of children and adults living in southern Israel; calls on all member governments to support this comprehensive report, produced by a team headed by internationally respected Justice Richard Goldstone, and hopes that the Uniting for Peace Resolution (UNGA 377A) will be invoked, thus giving the General Assembly the same enforcement powers as those normally exercised by the Security Council where it can be said that US vetoes have consistently shielded Israel, and calls on all parties to cease human rights violations and make reparations for their past actions.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Robin Harper

S3M-5089 Iain Smith: Warm Homes, Green Jobs—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of Warm Homes, Green Jobs: The economic impacts of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act in the residential sector, a report by the Association for the Conservation of Energy and commissioned by eaga Scotland, which concludes that achieving a 42% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland's homes by 2020 could create or safeguard over 10,000 jobs, deliver an additional value to the Scottish economy of over £4 billion and contribute to lifting many Scots out of fuel poverty; notes however the report's conclusion that these benefits will not be realised unless investment in sustainable energy rises sharply, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that Scotland does not miss out on the benefits that achieving a 42% cut in climate change pollution from our homes can deliver.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack

S3M-5088 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Babies on Buses Campaign Award—That the Parliament congratulates the Babies on Buses campaigning mums on winning the Campaign of the Year Award at the 2009 Herald Society Awards in association with the Big Lottery Fund; recalls that the Babies on Buses campaign group was established when Lothian Buses refused access to anyone attempting to travel with an unfoldable pram or travel system; considers that the campaign has wide public, political, organisational and charity support and notes that it has been considered by the Public Petitions Committee; welcomes the move by Lothian Buses to trial pink-top buses that have a dedicated wheelchair space as well as a dedicated buggy or pram space, and calls on Lothian Buses to extend the pink-top pram-accessible buses to all services as soon as practicable, thus ensuring that it offers equal access for all.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Angela Constance, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Alison McInnes, Christina McKelvie, Elaine Smith

S3M-5087# Jim Tolson: Allotments, Community Gardens and Grow-your-own Projects—That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Allotments and Gardens Society in its role supporting allotment holders and community gardens in Scotland, encouraging the development of new sites, enhancing biodiversity and preserving skills in gardening; acknowledges the valuable work carried out by other organisations in the promotion of community gardens and grow-your-own projects; recognises the links between green space, activity and good health and the social, financial, environmental and health benefits of gardening and growing one’s own food; highlights the need to protect and enhance green spaces, particularly in urban and deprived areas; notes that Crossford Community Council, in conjunction with Crossford Allotment Association and the Carnegie Trust, is investigating the provision of land for allotments, community gardens and social enterprise, and hopes that local authorities and other public bodies examine ways of transferring land to local communities to be used for such projects.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Robert Brown, Mr Frank McAveety, Jim Hume, John Wilson, Mike Pringle, Robin Harper, Bill Wilson, Cathy Peattie, Maureen Watt, Sandra White, Trish Godman, Hugh O'Donnell, Bob Doris, Sarah Boyack, Bill Kidd, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Aitken, Michael McMahon, Brian Adam, Marlyn Glen, Kenneth Gibson, James Kelly, Andy Kerr

S3M-5086 Liam McArthur: Impact on Fishermen of New Net-measuring Gauge—That the Parliament notes with concern the problems that fishermen are encountering when the mesh sizes of their nets are found to be undersized when measured with the new electronic net-measuring gauge despite being measured as legal with the hand-held wedge-shaped device previously used by fisheries officers and that were in use when the nets were purchased; is further concerned that this can lead to expensive nets having to be discarded or to boats being arrested, resulting in a loss of valuable fishing time; believes that this is an unnecessary addition to the economic pressure on Scotland’s fishermen who are already severely handicapped by the tight restrictions on their fishing opportunities; further believes that it is unacceptable for a formerly legal net to be deemed to be illegal because of a change in measuring device, and calls on the Scottish Government to introduce a transition period, during which fishermen can choose to have their old nets measured with the device in use when they were purchased, that will be long enough to allow fishermen to get the full use out of their old nets before discarding them.

Supported by: Tavish Scott, Ross Finnie, Hugh O'Donnell, Trish Godman, Dave Thompson

S3M-5085 Bill Kidd: Most Vulnerable at Risk—That the Parliament calls on the UK Government to reconsider the proposed reform of attendance allowance and is concerned that the consequences of the changes to the allowance, which helps severely disabled pensioners pay for the additional costs of disability, would adversely effect the most vulnerable disabled recipients of the benefit, resulting in a loss of over £70 per week, something that will potentially push thousands of pensioners into poverty or worse.

Supported by: John Wilson, Alasdair Allan, Brian Adam, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Wilson, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Linda Fabiani, Dave Thompson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-5084 Stuart McMillan: Recommendation for Princes Gate, Bishopbriggs to Remain with East Dunbartonshire Local Authority—That the Parliament welcomes the revised recommendations published for public consultation on 29 October 2009 by the Local Government Boundary Commission, proposing that the Princes Gate area of Bishopbriggs remain part of the East Dunbartonshire local authority area; considers that the residents of Princes Gate specifically chose to live in this area and have maintained and developed their community links with the rest of Bishopbriggs over the years, links that would have been dislocated under the commission’s provisional proposals, with significant financial loss for existing residents; welcomes also the proposed retention of a much-needed affordable housing site in East Dunbartonshire, and congratulates the local residents who have worked tirelessly with the local council to overturn the commission’s provisional proposals.

Supported by: Stewart Maxwell, Alasdair Allan, Jackson Carlaw, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd

S3M-5083 Christopher Harvie: Imprisonment of Baha'i Leaders in Iran—That the Parliament condemns the continued imprisonment in Iran of Baha'i leaders Fariba Kamalabadi, Jamaloddin Khanjani, Afif Naemi, Saeid Rezaie, Mahvash Sabet, Behrouz Tavakkoli, and Vahid Tizfahm, six of whom were arrested on 14 May 2008 and one detained since 5 March 2008, reportedly because of their Baha'i faith, and later charged with insulting religious sanctities, propaganda against the Islamic Republic, spying for Israel and spreading corruption on earth, the latter two charges carrying the death penalty; deplores that their trial has been postponed three times since their arrest, most recently on 18 October 2009 without a new date being set, and that internationally recognised protocols with regard to proper legal representation do not appear to have been followed nor any evidence brought forward to support the allegations, and urges the government in Tehran to facilitate the immediate release of the imprisoned Baha'i leaders and all co-religionists currently detained solely on the grounds of their religious beliefs and to end its active persecution and discrimination of adherents to the Baha'i faith, in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which it ratified in 1975.

Supported by: Stewart Maxwell, Mike Pringle, Gil Paterson, Brian Adam, Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Ken Macintosh, John Wilson, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell

S3M-5082 Dr Richard Simpson: International Brain Tumour Awareness Week and World Walk—That the Parliament notes that 1 to 7 November 2009 is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week; recognises the work in Scotland in developing the managed care network; congratulates the record number of 176 brain tumour and cancer-related organisations that have supported the International Brain Tumour Alliance’s week and walk this year, and also notes that, with dozens of events planned and a combined total of 150,598 walking kilometres achieved to date, they are in sight of the World Walk target of 200,000 kilometres, equivalent to going round the world at the equator five times.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Christine Grahame, Ken Macintosh, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Stuart McMillan, Mary Scanlon, David Whitton, Nanette Milne, Joe FitzPatrick, Sandra White, Helen Eadie, Marlyn Glen, Mary Mulligan, Bill Wilson, Cathie Craigie, Trish Godman, Jackson Carlaw, Ross Finnie, Aileen Campbell, John Park, Jackie Baillie, Bill Kidd, Bill Butler, Pauline McNeill, Elaine Smith, Linda Fabiani, Hugh Henry, Rhona Brankin, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Liam McArthur, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5080 Maureen Watt: Opening of Cults and Bucksburn Academies—That the Parliament notes the opening of the new Cults Academy and Bucksburn Academy in Aberdeen; congratulates Aberdeen City Council on delivering two fantastic brand-new purpose-built facilities in the most recent phase of the £120 million 3Rs project to rebuild or renovate eight primary and two secondary schools; considers that this is an indicator of Aberdeen City Council’s ambition to deliver a school estate that is fit for the 21st century, and wishes pupils and teachers at Cults and Bucksburn academies the best possible start to life in their new schools.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Nanette Milne, Stewart Maxwell, Aileen Campbell, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Nicol Stephen, Nigel Don, Alison McInnes

S3M-5079 Bill Kidd: Learning for Life—That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow Caledonian University for winning the UK Award for Lifelong Learning and Widening Participation Initiative for the work of their Caledonian Club, which works with local children and families to introduce them to higher education, raising aspiration and building life skills; notes that it was the only Scottish university to win a prestigious Times Higher Education Award, and commends students and staff at Glasgow Caledonian University, and within the Caledonian Club, for their passionate commitment to lifelong learning and community development throughout Glasgow.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Jim Tolson, Aileen Campbell, Des McNulty, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Maureen Watt, Sandra White, Angela Constance, Michael Matheson, Claire Baker, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5078 Patrick Harvie: Draconian Action against Filesharing—That the Parliament welcomes the poll findings published by YouGov that show that 70% of the UK public opposes plans to force internet service providers to disconnect customers suspected of filesharing; deeply regrets the enthusiasm being shown for these plans by the Secretary of State for Business, Lord Mandelson; considers that the proposal would lead to an increase in routine encryption, hijacking of internet protocol addresses and wi-fi networks, the unjustified disconnection of many individuals and a wider impact on other members of disconnected households; agrees with the UK All Party Parliamentary Communications Group that "much of the problem with illegal sharing of copyrighted material has been caused by the rightsholders, and the music industry in particular, being far too slow in getting their act together and making popular legal alternatives available"; recognises the growing importance, especially in rural areas, of reliable internet connections for access to public services, financial inclusion, education, democratic debate and other purposes, and urges the UK Government to abandon the current proposal and develop alternative approaches that properly balance creative artists’ right to fair recompense with the wider interests of the public.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Bill Wilson, John Wilson, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd

S3M-5077 Bob Doris: Glasgow Labour Silences Those Who Speak out against Organised Crime—That the Parliament expresses concern that the Labour-controlled Glasgow City Council appears to be gagging opposition councillors to prevent them from speaking out within the council against organised crime by refusing to allow a motion to be put forward in the names of Councillor McAllister and Councillor Greene; considers that the motion in question was to have been debated on Thursday 29 October 2009 at a full meeting of Glasgow City Council and would have allowed debate in relation to safety concerns at the Applerow Motors MOT testing centre in Lambhill in Glasgow, which was the scene of a gangland-style shooting in 2006; further considers that the motion would have exposed the lack of action by the Secretary of State for Transport, Lord Adonis, on this matter and the inability of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) to deal with such matters; is disappointed that Glasgow’s Lord Provost, Bob Winters, has called the motion not competent or relevant, and believes that this is an example of the Labour Party attempting to talk tough on crime but in reality attempting to silence those who are trying to take a stand and effect real action against organised criminals.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Anne McLaughlin, Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Angela Constance, Dave Thompson

S3M-5076 Helen Eadie: Interfaith Organisation, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, Presents World Statesman Award to Gordon Brown—That the Parliament considers that there are times in any government’s term of office when elected members of the party of government would do well to engage in a period of self-denying ordinance; further considers that the current Scottish administration might consider urging its backbenchers to refrain from engaging in the expression of what could be construed as anti-American sentiment so soon after the offence caused to both American and Scottish people by the release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi; notes that the organisation on whose behalf Henry Kissinger presented the World Statesman of the Year Award to Gordon Brown, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, is an interfaith organisation that campaigns for religious freedom and human rights, and does not consider that the criticism of Henry Kissinger expressed by Jamie Hepburn MSP in his amendment, S3M-4990.1, reflects in any way on the foundation and its work.

S3M-5075 Ian McKee: Loanhead Town Hall—That the Parliament notes with disappointment the decision of Midlothian Council to demolish Loanhead town hall; believes that this decision was taken in the face of strong local opposition and with no public consultation; commends the efforts of the community in Loanhead in trying to save its town hall, and encourages Midlothian Council to reconsider its decision in order to allow the community time to come forward with plans to take over the running of the town hall.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Robin Harper, Rhona Brankin, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson

S3M-5074 David Stewart: Congratulations to the Pupils of Raigmore Primary, Inverness—That the Parliament congratulates the pupils of Raigmore Primary School in Inverness, Scotland’s winner at the annual Make IT Happy technology awards, which took place at the Houses of Parliament on 19 October 2009; notes that the pupils’ entry showed how they used technology to keep in touch with their fathers fighting in Afghanistan with the Black Watch 3 Scots; further notes that more than 230 primary schools across the United Kingdom registered for the 2009 competition, which challenged 9 to 11-year-olds to demonstrate how technology can be used creatively to make people in their communities happy, and hopes that the £1,200 prize money will assist the Raigmore pupils to improve creative technologies in the future.

Supported by: Jack McConnell, Sarah Boyack, Peter Peacock

S3M-5073 Jackie Baillie: Real Ale Pub of the Year—That the Parliament congratulates the Kilcreggan Hotel on being crowned Real Ale Pub of the Year for the second consecutive year; notes that the popular village hostelry topped a poll of members of the Glasgow and West of Scotland branch of the Campaign for Real Ale; understands that the pub was selected on the basis of serving consistently good ale and providing an excellent atmosphere for its customers, and would like to commend the Kilcreggan Hotel on sourcing high-quality beer from across Great Britain, giving the customer the best possible choice in value and quality.

Supported by: Pauline McNeill, Karen Gillon, Bob Doris, Patrick Harvie, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5072 Jackie Baillie: Congratulations to Thompsons Solicitors—That the Parliament congratulates Thompsons Solicitors on its recognition as Scotland’s top legal firm in 2009; notes that the law firm earned this prestigious accolade last month in the Law Awards of Scotland 2009, organised by The Firm magazine; understands that the personal injury specialists have represented hundreds of families who have lost family members to asbestos and related illnesses, and appreciates the hard work that Thompsons is currently undertaking with the C.diff Justice Group, representing many of the families of the people who were affected by the Clostridium difficile outbreak at the Vale of Leven Hospital.

Supported by: Bill Butler, James Kelly, John Park, Pauline McNeill, Stuart McMillan, Karen Gillon, Richard Baker, Mary Mulligan, Des McNulty, David Whitton, Dr Richard Simpson, Karen Whitefield, Margaret Curran, Trish Godman, Elaine Smith, Helen Eadie, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5070 Bill Wilson: Detention without Trial Is an Assault on Human Rights and Civil Liberties—That the Parliament recognises the right to due process for all detainees and therefore is disturbed that there are people in the United Kingdom who have been held in custody and without trial for an extended period; believes that due process entails all detainees knowing the charges against them, having access to legal advice and receiving a fair trial within a reasonable time, and believes that, when the basic human rights and civil liberties of some are breached, the rights and liberties of all are threatened and that disregarding rights and liberties does nothing to make the United Kingdom a safer country or combat terrorism.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Christine Grahame, Patrick Harvie, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Linda Fabiani, Dave Thompson, Sandra White

S3M-5063 Pauline McNeill: The Scottish Parliament Welcomes Fire Fighters from Nablus—That the Parliament warmly welcomes the firefighters from Nablus who are in Scotland for three weeks to receive fire service training at the Scottish Fire Services College in Gullane, East Lothian; congratulates the Fire Brigades Union, the Scottish Government and the college for organising and supporting the project that exemplifies the fire service as a fraternity that exists across international boundaries, and believes that this type of collaboration with Palestinian public service workers is important in keeping skills up to date and will benefit ordinary citizens living in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Supported by: Elaine Smith, Marlyn Glen, Bill Wilson, Sarah Boyack, Jackie Baillie, Jamie Hepburn, Robin Harper, Hugh O'Donnell, Joe FitzPatrick, Trish Godman, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White

S3M-5062 Bill Wilson: Israel's Detention of Mohammad Othman—That the Parliament endorses calls by Jewish Voice for Peace for the release by Israel of human rights activist Mohammad Othman, arrested and detained by Israeli soldiers at the Jordan/Palestine border on his return from Norway where he was campaigning in support of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign against Israeli human rights abuses; notes that this non-violent campaign has the support of students, cultural workers, unionists, churches, progressive governments and sports fans throughout the world, and believes that the most effective way in which the Government of Israel could remove the threat of boycott, divestment and sanctions would be by respecting human rights, accepting the findings of the report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict to the United Nations Human Rights Council and prosecuting those guilty of war crimes, releasing illegally held detainees, dismantling illegal Jewish settlements while ceasing the destruction of Palestinian homes and compensating those whose homes have been destroyed, withdrawing from the occupied territories and ending the blockade of Gaza, the continued enforcement of which has seen many civilians killed, including unarmed children reportedly shot by the Israeli Defence Force when it was not threatened.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-5061 John Swinney: Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution—That the Parliament, for the purposes of any Act of the Scottish Parliament resulting from the Home Owner and Debtor Protection (Scotland) Bill, agrees to any increase in expenditure of a kind referred to in Rule 9.12.3(b)(i) or (iii) of the Parliament’s Standing Orders arising in consequence of the Act.

S3M-5060 Linda Fabiani: Skillbuild 2009, Congratulations to National Construction College Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates the National Construction College Scotland for its success at the recent Skillbuild 2009 competition held at South Lanarkshire College, with particular congratulations to Mark Doris, winner of the gold medal for reinforced bitumen membrane roofing and Stephen Ferguson and Graeme Highlands, winners of the gold and silver medals respectively for roof sheeting and cladding.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Alasdair Allan, Aileen Campbell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Christina McKelvie, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5059 Gavin Brown: "Unighting" to Tackle Crime—That the Parliament congratulates the Unight scheme on picking up the Outstanding Achievement accolade at the inaugural Scottish Police Awards; notes that the scheme, which links up 45 nightclubs and other venues with late licences across Edinburgh, resulted in reducing serious assaults by 50% and drug offences by 55%; commends clubs across the city on playing such a vital role in tackling antisocial behaviour, and wishes the scheme continued success in the future.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Bill Aitken, Mary Scanlon, John Lamont, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jackson Carlaw, Margaret Mitchell, Trish Godman, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Annabel Goldie

S3M-5058 Jamie Stone: Caithness Bakery Wins Highland Food Award—That the Parliament congratulates Reids of Caithness in Thurso on winning an award in the new products category of the 2009 Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards for its range of cakes and biscuits; further notes that this family bakery also achieved success in 2008 when it won two gold Great Taste Awards from the Guild of Fine Foods for its production of biscuits for Mey Selections and one gold star in 2009 for its Caithness Treacle Toffee biscuits; welcomes the fact that this win reinforces the far north’s reputation for quality food, and wishes everyone at Reids continued success in the future.

Supported by: Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5057 Michael Matheson: Halifax Bank of Scotland Charges—That the Parliament notes with concern the decision by Halifax Bank of Scotland to change its charges for overdrafts, whereby customers will pay £1 per day for an authorised overdraft while those with an unauthorised overdraft will pay £5 per day; considers that anyone with an overdraft below £1,872 is likely to be worse off as a result of these charges; believes that these charges will impact on many customers, particularly those on lower incomes, and calls on Halifax Bank of Scotland to reconsider these charges.

Supported by: Willie Coffey, Bill Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Tricia Marwick, Stuart McMillan, Brian Adam, Alasdair Allan, Liam McArthur, Christine Grahame, Joe FitzPatrick, Sandra White, Dave Thompson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Linda Fabiani, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance

S3M-5056 Patricia Ferguson: 38th Anniversary of Partick Thistle's Scottish League Cup Triumph—That the Parliament notes the induction to the Partick Thistle Hall of Fame of Thistle manager Davy McParland and the 22 players who contributed to the team’s Scottish League Cup triumph of 23 October 1971; acknowledges the contribution made to Thistle’s success by Andy Anderson, Jimmy Bone, Jackie Campbell, Nobby Clark, Frank Coulston, Ian Dick, Alex Forsyth, Johnny Gibson, Ronnie Glavin, Robert Gray, John Hansen, Bobby Lawrie, Jim Logan, Donnie McKinnon, Denis McQuade, Jimmy Mullin, Alex Rae, Tommy Rae, Alan Rough, Ian Reid, Charlie Smith and Hugh Strachan; notes that their induction took place on the 38th anniversary of their victory over Glasgow Celtic and in Partick Thistle’s centenary year, and wishes the Jags well in the years ahead.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, Bob Doris

S3M-5055 Bill Butler: Let's Show Racists the Red Card—That the Parliament notes that 16 to 31 October 2009 marks Show Racism the Red Card’s annual Fortnight of Action; welcomes the fact that all 42 clubs playing at the professional level in Scotland were involved in a weekend of action on 24 and 25 October through on-pitch activities and that £10,000 in grants has been distributed to help 22 community-based initiatives organise a variety of events to promote tolerance; believes that Scottish football, both at club and international level, has benefited hugely from the participation of players born outside of Scotland; abhors the treatment of players who have been racially abused at grounds across Scotland, and unequivocally affirms that racism has no place in Scottish society.

Supported by: Patricia Ferguson, Robin Harper, Robert Brown, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Johann Lamont, Malcolm Chisholm, Mike Pringle, Jackson Carlaw, Claire Baker, Andy Kerr, Brian Adam, Karen Whitefield, Joe FitzPatrick, James Kelly, Jim Tolson, Jamie McGrigor, Des McNulty, Bob Doris, Cathy Peattie, Marlyn Glen, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Cathy Jamieson, David Whitton, Pauline McNeill, Christine Grahame, Elaine Murray, Michael McMahon, Mr Frank McAveety, John Park, Ms Wendy Alexander, Margaret Curran, Liam McArthur, Trish Godman, Stuart McMillan, Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn, Cathie Craigie, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Michael Matheson, Lewis Macdonald, Angela Constance, Jack McConnell, Linda Fabiani, Hugh Henry, Sandra White, Irene Oldfather, Sarah Boyack, Marilyn Livingstone, Tom McCabe, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5054 George Foulkes: Fireworks and Furry Friends—That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animal’s (SSPCA) campaign to change the law on the use of fireworks; notes that the law currently allows people to use fireworks any day of the week between the hours of 7 am and 11 pm with no regard to the impact on domestic and wild animals; notes that a dog’s hearing is twice as sensitive as a human’s and a cat’s is three times as sensitive; believes that the use of fireworks should be restricted to festivals and special events, such as 5 November, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year and the Hindu festival of Diwali; considers that this would ensure that pet owners could plan to keep pets indoors, and calls on the general public to ensure that fireworks are used carefully and responsibly, recognising the obvious dangers to both people and animals.

Supported by: David Whitton, Des McNulty, Christine Grahame, Elaine Murray, Karen Whitefield, Cathy Jamieson, Joe FitzPatrick, Pauline McNeill, Claire Baker, Trish Godman, Stuart McMillan, Jackie Baillie, Gil Paterson, Cathy Peattie, Dr Richard Simpson, Patricia Ferguson, Jack McConnell, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5053 Aileen Campbell: Biggar Little Festival 2009—That the Parliament congratulates the organisers of the seventh Biggar Little Festival, which took place between 15 and 25 October 2009; notes the success of the wide range of cultural, musical and artistic events that made up the festival, including an appearance by Fred MacAulay, a lively concert by Koda, performances by Polish women’s choir Canzona-Absolwent and a sold-out event with author Ian Rankin; further notes that, in the Year of Homecoming and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, the bard himself featured prominently in the programme, with Donald Kay from Ayr appearing as Burns to recite poetry and interact with visitors during the Biggar Day Out on Sunday 18 October, and looks forward to the festival continuing to go from strength to strength in the coming years.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Anne McLaughlin, Christina McKelvie, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Karen Gillon

S3M-5052 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Chambers Harrap Publishers—That the Parliament expresses concern at the proposal by Hachette UK to close the Edinburgh headquarters of Chambers Harrap and transfer production of its profitable titles, such as The Chambers Dictionary, to London and Paris; is concerned that the closure would result in the loss of 27 jobs and end 200 years of publishing history in the city; believes that the iconic Chambers brand is closely connected to Edinburgh and that its loss will have serious consequences for the publishing industry in Scotland, and urges Hachette UK to reconsider its decision and explore all alternative avenues to retain the Chambers office in Edinburgh.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Christopher Harvie, Bill Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Brian Adam, Trish Godman, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Ian McKee, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Malcolm Chisholm, Angela Constance, Anne McLaughlin, Sarah Boyack

S3M-5051 Michael Matheson: Unite for Workers of Falkirk Sign Factory—That the Parliament approves of the inter-party support of Falkirk Council in opposing the UK Government’s implementation of the Work Choice programme; considers that the Work Choice programme would revoke funding for important businesses such as Falkirk’s Sign Factory, which employs sustainable jobs for disabled people; notes that, if the Work Choice programme is implemented, over 40 disabled employees could be affected, and agrees with Falkirk Council in opposing such reprehensible governmental actions that stifle, instead of promoting, employment for the most vulnerable members of society.

Supported by: John Wilson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Linda Fabiani

S3M-5050 Michael McMahon: Give All Racism in Scottish Football the Boot—That the Parliament welcomes the swift response from Show Racism the Red Card and Glasgow Rangers FC to the racial abuse allegedly suffered by Maurice Edu; notes with disappointment that the relevant incident took place during Show Racism the Red Card’s annual Fortnight of Action during which all of Scotland’s football clubs combine to deliver an anti-racist message; welcomes the demonstration of their support for the campaign through on-pitch activities in a weekend of action on 24 and 25 October 2009; agrees that racism of any kind is totally unacceptable; urges fans of all Scottish football clubs to challenge all examples of racism in football and society in general; believes that the singing of "the Famine Song" in particular has not been challenged vigorously enough, and calls on anti-racist organisations and football authorities to respond as strongly to any and all future incidents of racism in Scottish football and with the same level of condemnation and action as has been the case on this occasion.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5048 Margo MacDonald: Parliamentary Salaries—That the Parliament notes that the salaries of MSPs, recommended by the Senior Salaries Review Body to be 87.5% of those paid to MPs, may be raised as a consequence of an increase in MP salaries in recompense for the repayment of unreasonable expenses requested by Thomas Legg; believes that this is not an objective method of evaluating parliamentary salaries, which should lie with an independent salaries review body; resolves to refuse any consequential increase in MSP salaries, which it believes to be engineered in the interests of Westminster parties to avoid the embarrassment of MPs refusing to comply with Thomas Legg’s requests, and further resolves to break the perceived link with Westminster salaries, to have its members’ salaries evaluated by the Senior Salaries Review Board, or similar independent body, and to accept such an independently-calculated salary consistent with the Parliament’s high standards of transparency and probity.

S3M-5047 Rob Gibson: Pulteneytown Academy, 50 Years Young—That the Parliament congratulates Pulteneytown Academy Primary School in Wick on reaching its 50th birthday; realises that this is a golden milestone for the school and the town; recognises the hard work of the pupils, staff, teachers and head teacher, and wishes them all the best for an equally successful second half century and beyond.

Supported by: Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5046 Christina McKelvie: Bad Science at the UK Border Agency—That the Parliament notes with dismay that, despite widespread condemnation by the scientific community, the UK Border Agency has announced that it will continue with its nationality-swapping Isotope analysis and DNA-testing process, or so-called Human Provenance Project, intended to establish the race and national origin of people seeking asylum in the United Kingdom and specifically to identify Somali nationals; notes that Sir Alec Jeffreys, the pioneer of DNA fingerprinting, has described the project as "wildly premature, even ignoring the moral and ethical aspects"; further notes that an editorial in Nature magazine describes the project as "scientifically flawed, ethically dubious and potentially damaging to science"; believes that, even if these test results are not used to determine the outcome of individual asylum claims, they are nonetheless invasive, of questionable purpose and open to potential abuse, and calls on the Home Office to cancel the Human Provenance Project forthwith.

Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Wilson, Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick, Linda Fabiani, Dave Thompson, Sandra White

S3M-5045 Bob Doris: Save the Wyndford Wall—That the Parliament commends the application on behalf of the Wyndford Residents Association in Maryhill to have the Wyndford Barracks wall listed by Historic Scotland; considers that Wyndford is an urban community of distinct identity and notes that the perimeter wall surrounds the Wyndford housing estate on the site of the former Wyndford Barracks, which opened in 1872 and was home to two proud Scottish regiments, the Royal Scots Greys and the Highland Light Infantry; considers the wall to be a local landmark that links the community to its past and believes that local historic structures should, where possible, be preserved; wishes the Wyndford Residents Association well in its efforts to improve the local environment for future generations, and notes the sense of civic pride that local people hold for the area and the outrage at proposals to demolish the barracks wall.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Stuart McMillan, Bill Wilson, Aileen Campbell, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson

S3M-5044 Hugh Henry: Mail Delivery Service—That the Parliament regrets the decision by Procurement Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, to remove business from Royal Mail; believes that this decision will cause further difficulties for Royal Mail in trying to sustain a public delivery service in every part of Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to review this decision to ensure that all such decisions taken are compatible with support for public delivery services in every community in Scotland.

Supported by: David Whitton, Mr Frank McAveety, Patrick Harvie, Jackie Baillie, Elaine Smith, Robin Harper, Robert Brown, Bill Butler, Mary Mulligan, Cathy Jamieson, Malcolm Chisholm, Cathy Peattie, Patricia Ferguson, Marlyn Glen, Trish Godman, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Elaine Murray, Lewis Macdonald, Margaret Curran, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5042♦ Rob Gibson: Fair Treatment for All Investors in Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander—That the Parliament recognises that many charities lost large amounts of money when the UK-based subsidiary of the Icelandic bank under the auspices of Kaupthing, Singer and Friedlander was placed in administration by the UK Government in 2008; notes that the Highland Hospice, the only hospice serving adults with incurable life-limiting disease in the Highlands and acknowledged as the centre of specialist palliative care expertise in the region, was one of these depositors; considers that, due to the arbitrary Financial Services Compensation Scheme criteria, some wealthy individuals have been compensated for their loss in full and that, due to a direct intervention by the Prime Minister, the Christie Hospital in Manchester, a registered charity, was fully compensated, but notes that Highland Hospice has not been compensated for its loss, despite a Treasury Committee recommendation for charities to be recompensed, and understands that this is because the UK Government has stated that this would affect the general help provided to the third sector by the Resilience Fund launched earlier this month by the Scottish Government; understands however that Highland Hospice does not meet the criteria of the Resilience Fund, and would therefore welcome both a review of the Resilience Fund's criteria and that the Scottish Government make representations to the UK Government to fairly recompense all charities and enable Highland Hospice to continue to provide invaluable palliative and end-of-life care throughout the Highlands of Scotland.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani, Bill Wilson, Stewart Maxwell, Ian McKee, Michael Matheson, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-5041 Jamie Hepburn: Charity Ball Raises £3,392 for Parkinson's Research—That the Parliament congratulates Jane Bee, of Carronshore, Falkirk, on organising a hugely successful ball to mark the 40th anniversary of the Parkinson’s Disease Society; notes that the ball, held in the Best Western Park Hotel, Falkirk, on 17 October 2009, raised over £3,392 for Parkinson’s research and that it was attended by the UK Chief Executive of the Parkinson’s Disease Society, and wishes the Parkinson’s Disease Society and its fundraisers and supporters every continuing success in their important work to support those affected by the disease and improve understanding of its causes and possible treatments.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Nanette Milne, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Cathy Peattie, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White

S3M-5040 Bill Wilson: Science and the Parliament 2009, the Science behind Health—That the Parliament welcomes the 2009 Science and the Parliament event taking place on 11 November 2009, which will focus on the science behind health; notes the continued commitment of the Royal Society of Chemistry in organising this event that brings together the scientific community in Scotland with policy makers; considers that science can make a major contribution to better health outcomes and the economy through innovation, and congratulates the scientists in Scotland working in the field of health for their many areas of internationally renowned research.

Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Brian Adam, Stuart McMillan, Aileen Campbell, Rob Gibson, Jamie McGrigor, Nigel Don, Liam McArthur, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Elaine Murray, Joe FitzPatrick, Jackie Baillie, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White

S3M-5039 Richard Baker: Congratulations to Grampian Police on Scottish Policing Awards Success—That the Parliament congratulates Grampian Police on winning nine prizes at the inaugural Scottish Policing Awards held at the Scottish Police College on 20 October 2009; notes that the awards are designed to recognise the work done by police forces across the country and to celebrate exceptional initiatives run by officers and staff; congratulates the force on its success in receiving an outstanding contribution award for the pioneering development of a missing persons profiling toolkit; congratulates the force also on winning five highly commended awards for a number of other high profile initiatives, including cracking down on street-level drug dealers, targeting young antisocial driving and a racism and homophobia awareness-raising project for young people; believes that the force's success at the Scottish Policing Awards reflects its commitment to delivering an outstanding service to the communities of north-east Scotland; believes that the nine awards are testament to the excellent standard of innovation, determination and professionalism demonstrated by Grampian Police staff, all of whom are helping to make a tangible difference to policing in the north east, and pays tribute to the hard work of all involved.

Supported by: Nanette Milne, Nigel Don, Pauline McNeill, Brian Adam, Maureen Watt, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, Gil Paterson, Alison McInnes, Nicol Stephen, Lewis Macdonald, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5038 Bill Wilson: RNID Report, Who Benefits?—That the Parliament is concerned by the findings in the report by RNID, Who Benefits?, which show that people who are deaf are missing out on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance because their benefits claims are being rejected unfairly; notes that, while previous research conducted by RNID in 2001 showed that many deaf people were not claiming DLA because they had had their claims turned down, this situation has not improved in the last seven years and, in certain cases, it has worsened; further notes that over half of those questioned who successfully claimed DLA had had a claim turned down previously, yet 91% of appeals by British Sign Language (BSL) users are successful; is dismayed that 74% of respondents said that they found the 54-page DLA form difficult to complete, with 56% of BSL users saying that they could not understand some of the questions and 66% reporting that most of the questions on the form were not relevant to deafness, and that, when examinations were conducted in the claimant’s home by a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) health professional, 28% said that they had difficulty communicating with the doctor; believes that more work needs to be done to ensure that the 758,000 people in Scotland who are deaf or hard of hearing are no longer denied access to benefit entitlements, and calls for the guidance used by DWP decision-makers regarding the specific needs of deaf people to be strengthened and met.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Rob Gibson, Nigel Don, Stuart McMillan, Brian Adam, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Robin Harper, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Linda Fabiani, Alison McInnes, Sandra White

S3M-5037 Rob Gibson: End Discrimination in Transmission Access Charges—That the Parliament welcomes the intervention of the European Commission over the UK Government’s iniquitous transmission charges that are considered to discriminate against producers of renewable energy in remote areas; notes that recent figures estimate that under these charges renewable energy producers in Shetland and Orkney pay over £21 per kilowatt hour to use the system while in some areas of the south of England a similar venture would receive a subsidy of around £7/kW, and considers that these charges are unfair and represent a risk to a viable renewable energy future for Scotland, especially the Highlands and Islands, which in turn jeopardises potential jobs as well as economic and scientific advancement.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn

S3M-5036 Linda Fabiani: Skillbuild 2009, Congratulations to South Lanarkshire College, East Kilbride—That the Parliament notes that South Lanarkshire College successfully hosted the Skillbuild 2009 Competition; offers congratulations to all Scottish winners in their construction categories, including Douglas Robertson and Steven Butler, both students of South Lanarkshire College, who won the bronze medal for carpentry and the silver medal for roof slating and tiling respectively; notes the ongoing success of South Lanarkshire College, and congratulates all those involved.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Aileen Campbell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Christina McKelvie, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5035 Christine Grahame: Plugged in Safely?—That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a campaign by the Electrical Safety Council, the United Kingdom’s only charity dedicated to electrical safety, to increase awareness of the dangers of purchasing unsafe goods via the internet and, in particular, welcomes the charity’s independent safety testing that has established that 100% of chargers bought from a range of online auction sites and retailers would not pass current UK safety standards and could cause a real danger to Scottish consumers if simply plugged in as intended.

Supported by: Mr Frank McAveety, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Jim Tolson, Brian Adam, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Bill Wilson, Bob Doris, Jackie Baillie, Dave Thompson, Aileen Campbell, Ken Macintosh, Sarah Boyack, Michael Matheson, George Foulkes, Liam McArthur

S3M-5034 Robert Brown: Lloyds TSB Foundation—That the Parliament notes the decision of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland to suspend its grant-making activities for the foreseeable future due to the loss of approximately £6 million of income arising from the lack of pre-tax profits by the Lloyds Banking Group; considers that the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland, Scotland’s largest independent foundation, has been an enormously important and innovative funding stream for the voluntary sector and that this disappointing decision has serious implications for the charitable economy in Scotland, particularly during the economic downturn; is deeply concerned that charities that depend on Lloyds’ funding, especially smaller organisations, may have to curtail or even cease operations as a result of this move; further notes the foundation’s fears that proposals to amend the terms of its covenant would curtail its independent status, and calls on the Lloyds Banking Group to resolve the position urgently to enable the foundation to continue its work supporting Scottish charities until the Lloyds Banking Group returns to profit.

Supported by: Jim Tolson, Hugh O'Donnell, Mike Pringle, Iain Smith, Jamie Hepburn, Tom McCabe, Nicol Stephen, Alison McInnes

S3M-5033 Bill Wilson: The Bravery of Corporal Scott Cox of the Royal Highland Fusiliers—That the Parliament congratulates Royal Highland Fusilier Corporal Scott Cox from Inverclyde who saved the lives of 16 US marines when their Armadillo jeep was disabled by Taliban rockets in Afghanistan by securing, under intense fire and at great personal risk, a tow rope to their vehicle and pulling it to safety; believes that his actions epitomise the bravery of many young men and women serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq, in both of which Corporal Cox has served, and that, regardless of the rights and wrongs of the United Kingdom’s involvement in these countries, the courage and sacrifice of members of the armed forces should never be forgotten and that the risks that they face make it imperative for the UK Government to have, as a minimum, a coherent and workable strategy with clear objectives shaped with great regard for the value of all human lives and that such risks should never be incurred due to inadequate equipment.

Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Christine Grahame, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Brian Adam, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Stewart Maxwell, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Anne McLaughlin

S3M-5032 Jackie Baillie: Charities Banking on Lloyds—That the Parliament calls on the Lloyds Banking Group to provide the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland with a funding package that will enable it to continue its valuable grant-making activities in Scotland; notes that, since the establishment of the foundation in 1985, a covenant has dictated that this organisation, alongside three other autonomous foundations that cover the rest of the United Kingdom, receives a share of 1% of the Lloyds Banking Group’s pre-tax profits per annum; understands that the Lloyds Banking Group has stated that it will have no profit this year and, as such, will not be providing revenue to the foundations, although the group has offered reduced interim funding subject to changes in the structure of the foundations; supports the proposal from the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland that it receive an advance of funding, repayable over an agreed timeframe, as this will ensure that the covenant remains intact and the foundation continues to operate as a wholly independent organisation; congratulates the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland for dispensing almost £85 million to charities across Scotland since 1985, and calls on the Lloyds Banking Group to reconsider its position.

Supported by: Ms Wendy Alexander, Bill Butler, Karen Gillon, James Kelly, Tricia Marwick, Robert Brown, Ken Macintosh, Dave Thompson, Patricia Ferguson, Mary Mulligan, Margaret Curran, Robin Harper, Des McNulty, Karen Whitefield, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, David Whitton, Charlie Gordon, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe, Lewis Macdonald, Dr Richard Simpson, Rhoda Grant*

S3M-5031 Cathie Craigie: Thank You to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United Football Club—That the Parliament thanks Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, his backroom staff, in particular reserve coach Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, the players and the board of directors who kindly agreed to play Clyde FC in a glamorous friendly at Broadwood Stadium; notes that this was done solely to assist Clyde, which has been enduring financial difficulties for some time; further recognises that this was conducted in the spirit of sportsmanship, and wishes both Clyde and Manchester United every success for the future.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Richard Baker, Robin Harper, Bill Butler, Karen Gillon, Mary Mulligan, Mr Frank McAveety, James Kelly, Bill Kidd, John Park, David Whitton, Trish Godman, Ken Macintosh, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn, Tom McCabe, Jack McConnell, Hugh Henry, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5030 Stuart McMillan: Start of H1N1 Vaccine Programme—That the Parliament welcomes the start of the influenza A(H1N1) vaccine programme, which will commence on Wednesday 21 October 2009; notes that a total of 1.3 million people are in the Scottish priority groups for the first stage of the vaccination programme, which will be administered in a single dose; further notes that frontline health and social care workers will be offered the vaccine at the same time as the first clinical risk group; acknowledges that the vaccine programme is an important step taken by the Scottish Government to combat the spread of the influenza A(H1N1) virus, and congratulates the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing for the swift action taken to deal with this important health issue.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-5029 Jackie Baillie: Bookstart—That the Parliament recognises the importance of the national Bookstart programme; understands that the programme encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with their children from as early an age as possible; notes that Bookstart aims to give free books to all Scottish children at around eight weeks, 18 months and three years old; further notes that the programme aims to promote reading as a fun activity as well as being educational; congratulates West Dunbartonshire Council on its activities to promote reading from an early age, and welcomes the recent National Bookstart Day on 9 October 2009 as a vital component in combating illiteracy in Scotland.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, Claire Baker, Marlyn Glen, James Kelly, Bill Butler, Ken Macintosh, Patricia Ferguson, Mary Mulligan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Liam McArthur, Robin Harper, Des McNulty, Elaine Murray, Mr Frank McAveety, Maureen Watt, Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe, Dr Richard Simpson, Jack McConnell

S3M-5028 Jackie Baillie: Music to Our Ears for Forty Years—That the Parliament congratulates Dumbarton and District Pipe Band on its 40th anniversary in 2009; notes that the band was formed in 1969 by a few pipers and drummers eager to perform in the area; understands that, in the last 40 years, Dumbarton and District Pipe Band has competed and won awards in all the major championships in Scotland and Ireland, including the Scottish Pipe Band Championships; notes that the band has travelled across the world bringing the skirl of the pipes to places like Canada and Russia amongst others, and wishes all existing and former members of the band the very best in celebrating a significant landmark in the band’s history.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, James Kelly, Jim Tolson, Jamie McGrigor, Pauline McNeill, Patricia Ferguson, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson

S3M-5027 Jackie Baillie: Over a Century of Service—That the Parliament congratulates Robert Lennox, David Christie and Thomas Black who have accumulated 177 years of service on the Luss Highland Games Committee; notes that the three were honoured at a dinner this month, each being presented with a commemorative quaich by Sir Malcolm Colquhoun; considers that the men have been crucial to the success of the Games, which have grown in popularity over the years, and wishes all the committee and the people of Luss a successful Highland Games in the summer of 2010.

Supported by: James Kelly, Pauline McNeill, Bill Kidd, Jamie McGrigor, Mary Mulligan, Karen Whitefield, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson

S3M-5026 Hugh Henry: CWU Action—That the Parliament notes the outcome of the ballot on industrial action announced by the Communication Workers Union (CWU); recognises the service that Royal Mail staff provide in communities throughout Scotland; welcomes the willingness of the CWU to go to arbitration; believes that the potential disruption to the public and businesses warrants the intervention of ACAS; calls on the major stakeholder in Royal Mail to use its influence to bring both sides together at ACAS, and further calls on Royal Mail to agree to such intervention to allow urgent and meaningful negotiations to help prevent damaging and disruptive action.

Supported by: Cathie Craigie, Karen Gillon, Elaine Smith, Bill Butler, Trish Godman, Patricia Ferguson, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Marlyn Glen, Ms Wendy Alexander, David Whitton, Margaret Curran, Cathy Jamieson, Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5025 Murdo Fraser: Opening of Cornhill Macmillan Centre in Perth—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new Cornhill Macmillan Centre in Perth, a new specialist palliative care unit for the use of people in Perth and Kinross; congratulates and gives thanks to all those who helped Macmillan Cancer Support raise the £3.775 million required for the specialist facilities; notes that the centre will provide a range of day care and inpatient services, including symptom control, rehabilitation and end-of-life care, as well as offer support to families and carers, and recognises the life-changing work carried out by Macmillan Cancer Support and the care and dedication that all Macmillan nurses and staff provide to individuals and their families.

Supported by: John Lamont, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Bill Butler, Jamie McGrigor, Ted Brocklebank, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Bill Aitken, Mary Scanlon, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-5024 Sandra White: Concern over Asylum Process Changes—That the Parliament expresses concern over the UK Government’s announced changes to the asylum process, which will see those making an initial asylum application in Scotland forced to travel over 400 miles to the UK Border Agency Asylum Screening Unit in Croydon; considers that this will result in delays in vital support for asylum seekers; expresses further concern that these changes have been introduced without prior consultation with groups such as the Scottish Refugee Council, which believes that the changes will lead to further stress, trauma and worsened poverty for those seeking asylum, and urges the UK Government to reconsider the introduction of these changes.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bob Doris, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Christopher Harvie, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Christine Grahame, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani, Aileen Campbell, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-5023 Pauline McNeill: Water Flows in Memorial Fountain—That the Parliament welcomes the restoration of the A-listed Stewart Memorial Fountain in Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park; notes that the structure was built in 1872 to commemorate Robert Stewart, the city’s Lord Provost between 1851 and 1854 who championed the Loch Katrine water system, which virtually eradicated cholera and typhus in Glasgow; further notes the comments of the current Lord Provost, Bob Winter, that the drive, determination and energy of the late Lord Provost, Robert Stewart, brought clean water to the people of Glasgow and that that single deed made the biggest impact on the citizens of the city in terms of health, wealth and improvement of social conditions than any other, as well as revolutionising industry; congratulates Glasgow City Council for overseeing the restoration of the fountain in partnership with Glasgow City Heritage Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, Scottish Water, the Better Glasgow Fund and The Pilgrim Trust, and believes that the fountain, which was inspired by Sir Walter Scott’s poem, The Lady of the Lake, is a lasting legacy to a man who helped bring clean water to Glasgow.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Charlie Gordon, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Cathy Jamieson, Mr Frank McAveety, Patricia Ferguson, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Tom McCabe, Linda Fabiani, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry

S3M-5022 Ms Wendy Alexander: Paisley Festival 2009—That the Parliament congratulates the continued success of the Paisley Festival 2009, previously Voices in Paisley, in the face of acute funding difficulties and welcomes its choral festival to be held between 23 October and 7 November 2009; notes that the Paisley Festival Company is a recognised Scottish charity committed to increasing the accessibility and impact on the local community of a wide variety of magnificent music and choral events from classical through to Gaelic, folk and jazz; welcomes the festival’s status as a programme partner in Homecoming, and notes the company’s aims to establish Paisley and its environs as a nationally recognised centre for all types of choral activity deserving of the title of Scotland’s Choir Town.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Karen Gillon, Bill Wilson, Marilyn Livingstone, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Cathy Jamieson, Robin Harper, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry, Annabel Goldie

S3M-5021 Christina McKelvie: End Detention of Children in the UK—That the Parliament is disturbed to note the findings of a team of paediatricians and psychologists published in Child Abuse and Neglect: The International Journal, which found that 73% of the children held in Yarl’s Wood immigration detention centre whom they examined had developed clinically significant emotional, mental and physical health problems since being detained, including weight loss, sleep problems, bedwetting and speech regression; believes that these findings vindicate the Scottish Government's insistence on pursuing alternatives to detention for asylum-seeker families with children; hopes that the community-based pilot launched jointly by the Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council and the UK Border Agency in May 2009 means that no more asylum-seeking children will be detained in Scotland; further notes, however, that, according to Home Office figures, 470 children have been detained this year in England and Wales, and calls on the UK Government to follow the Scottish Government's example in introducing community-based alternatives to detention throughout the UK and end the practice of detaining children as soon as possible.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Joe FitzPatrick, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Bill Wilson, Anne McLaughlin, Dave Thompson, Stuart McMillan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Angela Constance, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson

S3M-5020 Willie Coffey: Congratulations to Charles Sim of Scotwest Credit Union—That the Parliament congratulates Charles Sim of Kilmarnock, a director of Scotwest Credit Union, on being one of the first people in Europe to receive the International Credit Union Development Education Award, which was presented by the National Credit Union Foundation at the 2009 World Credit Union conference in Barcelona and notes that Mr Sim, a retired firefighter, has been a member of Scotwest Credit Union for 18 years and that, prior to receiving his award, he participated in international conferences, encouraged donations for the establishment of credit unions in developing countries, participated in a cooperative educational visit to Ecuador and successfully completed a five-day credit union development programme.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Johann Lamont, Bill Kidd, Mr Frank McAveety, Sandra White, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Rob Gibson, Angela Constance, Hugh Henry

S3M-5019 John Park: WorldSkills 2009 Success—That the Parliament notes the 40th WorldSkills competition held in Calgary, Alberta, from 1 to 7 September 2009; is delighted that among the 26 young people representing the United Kingdom there were three gold medallists, six bronze medallists and 14 winners of medallions of excellence; especially congratulates Scottish gold medallists, Richard Sagar, award winner in the Electrical Installation category and Mark Nevin, award winner in the Painting and Decorating category; further notes that Richard Sagar is a member of the trade union, Unite, and welcomes the vital role that trade unions play in supporting the development of a highly skilled and well-qualified workforce; considers that WorldSkills provides a unique means of exchange and comparison of world-class competency standards in the industrial trades and service sectors of the global economy, and looks forward to further success for the UK from talented young people at the next WorldSkills competition when it is held in London in 2011.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Elaine Murray, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Cathy Jamieson, Trish Godman, Bill Kidd, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Pauline McNeill, Dave Thompson, Mary Mulligan, Linda Fabiani, Jamie Hepburn, Lewis Macdonald, Dr Richard Simpson, Jack McConnell

S3M-5018 Liam McArthur: 70th Anniversary of the Sinking of the Royal Oak—That the Parliament notes that 14 October 2009 is the 70th anniversary of the sinking of the battleship, HMS Royal Oak in Scapa Flow; further notes that 883 of the ship’s crew, including many boys, lost their lives as a result of the explosions, fire and rapid sinking of the ship after it was torpedoed by a German U-boat that had penetrated Scapa Flow’s defences; recognises that the sinking and the sacrifices of those who lost their lives are still remembered by Orcadians and by the Royal Navy, which every year sends down divers to replace the White Ensign that flies on the wreck, which is otherwise left undisturbed as a war grave, and considers that out of this terrible event came some good, with the law changing to prevent boys under the age of 18 being engaged in active service in the navy and with the construction of the Churchill Barriers, which today link the islands of Lamb Holm, Glimps Holm, Burray and South Ronaldsay to Mainland, Orkney, providing a vital road link as well as a constant reminder of the loss of the Royal Oak and of so many of her crew.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Karen Gillon, Robert Brown, Robin Harper, Rob Gibson, Bill Butler, Bill Kidd, Elaine Murray, Patricia Ferguson, John Park, Brian Adam, Nigel Don, Jackson Carlaw, Mary Scanlon, Gil Paterson, Murdo Fraser, Cathy Peattie, Trish Godman, Nicol Stephen, Karen Whitefield, Dave Thompson, Mary Mulligan, Hugh O'Donnell, Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Ken Macintosh

S3M-5017♦ Jim Hume: A Fair Deal for Scotland's Tourism Providers—That the Parliament notes the significant direct and indirect economic contribution of B&Bs, guest houses, country houses and other small-to-medium-sized holiday accommodation providers in the south of Scotland; further notes concerns expressed by many small-to-medium-sized holiday accommodation providers that, in the current restrictive financial times, these businesses could have a difficult future if they are faced with what they consider to be disproportionate red tape in the form of Part 3 of the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005 and the Fire Safety (Scotland) Regulations 2006; considers that, now more than ever, rural enterprise needs to be encouraged and that, while all businesses understand the need for fire safety, there should be a practical and proportionate balance that does not impinge on economic activity or financially penalise businesses, and hopes that, in reflecting the importance of the tourism sector in the region and across Scotland, the Scottish Government will listen to the industry and implement the legislation in a proportionate way that does not damage economic activity.

Supported by: Jim Tolson, Jamie Stone, Mike Pringle, Robin Harper, Alison McInnes

S3M-5016 Johann Lamont: Evening Times Glasgow Commuity Champions—That the Parliament congratulates The Evening Times and Glasgow City Council on the highly successful Community Champions Awards and welcomes the opportunity that these provide to recognise and celebrate the tireless work done by volunteers across Glasgow to make communities better; in particular notes with pride the success of Donna Foote, winner of the Neighbour Award, and St Paul’s High School pupils, winners of the Young Community Award, from the Glasgow Pollok constituency, and appreciates all that they have done to make a difference to their communities.

Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Karen Gillon, Charlie Gordon, Bill Kidd, John Park, Patricia Ferguson, Sandra White, Mr Frank McAveety, Cathy Jamieson, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Elaine Smith, Trish Godman, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-5015 Jack McConnell: 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.

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Bill Butler, Marlyn Glen, Robert Brown, David Whitton, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Murray, Mary Scanlon, Trish Godman, Malcolm Chisholm, John Park, Mr Frank McAveety, Tricia Marwick, Jackie Baillie, Karen Whitefield, Cathy Peattie, Jackson Carlaw, David Stewart, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Marilyn Livingstone, Richard Baker, Christina McKelvie, Christine Grahame, Cathy Jamieson, Mary Mulligan, Ken Macintosh, Tom McCabe, Linda Fabiani, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Michael Matheson, Margaret Smith, Alison McInnes, Ross Finnie, Des McNulty, Margo MacDonald, George Foulkes, Jamie Hepburn, Duncan McNeil, Hugh O'Donnell, Stewart Maxwell, Mike Pringle, Willie Coffey, Angela Constance, Rob Gibson, Lewis Macdonald, Alasdair Morgan, Gavin Brown

S3M-5014 Sarah Boyack: Rugby 7s Up for the Olympics—That the Parliament welcomes the decision taken by the International Olympic Committee in session in Copenhagen to admit rugby sevens to the Olympic movement with effect from the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro; notes that this decision follows on from the successful inclusion of the sport as part of the Commonwealth Games programme; further notes Scottish Rugby’s belief that the decision will be a major boost to the sport across the globe; recognises that the seven-a-side version of the game was pioneered in Scotland by Melrose butcher Ned Haig and that the code’s world cup trophy, the Melrose Cup, bears the name of its town of origin; wishes the Scotland team every success in next year’s Commonwealth Games, and looks forward to supporting a Great Britain rugby sevens team in 2016.

Supported by: John Lamont, Michael McMahon, Jamie McGrigor, Karen Gillon, Helen Eadie, Robin Harper, Elaine Murray, Rhona Brankin, John Park, Trish Godman, George Foulkes, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Pauline McNeill, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Christine Grahame, Cathy Jamieson, Mary Mulligan, Mike Pringle, Jack McConnell, Ken Macintosh

S3M-5013 Patrick Harvie: Doubt over Future of Hunterston Coal-fired Power Station—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that Dong Energy has withdrawn from the plan to build a new coal-fired power station at Hunterston; regards unabated coal as the most damaging and unacceptable energy source and opposes any expansion of it in Scotland; calls on Peel Energy, the remaining company involved in the Hunterston plan, to drop the project altogether, and calls on the Scottish Government to commit to investing in slashing energy demand instead of permitting the expansion of unsustainable and polluting energy technologies that belong in the dustbin of history.

S3M-5012 Willie Coffey: National Identity Fraud Prevention Week—That the Parliament notes that research carried out for the organisers of National Identity Fraud Prevention Week, being held from 12 to 18 October 2009, shows that more people have fallen victim to this crime in the United Kingdom than in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium combined; considers this to be an unacceptable position and urges businesses, especially the banks and other lenders, government and customers to take all steps possible to minimise the opportunities for fraud, and commends the efforts of the police and prosecuting authorities to tackle the perpetrators of this increasingly complex crime.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Sandra White, Christopher Harvie, Cathie Craigie, Bill Kidd, Christine Grahame, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani, Maureen Watt, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson

S3M-5011 Karen Whitefield: Shotts St Patrick's Amateur Opera Group, Children of Eden—That the Parliament congratulates the members of Shotts St Patrick’s Amateur Opera Group on the success of its recent production of Children of Eden; recognises the hard work and commitment that is required to stage a show with such high production values, and acknowledges the benefits that participation in voluntary organisations such as Shotts St Patrick’s Amateur Opera Group has for the wider community in promoting community cohesion and a sense of pride in the community.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Rhona Brankin, Karen Gillon, Helen Eadie, Aileen Campbell, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance

S3M-5010# Mary Mulligan: Celebrating 15 Years of the Fairtrade Foundation in the UK—That the Parliament congratulates the Fairtrade Foundation on 15 years of activity in the United Kingdom; notes that over these 15 years, the number of licensed Fairtrade products has increased from 80 to more than 4,500; welcomes the role of the Fairtrade Foundation in securing a fair deal for farmers and producers in the developing world, ensuring that people have the right to dignity and a decent living through their work; notes that by the end of 2008, it was estimated that 70% of all households purchased at least one Fairtrade product and the total annual retail sales value of Fairtrade products exceeded £712 million, and commends local Fairtrade organisations and Scottish Fairtrade Towns such as Whitburn and Linlithgow in West Lothian for the work that they do in promoting Fairtrade Foundation principles and goods, educating others about the need for a fair deal for farmers and producers in the developing world and working to secure an international trading system that recognises the need for sustainable development and social justice.

Supported by: James Kelly, Mr Frank McAveety, Karen Gillon, Elaine Smith, Ms Wendy Alexander, Jackie Baillie, Bill Butler, Cathy Jamieson, Johann Lamont, Joe FitzPatrick, Trish Godman, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Patricia Ferguson, Liam McArthur, Marlyn Glen, Robert Brown, John Park, David Whitton, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Christine Grahame, Sarah Boyack, Tom McCabe, Elaine Murray, Des McNulty, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson, Jack McConnell, Hugh Henry, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5009 Claire Baker: Congratulations to Edinburgh and Aberdeen Universities in the World University Rankings—That the Parliament congratulates the University of Edinburgh for coming in the top 20 best universities in the world, the highest ranked Scottish university in the QS World University Rankings 2009; also congratulates the University of Aberdeen for rising 24 places, making it the fastest improving university in the world, and believes that this marks the world class quality that Scottish higher education institutions have to offer.

Supported by: Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell

S3M-5008 Stewart Maxwell: Scotland Invented Rugby Sevens and Must Be Allowed to Compete—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that rugby sevens will be admitted to the Olympic programme in 2016; is proud of the fact that rugby sevens was invented in Scotland, where the game was started by Melrose butcher, Ned Haig; disagrees with the proposal put forward by the International Rugby Board (IRB) that the Olympic competition should replace the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament as the showpiece event in the international calendar, thereby blocking Scotland’s entry into the rugby sevens premier event; is concerned that the admittance of rugby sevens to the Olympics will result in the country that invented the game being barred from competing; believes that Scotland, as the country that brought rugby sevens to the world, should be allowed to continue to compete in the game at the highest level, and therefore calls on the IOC immediately to agree to admit a Scotland sevens team to the 2016 Olympics and for the IRB to scrap any plans to drop the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Bill Wilson, Linda Fabiani, Brian Adam, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Aileen Campbell, Liam McArthur, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Anne McLaughlin, Angela Constance, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Dave Thompson

S3M-5007 Alasdair Allan: Royal National Mod 2009, Oban—That the Parliament notes that Friday 9 October 2009 was the start of the 106th Royal National Mod, held this year in Oban; commends this nine-day-long event as a showcase for Gaelic language, culture and heritage; notes that 170 competitions will be taking place that will include over 2,000 children under the age of 16; recognises that Dr Anne Lorne Gillies was announced as the recipient of the Scottish Government’s Gaelic Ambassador of the Year award at the Mod due to her immense contribution to Gaelic language and culture; believes that events like this are important indicators of the strengthening health of the Gaelic language and culture, and wishes success to the many competitors from all parts of the world who will be competing in Oban.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan, Kenneth Gibson, Nanette Milne, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-5006 Aileen Campbell: Votes for 16 and 17-year-olds—That the Parliament welcomes the intention of the Scottish Government to allow 16 and 17-year-olds the right to vote in an independence referendum and believes that this could be a great opportunity for young adults to have their opinions listened to and to have their say about Scotland’s future.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Ian McKee, Linda Fabiani, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Jamie Hepburn, Anne McLaughlin, Willie Coffey, Cathy Jamieson, Dave Thompson, Maureen Watt, Nigel Don, Angela Constance

S3M-5005# Johann Lamont: International Credit Union Day—That the Parliament recognises International Credit Union Day, taking place on 15 October 2009; congratulates Scotland’s credit unions for their continued growth; recognises the important role that credit unions play in tackling financial exclusion in the Pollok constituency, across Glasgow and throughout Scotland, serving 250,000 members with £200 million in savings and lending £170 million; notes the potential for credit unions to serve even more of the population with a full range of financial services; encourages support for more credit unions to offer new services such as current accounts, and believes that, as trusted co-operative enterprises, credit unions can play a valuable role in the future of Scotland’s financial services industry.

Supported by: Malcolm Chisholm, Christine Grahame, Linda Fabiani, James Kelly, Bill Wilson, Karen Gillon, Rhona Brankin, Robin Harper, Bill Butler, Elaine Murray, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Marlyn Glen, Robert Brown, Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Patrick Harvie, Helen Eadie, Trish Godman, Patricia Ferguson, John Park, George Foulkes, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Jamieson, Cathy Peattie, Elaine Smith, Cathie Craigie, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Sandra White, Tom McCabe, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson, Lewis Macdonald, Angela Constance

S3M-5004 Des McNulty: Vivendi Should Treat Scotch Whisky Pensioners Fairly—That the Parliament expresses concern about the plight of 1,500 former whisky industry workers whose company pensions have been frozen by French media and telecom giant Vivendi in breach of firm undertakings given; condemns Vivendi for its refusal to reinstate annual percentage increases and adding insult to injury by awarding an increase of 77 pence per week, and calls on Vivendi to treat Scotch whisky pensioners fairly in future.

Supported by: Cathy Jamieson, Rhona Brankin, James Kelly, John Wilson, Karen Gillon, Bill Butler, Ken Macintosh, Mary Mulligan, David Whitton, Trish Godman, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Cathy Peattie, Dr Richard Simpson, Pauline McNeill, Jackie Baillie, Ms Wendy Alexander, Hugh Henry, Duncan McNeil, Bill Wilson, Malcolm Chisholm, Sarah Boyack, Stuart McMillan, Robert Brown, Sandra White, Christina McKelvie, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-5003 Mary Scanlon: Forres in Bloom Wins Entente Florale Europe Gold Award—That the Parliament congratulates Forres in Bloom on being awarded a prestigious gold award by the Entente Florale Europe competition judges; notes that this is an invitation only competition and that Forres was the only Scottish representative; further notes that the town was invited to compete in the European event after consecutive wins in the Scotland in Bloom and Britain in Bloom contests; recognises that the judges were particularly impressed by the woodland, well-maintained open spaces for informal activity and high-quality seasonal planting schemes, providing wonderful colour throughout the year along with a high level of community involvement, and praises the work of the Forres in Bloom committee and all the many volunteers who work tirelessly throughout the year and whose efforts have been recognised by this award, one of only six gold medals awarded across Europe for the whole of the competition, in which 24 countries took part.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Jackson Carlaw, John Scott, Ted Brocklebank, Nanette Milne, Gil Paterson, Bill Aitken, Dave Thompson

S3M-5002 Patricia Ferguson: Glasgow's Community Champions—That the Parliament congratulates Maryhill’s Hugh and Margaret Tavendale and Remzije Sherifi on their success in the overall Glasgow Community Champion Awards; notes that the Lord Provost’s Community Award was presented to Hugh and Margaret Tavendale in recognition of their hard work over many years to improve local housing and the wider community; further notes that the Public Service Individual Award was presented to Remzije Sherifi for her work through the Maryhill Integration Network, using her own experiences to benefit others by welcoming them to and helping them to become part of the community; further congratulates all the winners of Community Champion Awards, and commends The Evening Times for organising the awards to recognise the hard work and dedication of those who work throughout the year to make Glasgow such a great city.

S3M-5001# Karen Gillon: HorseWatch Strathclyde, Combating Equine-related Crime—That the Parliament welcomes the essential work of HorseWatch Strathclyde in partnering with Strathclyde Police to ensure protection against the theft of horses and related property in the local area and to provide vital support services and information to victims of such crime while also laying out preventative measures to ensure that horse owners are not targeted in the first place; commends the initiative, run entirely by volunteers and which, where possible, charges no fees for its services, and hopes that police forces from across Scotland will learn from and adopt similar partnering schemes to enable the effective combating of equine-related crime.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Dr Richard Simpson, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, John Scott, Jim Hume, Bill Kidd, Elaine Murray, Mary Mulligan, Christine Grahame, Trish Godman

S3M-5000 Karen Whitefield: Plains Needs a Station—That the Parliament welcomes the recently stated commitment of the Airdrie Local Area Partnership that it remains fully supportive of a railway station at Plains; recognises that this commitment is across all political parties within North Lanarkshire Council; further recognises the benefits that such a station would provide to the people of Plains, which is an area that suffers from relatively high levels of deprivation and has low levels of car ownership, and calls on the Scottish Executive to re-examine the case for this station as a matter of urgency so that the people of Plains can benefit from the improved access to educational, employment and recreational opportunities that the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line will provide.

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Robin Harper, Helen Eadie, Patricia Ferguson, Hugh O'Donnell, Cathy Peattie, Elaine Smith, Mary Mulligan, Margaret Mitchell

S3M-4999 Cathie Craigie: Congratulations to the Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park—That the Parliament congratulates the Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park for winning the Community Environmental Project award at the North Lanarkshire Council environmental awards dinner on Thursday 1 October 2009; notes that this great achievement was made possible through the National Lottery’s Breathing Spaces grant programme and notes the worthwhile charitable work carried out by the National Lottery across Scotland; praises the commitment and enthusiasm of the group that worked tirelessly to achieve this success, and finally thanks the North Lanarkshire Council staff who assisted the Friends of Cumbernauld Community Park to achieve this feat.

Supported by: Alex Johnstone, Jamie Hepburn, Patricia Ferguson, Sandra White, Karen Whitefield, Bill Butler, Cathy Peattie, Robin Harper, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, Mary Mulligan, Trish Godman, Hugh Henry, George Foulkes, Bill Kidd, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4998 Hugh Henry: Post Office Network—That the Parliament welcomes the statement from the Prime Minister that he wants the Post Office "to play a much bigger role, bringing banking services back to the heart of people’s communities"; agrees that the creation of a post bank would build on the strong foundations of the Post Office; recognises that the Post Office has popular confidence and trust, and looks forward to early action to establish a community post bank that would revive and protect the Post Office network.

Supported by: Margaret Curran, Pauline McNeill, Elaine Murray, Malcolm Chisholm, Bill Butler, Ms Wendy Alexander, Cathy Jamieson, John Park, Jackie Baillie, Karen Gillon, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathie Craigie, Trish Godman, Karen Whitefield, Mary Mulligan, Cathy Peattie, Marlyn Glen, Tom McCabe

S3M-4997 Bill Kidd: Labour and Conservative Consensus Over Welfare Reform—That the Parliament notes the congruity of the welfare reform proposals of the UK Labour government, laid out in the green paper, No one written off: reforming welfare to reward responsibility, and the Conservative Party's Get Britain Working plan; considers that both sets of proposals promote the further privatisation of welfare, with private sector and voluntary organisations being awarded contracts and bonus incentives to find work for those on benefit; believes that this marked concordance is unsurprising, considering that both schemes were devised chiefly by David Freud, as a government adviser under both Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and then as shadow minister for welfare for the Conservative Party; further believes that both sets of proposals fail to grasp properly the scarcity of employment opportunities afforded to job seekers in the current economic climate and the changing nature of employment, with many benefit claimants going into jobs that lack any security, for example on the basis of zero-hour contracts, with income and hours varying significantly; recognises that under such circumstances all the risk is borne by the low-skilled worker while the benefits are enjoyed entirely by the employer, and acknowledges that such proposals, if taken forward, would drastically weaken, rather than strengthen, financial support given to jobseekers in Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Joe FitzPatrick, Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Anne McLaughlin, Christina McKelvie, Dave Thompson, Michael Matheson

S3M-4995 Linda Fabiani: The Tobin Tax—That the Parliament notes the recent comments by Lord Adair Turner, Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, that options such as a tax on international financial transactions (the Tobin tax) should be considered in the debate on future regulation of financial systems; notes that the Tobin tax was originally proposed in the early 1970s by James Tobin, recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics, who argued that a small tax levied on currency exchanges could discourage short-term currency speculation without being a burden on trade, and considers that this would be a worthwhile option for the UK Government to discuss with its international counterparts with a view to developing a more stable global financial system that discourages speculative transactions that are of no social benefit.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Rob Gibson, Stewart Maxwell, Anne McLaughlin, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Aileen Campbell, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4994 Hugh Henry: STV-ITV Dispute—That the Parliament notes with concern the current dispute between STV and ITV; further notes the impact that the loss of programmes has on Scottish viewers, and calls on all parties to resolve this dispute urgently in the best interests of the Scottish public.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Jack McConnell, Jackie Baillie, Rhona Brankin, Karen Gillon, Cathy Peattie, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, David Whitton, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathie Craigie, Bill Kidd, Pauline McNeill, Ken Macintosh

S3M-4993 Cathy Jamieson: Proposed Closure of Girvan and Cumnock courts—That the Parliament notes the division in the Justice Committee on 5 May 2009, which resulted in a recommendation to annul the Justice of the Peace Courts (Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway) Order 2009 (SSI 2009/115), which proposed to close courts in the Sheriffdom of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway, including Girvan and Cumnock courts; deeply regrets the recent move to reinstigate closure proposals; believes that the principle of community justice is undermined by the centralisation of courts; notes the strong community support for the retention of these courts, and calls on the Justice Committee to reject again the misguided proposal by the Scottish Government to close courts in Girvan and Cumnock.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, George Foulkes, Helen Eadie, Mary Mulligan, Patricia Ferguson, Des McNulty, Elaine Murray, Marlyn Glen, Jackie Baillie, Hugh Henry

S3M-4992 Cathy Peattie: Trade Union Week—That the Parliament recognises the central role of the trade union movement in the campaign for a Scottish parliament and its continuing contribution throughout the first decade of devolution; welcomes the participation and involvement of the trade union movement in the Scottish parliamentary process and, in particular, the constructive engagement with parliamentarians and staff that is reinforced through Trade Union Week; congratulates the STUC on its Agenda for Rebuilding Collective Prosperity, which argues for a new economic architecture that reconnects a strong flexible economy to the living standards of all, with more income equality, sustainable and healthy jobs, investment in manufacturing, housing and green technologies, a strong, innovative public sector delivering equality of opportunity and outcome and a just transition to a greener economy built on fairer international development, and believes that the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Government should work with trade unions and encourage others in the voluntary, public and private sectors to work together to create a vibrant economy based on principles of equality, fair taxation, strong public services, sustainable employment and support for a just transition to a low-carbon economy.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, David Stewart, Christina McKelvie, Sandra White, Ken Macintosh, Malcolm Chisholm, Patrick Harvie, Des McNulty, Marlyn Glen, James Kelly, Mr Frank McAveety, Cathy Jamieson, Patricia Ferguson, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Mulligan, Hugh Henry, Elaine Murray, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan, David Whitton, Trish Godman, Ms Wendy Alexander, Cathie Craigie, Jackie Baillie, Bill Butler, Liam McArthur, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dave Thompson, John Park, Lewis Macdonald, Elaine Smith, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4991 Linda Fabiani: The Missing Millions—That the Parliament notes Christian Aid’s The Missing Millions report, which follows its earlier report, False profits: robbing the poor to keep the rich tax-free, about the cost of international tax dodging to developing countries; congratulates Christian Aid on this timely reporting, and backs the campaign to persuade G20 leaders to support country-by-country reporting and to formally request that the International Accounting Standards Board adopts this new standard, works to deliver a fully multilateral agreement for the automatic exchange of tax information and includes in any tax agreement a review mechanism to ensure that it benefits developing countries.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, Malcolm Chisholm, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Wilson, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Jack McConnell, Aileen Campbell, Elaine Smith, Dave Thompson, Christina McKelvie, Ian McKee, Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4990 Helen Eadie: Gordon Brown Is Congratulated by Bono in New York—That the Parliament is immensely proud of and congratulates Gordon Brown for the honour that he was awarded in the United States last week when he was in New York for the UN General Assembly and was hailed as a hero for stabilising the world economy and showing compassionate leadership; notes that he was named World Statesman of the Year at a VIP-packed gala dinner and that the award was presented on behalf of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, an interfaith organisation that campaigns for religious freedom and human rights, by the veteran former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, who praised Gordon Brown for his vision and dedication in handling the world economic crisis and said, "his leadership has been essential to our ability to overcome the moment of danger"; notes the praise that he received from the foundation, which stated that the award was for his "compassionate leadership in dealing with the challenging issues facing humanity, his commitment to freedom, human dignity and the environment, and for the major role he has played in helping to stabilise the world’s financial system", and finally notes Barack Obama’s praise for Gordon’s integrity as the two men vowed to work together to tackle the unprecedented global recession.

Supported by: Elaine Murray, Karen Gillon, Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan

S3M-4990.1 Jamie Hepburn: Gordon Brown Is Congratulated by Bono in New York—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4990) in the name of Helen Eadie, leave out from "is immensely proud" to end and insert "notes that Gordon Brown was presented with an award by former US Secretary of State, Henry Kissinger, while in New York; recalls the record of Henry Kissinger while part of the US administration and accusations of his involvement in supporting Operation Condor, a programme of political repression involving assassination across Latin America, as well as in the undermining of the democratically elected Chilean administration of Salvador Allende, which was overthrown on 11 September 1973, heralding the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, a period that resulted in the deaths and disappearances of at least 3,000 people; considers that Henry Kissinger’s attitude to democracy is characterised by his reported remarks, "I don’t see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves"; recalls that Henry Kissinger was also involved in perpetuating the Vietnam War while part of the US Government, including the secret bombing of Cambodia as part of Operation Menu, resulting in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths; also considers that Henry Kissinger advocated that the US Government turn a blind eye to the Indonesian invasion of East Timor, an event of which he allegedly had prior knowledge, and believes that, given this track record, being presented an award by Henry Kissinger is a highly dubious honour indeed.

Supported by: Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4989 John Park: A Fair Pay Deal for Fife Council's Lowest Earners—That the Parliament welcomes calls for Fife Council’s top earners’ pay to be frozen immediately for three years instead of a pay freeze across the council workforce, which would hit the lowest earners the hardest; notes the current disparity in salaries within Fife Council, where last year the chief executive earned nearly £150,000 while the median salary for full-time staff was £22,682; further notes with alarm a persisting pay gap in Fife Council whereby last year the median salary for full-time male staff was £25,329 while for full-time female staff it was only £18,541; is concerned that, while frontline staff are in their third year of a pay freeze due to single status, chief officers have a three-year pay deal worth a 2.5% increase in each year that has seen the chief executive receive a rise this year of £3,657 and executive directors an increase of £2,655, and urges Fife Council to ensure that, at this time, the needs of its lowest earners are put first in any pay-related savings measures, considering that the impact of a three-year pay freeze for its lowest earners would mean considerable hardship, whereas for its chief officers the impact would hardly be felt, if at all.

Supported by: David Whitton, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, Hugh Henry, Helen Eadie, Claire Baker, Mary Mulligan, Lewis Macdonald, Elaine Smith, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathy Jamieson, Ken Macintosh, Patrick Harvie, Margaret Curran, Dr Richard Simpson, Marlyn Glen

S3M-4984# Bill Butler: Happy Birthday Citizens Advice Bureaux—That the Parliament congratulates the Citizens Advice service on its 70th anniversary; commends the vital work that Scotland’s 83 Citizens Advice Bureaux, 222 service points, staff and over 2,000 volunteers carry out in providing free, impartial and confidential advice to all; considers that such good quality advice on issues such as benefits, debt, employment, housing and consumer affairs is increasingly necessary in today’s society and that bureaux are often the first point of contact for people worried about these problems; recognises the need for bureaux in communities across the country, including Drumchapel where the bureau last year obtained benefits and debt-related financial gains of nearly £3.5 million for its clients thanks to the hard work and dedication of its staff and volunteers; acknowledges that the use of client evidence allows Citizens Advice Bureaux and Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) to speak with authority and relevance on changing social issues from both a local and national perspective, such as the recent Drowning in Debt report; thanks the departing chair of CAS, the Rev Graham Blount, for his contribution over the duration of his term in office, and wishes all of Scotland’s bureaux continued success in the years to come.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Karen Gillon, Jamie McGrigor, Jackie Baillie, Robert Brown, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson, Pauline McNeill, Dave Thompson, Bill Wilson, Marlyn Glen, Maureen Watt, Karen Whitefield, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Murray, Mary Scanlon, Patricia Ferguson, Jim Hume, Paul Martin, Cathy Jamieson, Stuart McMillan, James Kelly, Ross Finnie, Mike Pringle, Bob Doris, Cathy Peattie, David Whitton, Bill Kidd, Malcolm Chisholm, Nanette Milne, Margaret Curran, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Liam McArthur, Elaine Smith, Richard Baker, Sarah Boyack, Sandra White, Hugh Henry, Lewis Macdonald, Christine Grahame, Linda Fabiani, Robin Harper, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh O'Donnell

S3M-4983 Cathie Craigie: Learn to Sign Week—That the Parliament recognises Learn to Sign Week 2009; commends Donaldson’s in Linlithgow for its role as Scotland’s national school for children who are deaf or have speech and language difficulties; congratulates its dedicated staff on delivering the Curriculum for Excellence in British Sign Language (BSL) to the school’s bilingual community; considers that BSL is one of Scotland’s national languages, and believes that BSL should have the same legal standing as English and Gaelic.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Karen Whitefield, Trish Godman, Bill Butler, Mr Frank McAveety, Margaret Curran, Ken Macintosh, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Jackie Baillie, Nigel Don, James Kelly, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Murray, Bill Kidd, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Mary Mulligan, Joe FitzPatrick, Maureen Watt, Sarah Boyack, Hugh Henry, John Park, Marlyn Glen, Michael Matheson, Lewis Macdonald, Linda Fabiani, Cathy Jamieson

S3M-4978 Aileen Campbell: Human Development Report 2009—That the Parliament notes the publication of the United Nations Human Development Report 2009; further notes that Norway is ranked first in the human development index rankings and that its consistently high performance in the index and its desirable living standards have been attributed, in large part, to its wise use of the revenues generated by its natural gas and oil deposits; notes that Iceland and Ireland also feature in the top 10, with Denmark and Finland in the top 20, and that all these countries are identified in the Scottish Government’s National Conversation document as being part of the arc of prosperity; notes also that the United Kingdom is ranked twenty-first; recognises that, even though the figures were compiled in 2007, before the economic downturn, the human development index does not simply take economic factors into account but also social indicators including life expectancy and poverty levels, which means that these countries can expect to maintain relatively high rankings in future publications of the index, and looks forward to the day when Scotland takes its place among the countries of the United Nations, has the normal powers of the 182 other countries featured in the index and can work towards achieving the best possible ranking in the index and quality of life for people in Scotland.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Anne McLaughlin, Joe FitzPatrick, Sandra White, Christopher Harvie, Bill Wilson, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4977 Sandra White: UN Human Development Report—That the Parliament notes the publication of the United Nations Human Development Report 2009, which aims to measure a country’s success in terms of creating an environment in which people can develop their full potential and lead productive, creative lives in accordance with their needs and interests rather than simply a narrower measurement of its wealth; further notes that Norway was ranked as the best place in the world to live; considers that this was due greatly to the discovery of offshore gas and oil in the late 1960s and the subsequent establishment of the Norwegian oil fund, and believes that these results add further weight to the argument for the establishment of a Scottish oil fund.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Alasdair Allan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Aileen Campbell, Anne McLaughlin, Joe FitzPatrick, Gil Paterson, Christopher Harvie, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4976 Bob Doris: Reclaiming Wyndford Pitches for Community Sport—That the Parliament congratulates the work of the Glasgow-based After School Activities Programme (ASAP), a voluntary organisation that runs after-school sports programmes, including football, tennis and basketball; acknowledges the efforts of ASAP to entice those young people least likely to be involved in physical exercise to engage with its programme; praises ASAP for its attempts to bring sports pitches in poor condition back into use, including the successful repair of tennis courts in Milton in 2006; supports ASAP’s attempts to repair disused blaes pitches in Wyndford for community sport activities; considers that the Wyndford area has a poor range of community facilities and has suffered due to recent school closures, and calls on Glasgow City Council to support ASAP in bringing the blaes pitches back to life.

Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Bill Kidd, Kenneth Gibson, Angela Constance, Alasdair Allan, Aileen Campbell, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Anne McLaughlin, Gil Paterson, Sandra White

S3M-4975 Helen Eadie: Breaking Down Barriers—That the Parliament welcomes Community trade union’s Breaking Down Barriers campaign, which highlights the need for employment opportunities for everyone in Scotland; fully supports the call for a dedicated champion for disabled workers who will ensure that officials involved in public procurement effectively use Article 19 of the EU public sector procurement directive to encourage contracts to be awarded to sheltered workshops; recognises the important role that supported factories and businesses play in getting disabled people into the labour market, and looks forward to increased protection of this vital aspect of employment and training opportunities in Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, John Park, David Whitton, James Kelly, Kenneth Gibson, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, Sarah Boyack, Cathy Jamieson, Bill Kidd, Jack McConnell, Robin Harper, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Mary Mulligan, Dr Richard Simpson, Lewis Macdonald, Linda Fabiani, Elaine Smith, Marilyn Livingstone, Marlyn Glen, Ken Macintosh

S3M-4974 Jamie Hepburn: Whitelees Primary is Scotland's Best Green School—That the Parliament congratulates Whitelees Primary School, Cumbernauld, on its achievement of the Best Green School Award, sponsored by eaga, at the Scottish Green Awards; believes that this is well-deserved recognition of the dedication of the staff and pupils of the school to environmental and global justice issues; notes the wide range of activities carried out by the school to promote environmentally friendly behaviour both in the classroom and the wider community, and hopes that the award will inspire all schools to continue working towards a greener Scotland and a fairer world.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Christina McKelvie, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4972 John Park: Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Technician Training Scheme—That the Parliament welcomes the 1,000th apprentice to complete the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Technician Training Scheme; notes that the training scheme is the oil and gas industry’s response to the need for a competent, stable and flexible technician workforce to meet its current and future needs and is a partnership between Oil & Gas UK, the Offshore Contractors Association, the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board and OPITO - The Oil & Gas Academy; further notes that the industry has invested more than £73 million in the scheme, which creates around 100 positions annually on the four-year course, and congratulates the scheme on achieving a 91% retention rate; further welcomes the development of a fully integrated industry approach to attracting new talent that provides a visible and long-term commitment to technician training in the United Kingdom, and hopes that the Upstream Oil and Gas Industry Technician Training Scheme will continue to play a vital role in securing a competent, reliable and highly skilled workforce to meet future production in the North Sea.

Supported by: Bill Butler, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Brian Adam, Dr Richard Simpson, Bill Kidd, Liam McArthur, David Whitton, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Mulligan, Trish Godman, James Kelly, Stuart McMillan, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Lewis Macdonald, Linda Fabiani, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4971 Robert Brown: Celebrating 125 Years of Putting CHILDREN 1st—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.

Supported by: Liam McArthur, Maureen Watt, Jamie McGrigor, Kenneth Gibson, Jim Hume, Mike Pringle, Christine Grahame, Karen Whitefield, Jim Tolson, Aileen Campbell, Bob Doris, Jackie Baillie, Ross Finnie, Hugh O'Donnell, Patrick Harvie, Bill Wilson, Joe FitzPatrick, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Sandra White, Ms Wendy Alexander, Jamie Hepburn, Iain Smith, Michael Matheson, Mary Mulligan, John Wilson, Robin Harper, Elaine Murray, Trish Godman, Rhoda Grant, Bill Kidd, Tom McCabe, Jack McConnell, Anne McLaughlin, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Dave Thompson, Hugh Henry, Linda Fabiani, Marlyn Glen

S3M-4970# Elaine Murray: The Food Train Rides Out—That the Parliament congratulates the Food Train on its success over the past 14 years in providing low-cost grocery deliveries to people unable to shop for themselves; notes that the service, which was originally offered to pensioners in the town of Dumfries, is now on offer across Dumfries and Galloway; further notes that the constitution of the Food Train was changed on 2 October 2009 to enable the service to expand to other parts of Scotland; congratulates the Food Train on delivering 15,000 grocery orders to almost 600 households in the past year, and wishes the charity well in its plans to extend its services across Scotland.

Supported by: Dr Richard Simpson, David Whitton, Jackie Baillie, Kenneth Gibson, Patricia Ferguson, Bill Kidd, Sarah Boyack, Jackson Carlaw, Cathy Jamieson, Jim Hume, Jamie Hepburn, Robin Harper, Mary Mulligan, Trish Godman, Gil Paterson, Lewis Macdonald

S3M-4967# Jamie McGrigor: World Porridge Day—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.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Sandra White, Ted Brocklebank, Karen Gillon, Robin Harper, Bill Aitken, Gil Paterson, Margaret Mitchell, Murdo Fraser, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Angela Constance, Anne McLaughlin, John Lamont, Jackie Baillie, Dr Richard Simpson, Michael Matheson, Christine Grahame, Maureen Watt, Jamie Hepburn, Trish Godman, Rhoda Grant, Jack McConnell, Sarah Boyack, Annabel Goldie

S3M-4966 Maureen Watt: Aberdeenshire Homecoming Art—That the Parliament applauds the pupils of all 176 schools in Aberdeenshire that took part in producing the Homecoming-inspired artwork that has been on display in the Scottish Parliament during the week beginning 28 September 2009 as part of its tour around various locations; believes that it represents a unique glimpse of what Homecoming means to children throughout Aberdeenshire; further believes that it is an excellent example of the kind of work that the Curriculum for Excellence is intended to encourage, and congratulates Iain Mitchell, Aberdeenshire’s principal visiting art teacher, and all the other professionals involved in the project for making it such a success.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson

S3M-4965 Nicola Sturgeon: The Draft Health Board Elections (Scotland) Regulations 2009—That the Health and Sport Committee recommends that the draft Health Board Elections (Scotland) Regulations 2009 be approved.

Supported by: Shona Robison

S3M-4964 Pauline McNeill: MOBOs Deliver a Sell-out Show for Glasgow—That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow on the success of the 14th annual Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBOs), held in the city on 30 September 2009; notes that the event held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre was a sell-out, with economists predicting that it would boost Glasgow’s economy by £3.6 million; notes that this figure takes into account the success of the MTV Europe Music Awards in Edinburgh in 2003, with coverage of the MOBOs expected to reach 350 million people around the world; further notes the comments of organiser Kanya King that Glasgow, which puts on 150 live music events every week, had earned an unrivalled reputation for hosting major occasions, and calls on the organisers of events such as the BRIT and Ivor Novello Awards to consider following the example of the MOBOs, which were staged outside London for the first time, and bring these awards also to Glasgow, with its renowned status as a UNESCO City of Music.

Supported by: Irene Oldfather, Cathy Peattie, Mary Mulligan, George Foulkes, Margaret Curran, Helen Eadie, Ken Macintosh, Claire Baker, Bob Doris, Karen Whitefield, Jackie Baillie, Karen Gillon, Sarah Boyack, Mr Frank McAveety, Patricia Ferguson, Gil Paterson, Liam McArthur, Sandra White, Jamie Hepburn, Trish Godman, Jack McConnell, Hugh Henry, Linda Fabiani, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4963 Bob Doris: United Against Racism—That the Parliament expresses deep concern at the activities of the group calling itself the English Defence League, which was recently involved in a demonstration outside the Harrow Central Mosque in London; notes the stated intention of this group to demonstrate in Glasgow in November; applauds the efforts of Manchester City Council in its attempts to halt the group from repeating such scenes in Manchester and offers to support any similar action by Glasgow City Council, Strathclyde Police and local community groups in minimising the chances of such an unedifying disturbance going ahead in Glasgow; affirms that protesters of all opposing persuasions are encouraged to make their voices heard in Scotland’s democracy, and distinguishes clearly between legitimate causes and trouble-making gangs whose sole pursuit is to intimidate and cause hurt.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Alasdair Allan, Aileen Campbell, Patrick Harvie, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Jack McConnell, Dave Thompson, Anne McLaughlin, Linda Fabiani, Marlyn Glen, Hugh O'Donnell

S3M-4962 Stuart McMillan: Guide Dog Week—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.

Supported by: Jim Tolson, Ross Finnie, Alasdair Allan, Iain Smith, Liam McArthur, Maureen Watt, Christine Grahame, Des McNulty, Nanette Milne, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Robert Brown, Kenneth Gibson, Mike Pringle, Bill Wilson, Ken Macintosh, James Kelly, Cathy Jamieson, Brian Adam, Jackie Baillie, Trish Godman, Michael Matheson, Jamie McGrigor, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Ian McKee, Robin Harper, Joe FitzPatrick, Sandra White, Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Elaine Murray, Rhoda Grant, Jack McConnell, Stewart Maxwell, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4961 Margaret Mitchell: Britain in Bloom Awards 2009, Uddingston (Glasgow) Silver Gilt Award—That the Parliament congratulates Uddingston and acknowledges the excellent work carried out by the members of Uddingston Pride and South Lanarkshire Council in achieving a silver gilt award at the 2009 Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom Awards for their colourful flower baskets and containers, which have provided magnificent colour and added to the amenity of Uddingston and surrounding areas; recognises that Britain in Bloom is the largest horticultural campaign in Europe and each year the awards involve hundreds of enthusiastic communities UK-wide from the smallest village to the largest city, and considers that this campaign makes lasting improvements to local environments through horticultural good practice and environmentally friendly projects involving local communities and by providing a massive boost and a source of pride to local residents.

Supported by: Bill Aitken, John Lamont, Michael McMahon, Jamie McGrigor, Ted Brocklebank, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Jackson Carlaw, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4960 Aileen Campbell: Clydesdale Success at Great Taste Awards 2009—That the Parliament congratulates Ramsay of Carluke butchers and Simple Simon’s Perfect Pies on each winning two Gold Taste Awards at the 2009 Great Taste Awards and believes that the recognition for their excellent and quality produce is thoroughly deserved and further illustrates just how beautiful Clydesdale’s larder is.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Des McNulty, Mike Pringle, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4957 Rhona Brankin: Lasswade High School Wins Fitter Schools UK Challenge 2009—That the Parliament congratulates Lasswade High School on coming top out of 3,000 other schools in the United Kingdom to the top prize in the Fitter Schools UK Challenge 2009; commends the pupils and staff of the school for their achievement; welcomes the support for the competition from the Fit for Sport Foundation, ASDA and Roger Black MBE; recognises the role that the contest plays in promoting the benefits of physical activity in schools, and encourages other schools in Midlothian and the rest of Scotland to take part in the challenge next year.

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4955 Maureen Watt: Charlie Duncan's 1,000th Game—That the Parliament applauds the achievement of Fraserburgh FC manager Charlie Duncan who is about to take charge of the club for the 1,000th time in its Scottish Cup replay on Saturday 3 October 2009; considers that for a manager to be in charge of a club for 25 years is a remarkable achievement, and congratulates Charlie Duncan and Fraserburgh FC on their long and successful partnership.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Nanette Milne, Sandra White, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, David Stewart, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, John Park, Alex Johnstone, Stuart McMillan, Nigel Don, Gil Paterson

S3M-4954 Ian McKee: Lasswade High Is Fittest School in Britain—That the Parliament congratulates Lasswade High School for winning the Fitter Schools UK Challenge 2009 and being awarded the fittest school in Britain title; notes that 3,000 schools across the United Kingdom took part in the competition and that the Midlothian school won the top prize based on a series of challenges that tested the pupils’ skills and stamina; further notes that the school has been presented with a trophy and £10,000 worth of sports equipment; congratulates the pupils and teachers for their efforts, and encourages Lasswade High and all other schools across Scotland to take part in regular sports challenges and competitions and to make physical activity a real priority in order to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Maureen Watt, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4949 Ross Finnie: Condemns Sale of Greenock Navy Building—That the Parliament condemns the news reported in The Herald on 27 September 2009 that the Ministry of Defence has decided to close and sell off the Navy Buildings at Greenock by March 2011, which is a base for the marines, the amphibious police and the coastguard, requiring all personnel to relocate; notes that this announcement follows the recent decision of the UK Government to sell off the Custom House Buildings at Customhouse Quay with an attendant loss of jobs, and calls on the UK Government to retain much needed jobs in Greenock.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Stuart McMillan, Kenneth Gibson, Trish Godman, Sandra White, Gil Paterson

S3M-4947 Sandra White: Glasgow's Cultural Quarter—That the Parliament congratulates all those involved in the 8th annual Merchant City Festival in Glasgow, which saw a record number of visitors attending the vast array of performances across the Merchant City; welcomes the festival’s enormous growth since its inception, to become one of Scotland’s most exciting and successful multi-arts platforms, and believes that the area’s rich cultural and architectural tapestry further cements the immense national and international appeal of Glasgow.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Dave Thompson, Gil Paterson

S3M-4946 Rob Gibson: Thurso Groaties Take the Biscuit—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.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Joe FitzPatrick, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Jamie McGrigor, Robin Harper, Aileen Campbell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Rhoda Grant, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4945 Ross Finnie: Praises St John's Primary School—That the Parliament praises St John’s Primary School in Port Glasgow for its wonderful HM Inspectorate of Education report; notes that St John’s received three good ratings and two very good ratings, and further notes that the children’s behaviour and the head teacher’s commitment to improving the quality of the children’s learning were particularly praised in the report.

Supported by: Jim Hume, Bill Wilson, Jim Tolson, Karen Whitefield, Gil Paterson

S3M-4944 Michael Matheson: Stop the Park Gallery Closing—That the Parliament notes the decision by the Labour, Conservative and Independent-led administration of Falkirk Council to close the Park Gallery in Falkirk; believes that Falkirk Council’s decision to close the Park Gallery is lamentable, given that it is one of only two outlets for contemporary art in the Forth Valley area; notes the lack of public consultation by Falkirk Council prior to taking this decision, and therefore calls on Falkirk Council to recognise the widespread opposition within the community to this plan and that a full public consultation exercise should be undertaken to ensure that the views of the local community are taken into account on the future of this important community asset.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4943 Anne McLaughlin: Glasgow Design Team the Best in the World—That the Parliament congratulates the technical and production arts staff and students of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD), Hazel Blue, Martin Mallorie, Simon Cadell, Kelli Des Jalais, Katrina Kelly and Pouleng Mabuya, who have just been given the award of World's Best Design Team at the World Stage Design Exhibition 2009, held in Seoul, South Korea; notes that the RSAMD won in a field of literally thousands of applications and beat two professional production crews for the top prize; recognises that the RSAMD team is made up of members from across the world reflecting the international make-up of the academy, and looks forward to the further contribution of RSAMD students and graduates to the cultural life of Scotland and the world.

Supported by: Pauline McNeill, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Jackie Baillie, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Ian McKee, Robin Harper, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Brian Adam, Gil Paterson, Sandra White

S3M-4942 Ross Finnie: Inverclyde Community Maternity Unit Must Remain 24/7—That the Parliament notes that, despite NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde agreeing, in August 2008, to retain a community maternity unit (CMU) at Inverclyde Royal Hospital for a further three years while a community education programme was run to promote the benefits of the CMU, the board has now decided to change the operations of the CMU from 24/7 to an on-call service at nights and weekends, which clearly reduces the attractiveness of the CMU as no-one can predict the hour of a baby’s arrival; condemns the board’s petulant response to the recommendations of the Independent Scrutiny Panel, and calls on the board to deliver the undertakings that it gave in August 2008 in full and drop its proposals to convert the CMU at Inverclyde Royal Hospital to a 9 am to 5 pm service.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Elaine Smith, Mike Pringle, Trish Godman, Duncan McNeil

S3M-4942.1 Stuart McMillan: Inverclyde Community Maternity Unit Must Remain 24/7—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4942) in the name of Ross Finnie, after "2008" insert ", after a strong and concerted campaign by local residents that led to the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing instigating a review of maternity services".

Supported by: Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4941 Pauline McNeill: Doors Open Day Proves a Hit—That the Parliament congratulates the organisers of Glasgow's Doors Open Day, now in its 20th year, which ran from Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 September 2009, with thousands of people taking the opportunity to look inside some of the city’s most historic and interesting buildings, including theatres, churches and galleries; notes that entry was completely free, and applauds new arts hub Trongate 103, which welcomed 2,250 visitors through its doors, as well as venues such as Glasgow’s Police Museum, which welcomed 1,200 people, the Glasgow Steiner School, which welcomed 400 people, and the Glasgow Art Club on Bath Street, which had around 300 visitors.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sandra White, James Kelly, Kenneth Gibson, Mary Mulligan, Jackie Baillie, Jamie McGrigor, Jackson Carlaw, Jim Tolson, Helen Eadie, Karen Whitefield, Trish Godman, Karen Gillon, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4939 Ian McKee: 25 Years of Victim Support Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates Victim Support Scotland in its 25th anniversary year for the valuable and essential services that it provides to victims of crime across Scotland; notes that the charity provides emotional and practical support to people who have been victims of all types of crime, from housebreaking to rape, sexual assault and murder; further notes that during 2007-08 the organisation’s victim services and witness services supported around 175,000 people affected by crime; believes that the work of over 900 volunteers across the country contributes hugely to the success and achievements of the organisation; supports the charity’s work programme, No More Victims, and its vision to support individuals and communities, to help rebuild lives and keep people affected by crime at the heart of justice in Scotland; recognises the extensive projects that it is undertaking to address youth crime, and welcomes the First Minister’s announcement during the national charity’s AGM that an information service for victims of youth crime will be rolled out across Scotland by the end of September 2009 to ensure that victims of youth crime receive the best help and advice available in a consistent, easy and accessible way.

Supported by: John Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Anne McLaughlin, Robin Harper, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Bill Wilson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt, Christine Grahame, Dr Richard Simpson, Jamie Hepburn, Brian Adam, Sandra White, Linda Fabiani, Karen Gillon, Gil Paterson

S3M-4938 Iain Smith: Congratulations to Falkland and St Andrews—That the Parliament congratulates Falkland for being named Champion of Champions in the 2009 Royal Horticultural Society Britain in Bloom Awards, an accolade received in recognition of Falkland's outstanding record of success over the years and its high-achieving approach to environmental issues; further congratulates St Andrews for achieving a silver award in the large coastal town category and an RHS Britain in Bloom Environmental Quality Award, and recognises that these successes have been achieved through the hard work of many committed volunteers in these communities.

Supported by: Des McNulty, Jamie McGrigor, Jim Tolson, Robin Harper, Bob Doris, Ross Finnie, Jackie Baillie, Mike Pringle, Ted Brocklebank, Gil Paterson

S3M-4937 Ms Wendy Alexander: The Power of Scotland Renewed Report Publication—That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the report, The Power of Scotland Renewed, commissioned by Friends of the Earth Scotland, WWF, RSPB Scotland and the World Development Movement; believes that rapid decarbonisation of the energy supply is central to the challenge of meeting the emissions reduction target of at least 42% set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009; further believes that achieving this decarbonisation will require an economic environment that drives investment in energy conservation, deferrable demand and low-carbon technology; considers new unabated coal plants, such as that proposed in the National Planning Framework for Hunterston, to be incompatible with this environment; understands that, as a developed nation, Scotland should be demonstrating to the southern countries that we are prepared to introduce policies that encourage investment in clean green energy; recognises that our investment in developing these new clean technologies can result in expertise being shared and exported, thereby encouraging clean energy development in the southern countries and increasing inward investment, and calls on the Scottish Government to introduce policy for consenting to new thermal power plants under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, which supersedes the National Planning Framework, to prevent any new coal power stations from being granted planning consent unless they incorporate carbon capture and storage technology from the start.

Supported by: Dr Richard Simpson, Jackie Baillie, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Trish Godman, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4937.1 Liam McArthur: The Power of Scotland Renewed Report Publication—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4937) in the name of Ms Wendy Alexander, leave out from "calls on" to end and insert "notes that the UK Government’s Department of Energy and Climate Change’s consultation paper, issued on 17 June 2009, would require a new coal-fired power station to demonstrate at the outset a carbon capture and storage (CCS) capacity of only 400MW gross; recognises that, if this were applied to the proposed 1,600MW coal-fired power station at Hunterston, 75% of the CO2 emissions would continue unabated until the technology was proven, which could take at least 15 or 20 years; regrets that Scottish ministers have confirmed their intention to align the Scottish position with that of the United Kingdom, irrespective of the implications for the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009; believes that CCS technology would best be developed on existing coal-fired and gas-fired stations, such as Longannet; believes that the Scottish Government must differentiate between existing coal-fired and gas-fired stations and new coal-fired and gas-fired stations, and calls on the Scottish Government to introduce policy for consenting to new thermal power plants under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, which supersedes the National Planning Framework, to prevent any new coal power stations from being granted planning consent unless they make full use of CCS technology from the outset."

S3M-4936 Karen Whitefield: New Fast Train Service Between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Via Shotts—That the Parliament welcomes the launch by First ScotRail of its new winter railway timetable, including details of the new fast train service between Glasgow Central and Edinburgh via Shotts; notes that the new hourly service more than doubles the number of services available on this line; further notes that the new service will significantly reduce journey times from Shotts to Edinburgh to just over 30 minutes; believes that this new service will bring huge benefits to Shotts and surrounding villages, and looks forward to the launch in December of the new service.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Cathy Peattie, Mary Mulligan, Sandra White, Michael McMahon, Des McNulty, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Jamieson, Pauline McNeill, Patricia Ferguson, Linda Fabiani, Trish Godman, Ted Brocklebank, Elaine Smith, Karen Gillon, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Ken Macintosh, Irene Oldfather

S3M-4935 John Wilson: Agricultural Wages Order—That the Parliament welcomes the Agricultural Wages (Scotland) Order (No 56) 2008 that came into effect on 1 October 2008, setting the minimum rates of pay and conditions to which workers in the agricultural sector are entitled by law, and notes that the order offers vital protection from gang masters, especially to workers who work long hours, often on low pay and conditions.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Christina McKelvie, Bill Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Dave Thompson, Brian Adam, Gil Paterson

S3M-4934 Jamie Hepburn: Cumbernauld Restaurant Digs Deep for Malawi—That the Parliament congratulates Anwar Miah and Ibrar Ali, owners of the Bombay Dreams Restaurant in Cumbernauld, and their staff on raising the magnificent sum of £2,300 for Islamic Relief; notes that these funds will be used to build a water well in Malawi; further notes the ambition of the restaurant staff to expand their fundraising efforts into the wider community, and believes that this helps to build the strong partnership between Scotland and Malawi and serves as an inspiring example of how local communities can provide practical assistance to those most in need in developing countries.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Linda Fabiani, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, Anne McLaughlin, Stuart McMillan, Jack McConnell, Karen Gillon, Brian Adam, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4933 Marilyn Livingstone: The Scotland-Malawi College Partnership—That the Parliament supports the Scotland-Malawi Partnership project; commends Adam Smith College for taking the lead in the Scotland’s Colleges International consortium in hosting the recent study tour of 12 Malawian college principals to Scotland as part of the partnership between the vocational colleges in the two countries; recognises that the aim of the study tour was to provide the Malawian principals with a greater insight into the Scottish approach to vocational educational training development and delivery; acknowledges that experienced practitioners from Scotland’s Colleges have actively engaged in sharing their experience and expertise with Malawian staff while undertaking essential learning for their own professional development; congratulates Adam Smith College for hosting events throughout the study tour to raise funds to assist young people in Malawi to attend their local vocational college, to gain skills that will equip them for employment and to help support themselves, their families and their local communities, and looks forward to further supportive links with Malawi such as through the Kofi Annan Adam Smith Scholarship Fund.

Supported by: Mary Mulligan, David Whitton, John Park, Elaine Murray, Liam McArthur, Robin Harper, Marlyn Glen, Jim Tolson, Sarah Boyack, Karen Gillon, Murdo Fraser, Jamie Hepburn, Jackie Baillie, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani, Bill Kidd, Jack McConnell, Hugh Henry, Joe FitzPatrick, Trish Godman, Rhona Brankin, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-4932 Jackie Baillie: Congratulations to West Dunbartonshire Kayak Team—That the Parliament warmly congratulates the West Dunbartonshire Kayak Team of Jamie O'Malley, Arran Smith and Craig Parlane who swept the board with gold, silver and bronze medals in the 200 metres and 500 metres kayaking events at the Special Olympics 2009 in Leicester; recognises all their hard work and effort, with training every week at Loch Lomond; commends their coaches for their dedication and inspiration to the team, and looks forward to the team's success at the next Special Olympics.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Karen Gillon, Jamie McGrigor, Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Helen Eadie, Cathy Peattie, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Des McNulty, Gil Paterson

S3M-4931 John Park: Scottish Banknotes Hit the Jackpot—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.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Claire Baker, Mike Pringle, Hugh O'Donnell, George Foulkes, Charlie Gordon, Hugh Henry, Mr Frank McAveety, Liam McArthur, Marilyn Livingstone, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Mary Mulligan, Des McNulty, Jackson Carlaw, Trish Godman, Kenneth Gibson, Dr Richard Simpson, Pauline McNeill, Aileen Campbell, Jim Tolson, Jamie Hepburn, Willie Coffey, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Karen Gillon, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Rhoda Grant, Lewis Macdonald

S3M-4930 Shirley-Anne Somerville: UN Climate Change Conference, Copenhagen—That the Parliament notes with concern the UK Government’s refusal to allow Scottish Ministers to form part of the official delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December 2009; reaffirms its support for the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, which includes many world-leading pledges; considers it important to have the opportunity to use this legislation as an example to other countries at the conference, and calls on the UK Government to put aside political differences in order that both governments can play their part in ensuring a successful outcome to the Copenhagen negotiations.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Maureen Watt, Bob Doris, Jamie Hepburn, Alasdair Allan, Joe FitzPatrick, John Wilson, Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Kenneth Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Aileen Campbell, Ian McKee, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani, Gil Paterson

S3M-4929♦ Christine Grahame: Call for UN Public Inquiry into the Conviction of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi—That the Parliament notes and endorses the letter sent by a number of prominent individuals, such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ian Hislop, Professor Robert Black QC and Professor Noam Chomsky, calling on the General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) to establish a full public inquiry, under the provisions of Article 22 of its charter, into the investigation of the destruction of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December 1988, the Fatal Accident Inquiry into the event conducted in 1991, the subsequent trial of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and Lamin Khalifa Fhimah at Camp van Zeist, both of Mr Al Megrahi’s appeals and the circumstances surrounding the dropping of his second appeal; notes that the signatories have urged any UN public inquiry to have the powers to call witnesses who have been both directly and indirectly involved to give testimony and account for their actions, decisions and opinions relating to the events that resulted in PA103 being bombed, and would welcome the cooperation of all relevant Scottish agencies and bodies with such an inquiry once it has been established.

Supported by: Christopher Harvie, Bill Wilson, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Ian McKee, Dave Thompson, Sandra White

S3M-4928 Karen Gillon: Beautiful Scotland Award Success for Clydesdale—That the Parliament congratulates the communities of Lanark and Forth on their success in the Beautiful Scotland Award 2009; notes that Lanark was awarded a silver medal while Forth won the Jim Murdie Trophy for Sustainability, an award presented to the community entrant that demonstrates the highest commitment to sustainable development action, and commends these communities and all other entrants to the Beautiful Scotland Awards for their effort and dedication to improving the local environment and bringing local people together.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4927 Tricia Marwick: Congratulations Glenrothes—That the Parliament congratulates Glenrothes on its success at the Britain in Bloom Awards 2009; notes that the town received a silver gilt award for being rated very good in the Best Large Town/Small City category; recognises that this award follows on from Glenrothes receiving the coveted Rosebowl Trophy at the Beautiful Scotland Awards last year after being judged to be the cleanest, most sustainable and beautiful community in Scotland; congratulates everybody involved in the Glenrothes in Bloom team for their hard work and efforts in securing this award, and believes that the award shows that Glenrothes is a fantastic place in which to live and work.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Ted Brocklebank, John Park, Jamie McGrigor, Christina McKelvie, Jim Tolson, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4926 Jamie Hepburn: David Matthews Diabetes Centre—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the David Matthews Diabetes Centre at Monklands Hospital, attended by the family, friends and colleagues of the late Dr David Matthews, after whom the unit is named, including his wife, Dr Allyson Matthews; pays tribute to the vital work for people with diabetes carried out by Dr David Matthews; expresses support for the highly skilled team of specialists, nurses and support staff in place who will provide state-of-the-art care for people with diabetes at the centre, and welcomes the huge difference that the new facility will make in helping improve the lives of people with diabetes in the NHS Lanarkshire area.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Michael Matheson, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Margaret Mitchell, Christina McKelvie, Elaine Smith, Linda Fabiani, Karen Gillon

S3M-4925 Aileen Campbell: BBC Four's This Is Scotland Season—That the Parliament welcomes the BBC Four This Is Scotland season of programmes; notes that the season aims to celebrate and examine aspects of Scottish culture, art, film-making, heritage, landscape and psyche; notes the range of factual programmes broadcast during the season, as well as the opportunity to reshow old favourites such as Rab C Nesbitt and Gregory’s Girl; believes that this wide and imaginative selection reflects Scotland's diverse and vibrant cultural heritage, and hopes that other broadcasters and media outlets will follow the positive example of BBC Four in its approach to coverage of Scotland.

Supported by: Hugh Henry, Maureen Watt, Christine Grahame, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Joe FitzPatrick, Alasdair Allan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Christina McKelvie, Kenneth Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White

S3M-4924 Elaine Smith: Ya Beauty—That the Parliament congratulates Coatbridge on being named the nation’s Best Small City at the Beautiful Scotland Awards 2009; notes the judges’ positive view of the town following a wide-ranging tour taking in Drumpellier Country Park, Dunbeth park and Sikeside; further notes the judges’ praise of tourist attractions Sumerlee and the Time Capsule; believes that the people of Coatbridge have much to be proud of, not only in their industrial heritage but also in the ongoing commitment of local residents to improve the town’s natural and urban heritage; believes that the whole community played a part in winning the award and commends North Lanarkshire Council for the continuing investment to enhance the town and its facilities.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, John Park, Bill Butler, Jackie Baillie, Hugh O'Donnell, Mr Frank McAveety, Pauline McNeill, Sandra White, Marlyn Glen, Karen Whitefield, Bill Kidd, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Sarah Boyack, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4923 Cathie Craigie: Congratulations to Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Cumbernauld Village, Banton, Croy and Condorrat—That the Parliament congratulates Kilsyth on being named best new entry in the Community Entrant Category of the Beautiful Scotland Awards; recognises the great work carried out by the people of Kilsyth in achieving this success; further notes the wonderful achievement of Cumbernauld and Banton in gaining silver medals in the Small City and Small Village categories respectively; also praises Cumbernauld Village, Croy and Condorrat for their equally impressive success in winning Bronze Medal Certificates in the Urban Community category; hopes that this will be a catalyst to continual improvement and investment in the area; thanks all community volunteers and employees of North Lanarkshire Council who worked in partnership in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area to achieve this success, and finally thanks the judges who travelled throughout many communities in Scotland and who recognised both the potential and the hard work carried out in the Cumbernauld and Kilsyth area.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Karen Gillon, Bill Butler, Hugh O'Donnell, Hugh Henry, Mr Frank McAveety, Karen Whitefield, Elaine Smith, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Linda Fabiani, Brian Adam

S3M-4922 Bill Wilson: Suicide Attempts by Female Asylum Seekers—That the Parliament notes the recent report on female asylum seekers by the Scottish Refugee Council and the Gender Violence Unit of the London School of Tropical Medicine that revealed that 70% had suffered physical or sexual violence, some of which they had experienced in the United Kingdom, 57% had suffered post traumatic stress disorder, a condition making it difficult to remember the details of their experiences necessary for their asylum claims to be accepted, and that 22% had attempted suicide; endorses the recommendation by the organisations that produced the report that the UK Border Agency staff and immigration judges undergo training in women’s issues and that the Scottish Government reviews all current health and domestic violence services to ensure that they are meeting the needs of female asylum seekers, and calls on the media to report asylum issues in a balanced and responsible way.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Christine Grahame, Hugh Henry, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani, Gil Paterson, Sandra White

S3M-4921 Jamie Stone: Marine Renewables Opportunity for Caithness—That the Parliament notes the recent release of The UK Low Carbon Transition Plan: National strategy for climate and energy; regrets that this paper makes no mention of the Pentland Firth, a prime site for the development of marine energy in the United Kingdom; further notes the recent award of £9.5 million, £8 million and up to £10 million to marine energy development centres in Cornwall, Orkney and north-east England respectively; is concerned at this failure to recognise the important role that Caithness has in the development of renewable energy sources, and expects the Scottish Government to urge the UK Government to give the very strongest consideration to Caithness when it comes to spending the £50 million Marine Renewables Deployment Fund and the £22 million Marine Renewables Proving Fund.

S3M-4920 Aileen Campbell: Congratulations to Forth and Lanark on Beautiful Scotland Awards Success—That the Parliament congratulates the village of Forth on winning the Jim Murdie Trophy for Sustainability and Lanark on gaining a silver medal in the 2009 Beautiful Scotland Awards; welcomes the efforts of the local communities and believes that these awards are just recognition of their hard work to improve the local environment, and notes that Beautiful Scotland is an environmental campaign in Scotland for communities that are working to improve and enhance their local area and that these awards help to encourage and celebrate the efforts of communities throughout Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Anne McLaughlin, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Brian Adam

S3M-4919 Sarah Boyack: Congratulations to David Rintoul, Winner of the Sir William Y Darling Award for Good Citizenship—That the Parliament congratulates David Rintoul on winning the Sir William Y Darling Award for Good Citizenship and thanks him for his good work helping the community in Tollcross through the Tollcross Traders Association and Tollcross Community Council and running various local websites such as Tollcross Online.

S3M-4918 Michael Matheson: Congratulations to the Forth Valley Disability Sport Team—That the Parliament congratulates the athletes of the Forth Valley Disability Sport Team, from across Clackmannanshire, Falkirk and Stirling, for their outstanding achievements at this summer’s Special Olympics GB National Games for people with learning disabilities; notes that the 54 athletes, aged from 9 to 62 years, returned with a medal haul of 36 gold, 23 silver and 19 bronze; thanks the coaches, parents and volunteers who contributed to the success of the team, and wishes them continued success for the future.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Bob Doris, Stewart Maxwell, Rob Gibson, Keith Brown, Jackie Baillie, Hugh O'Donnell, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Cathy Peattie, Ken Macintosh, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4917 Bill Kidd: Gordon Brown’s Gesture to Cut Trident Fleet—That the Parliament, while welcoming any and all cuts in the levels of nuclear weapons, believes that Gordon Brown’s unilateral gesture to cut the United Kingdom’s fleet of Trident missile-carrying submarines is entirely to do with cost-cutting and not with a solid commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament; notes that, according to Professor Ron Smith, a defence economist at Birkbeck College, the scaling down of the number of Trident nuclear submarines from four to three is unlikely to have much effect on the UK’s nuclear capability; believes that this move to reduce the so-called deterrent amounts to a bare minimum, especially when compared with the fresh impetus that President Obama has recently given to the international disarmament movement, and calls on the UK Government to take real and practicable steps towards full disarmament.

Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Alasdair Allan, Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Aileen Campbell, Stewart Maxwell, Linda Fabiani, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan, Ian McKee, Shirley-Anne Somerville, John Wilson, Dave Thompson

S3M-4916 Jack McConnell: Bill Speirs—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.

Supported by: Liam McArthur, Karen Whitefield, Mr Frank McAveety, Claire Baker, Ken Macintosh, Irene Oldfather, Charlie Gordon, Michael McMahon, Bill Butler, Trish Godman, Jim Hume, Karen Gillon, Elaine Murray, Lewis Macdonald, Cathy Jamieson, David Whitton, Bob Doris, Ms Wendy Alexander, James Kelly, Richard Baker, John Scott, John Wilson, Patricia Ferguson, Christopher Harvie, Mary Mulligan, Malcolm Chisholm, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Mike Pringle, Johann Lamont, Brian Adam, David Stewart, Margaret Curran, Linda Fabiani, George Foulkes, Robert Brown, Jamie Hepburn, Duncan McNeil, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Smith, Tricia Marwick, Helen Eadie, Rhona Brankin, Jackie Baillie, David McLetchie, Cathy Peattie, Hugh Henry, Sandra White, Marilyn Livingstone, Aileen Campbell, Rob Gibson, Mary Scanlon, Ross Finnie, Pauline McNeill, Anne McLaughlin, Sarah Boyack, Cathie Craigie, Stuart McMillan, Robin Harper, Dr Richard Simpson, Willie Coffey, John Park, Nicol Stephen, Gil Paterson, Paul Martin, Alison McInnes, Marlyn Glen, Christina McKelvie, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson, Nigel Don, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, Bill Kidd, Tom McCabe

S3M-4915 Pauline McNeill: Industrial Action at Capita—That the Parliament notes the industrial action being taken on 23 and 24 September 2009 by Unite members working for Capita Hartshead in Glasgow; considers that Unite members were previously forced into a one-day strike on 19 July 2009; is concerned that some of the lowest paid workers in the finance sector are compelled to take this action at a company that saw an 18% increase in operating profit in 2008 to £320 million and whose chief executive is the 9th highest paid chief executive in the United Kingdom, with earnings of £9.9 million according to The Guardian's executive pay survey 2009, and calls on Capita to resolve this dispute with its workforce as soon as possible.

Supported by: Cathy Jamieson, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, James Kelly, Bill Butler, David Whitton, Malcolm Chisholm, Elaine Smith, Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone, John Park, Hugh Henry, Jamie Hepburn, Duncan McNeil, Robin Harper, Helen Eadie, Sandra White

S3M-4914 Ken Macintosh: St Ninian's Silver Jubilee—That the Parliament congratulates St Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire on celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009; recognises the consistently outstanding level of academic and social achievement that the school has realised; thanks all the pupils, parents, alumni and staff on their contributions to these achievements over the past quarter century; commends the strong community spirit and caring Catholic ethos that the school fosters; applauds the five staff members who have taught in the school since its inception, including Mr Bill Clark, who has just published a history of the school; in particular notes the exceptional leadership that Mr James McVittie and Mr John Docherty have given to the school, and is sure that St Ninian’s will continue to flourish for many years to come.

S3M-4913 John Wilson: Beautiful North Lanarkshire—That the Parliament congratulates Coatbridge on being named the Best Small City in the 2009 Beautiful Scotland competition and Kilsyth for taking the silver gilt medal for its exceptionally high standards; also recognises the achievements of Motherwell and Coatbridge, which are celebrating silver medal wins; welcomes that these communities competed against 71 other entrants from throughout Scotland to identify the cleanest, most sustainable and most beautiful communities in Scotland, and commends the continuous work of local people in these areas to achieve such outstanding awards that promote their local communities.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Smith, Gil Paterson, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Hugh O'Donnell, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam

S3M-4912 Jamie Hepburn: Congratulations to Beautiful Scotland Awards Winners 2009—That the Parliament congratulates Cumbernauld and Banton on receiving silver medals at this year’s Beautiful Scotland Awards; further congratulates Cumbernauld Village, Condorrat, Caldercruix, Croy and Glenboig on their bronze medal awards and Kilsyth on its award for the best new entry in the Urban Community category; further congratulates the other recipients of awards in North Lanarkshire and across Scotland; notes the hard work and dedication on the part of community bodies and representatives who have applied for the awards and helped decorate and maintain their areas to such an award-winning standard, and encourages local communities to continue developing their sense of civic pride and to keep Scotland and their local areas beautiful for years to come.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Hugh O'Donnell, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam

S3M-4909 Nigel Don: Aberdeen City Beautiful Scotland Awards Success—That the Parliament notes the result of the Beautiful Scotland Awards 2009, which saw Aberdeen win the City Award and Aberdeen City Council collect the Institute for Sport, Parks and Leisure (ISPAL) Scotland Trophy; congratulates the council and its officials for their hard work and effort in securing these prestigious awards, and wishes Aberdeen every success in the 2010 Britain in Bloom Awards in which it will represent Scotland.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Nanette Milne, Alasdair Allan, Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Maureen Watt, Jamie Stone, Alison McInnes, Nicol Stephen, Angela Constance

S3M-4908 Liam McArthur: 2009 Greenspace Survey—That the Parliament notes the results of the 2009 survey undertaken by Greenspace Scotland that shows that 63% of Scots use their local greenspaces every week, up from 49% five years ago, and that 86% agree that it is important to have a greenspace in their local area; further notes that the most popular uses of greenspaces are for walking, relaxation, exercise and play, all of which contribute to an individual’s health and wellbeing; believes that this amply demonstrates the importance of greenspaces and the need to maintain and improve them so that everyone has easy access to well-managed greenspaces, and urges government at all levels to ensure that the provision of well-managed greenspaces is given a high priority along with work to encourage people from all backgrounds and ages to make full use of their local greenspaces.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4907 Karen Whitefield: Beautiful North Lanarkshire—That the Parliament congratulates all of the communities that contributed to North Lanarkshire Council’s doing so well in the recent Beautiful Scotland awards; in particular congratulates those involved with the Craigneuk allotments on gaining a silver medal, the village of Caldercruix, which gained a bronze award for the work carried out by the Caldercruix Youth and Community Development Project, and Plains, which gained a bronze medal for work carried out by the Plains Women’s Health Group and Plains Community Futures, and also congratulates the town of Shotts, which also gained a bronze award for work done on the Torbothie walk and the community garden in the grounds of the Shotts EU Congregational Church, and North Lanarkshire Council on gaining the Wright Sustainable Development Award for efforts to deliver sustainable development through Local Agenda 21 and also on gaining a special endeavour award for promoting the campaign to local communities.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4905 Aileen Campbell: Time for Scottish Six News—That the Parliament welcomes STV’s proposals for a Scottish Six, an hour-long news programme and the extension of local bulletins for Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen plus extra bulletins for Inverness, the Highlands and the Borders; believes that Scotland’s news broadcasting would benefit from a dedicated news programme combining international news from a Scottish perspective with local stories, and welcomes the commitment and positive comments of STV chief executive Rob Woodward in The Scotsman to offer Scottish viewers a news programme that is new and exciting and relevant for a 21st century Scotland.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Ian McKee, Rob Gibson, Christine Grahame, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick, Bill Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson

S3M-4903 Stewart Maxwell: Smoking Bans Cut Heart Attacks—That the Parliament is pleased to note that studies suggest that heart attacks are cut by almost one third by smoking bans; also notes the findings that this "heart gain" is much greater than earlier studies have suggested and that heart attack rates drop for three years following smoking bans, going from a 17% drop in the first year to 36% after three years; is pleased that Scottish figures bear this study out, with a 17% drop in heart attacks in the 12 months after the smoking ban was implemented, and is delighted that the cumulative effects of the 2006 smoking ban are still being felt.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Alasdair Allan, Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Hugh O'Donnell, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, Robert Brown, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Christine Grahame, Anne McLaughlin, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Ian McKee, Mike Pringle, Elaine Smith, Maureen Watt, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Christina McKelvie, Dave Thompson, Irene Oldfather, Michael Matheson, Angela Constance, Jack McConnell, Trish Godman, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4902 Alasdair Allan: Barra Whisky Galore Festival—That the Parliament congratulates the organisers of the first ever Whisky Galore festival, which took place on the Isle of Barra over the weekend of 18 to 20 September 2009; notes that this festival occurred 60 years after the great Ealing comedy film, based on the book of the same name by Compton Mackenzie, was filmed on the island, and recognises the unique chance given by the festival to experience this exceptional blend of island hospitality and history.

Supported by: John Wilson, Bob Doris, Jamie McGrigor, Aileen Campbell, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Joe FitzPatrick, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Anne McLaughlin, Maureen Watt, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Dave Thompson, Michael Matheson, Mary Scanlon, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4901 Karen Whitefield: 150th Anniversary of St Aloysius Parish in Chapelhall—That the Parliament congratulates St Aloysius Parish in Chapelhall on the occasion of its 150th anniversary; recognises that the parish has played an important part in the life of the community of Chapelhall over this period of time; pays tribute to the commitment shown to the community by all of the parish priests, from the first, Father James Milne, to the present, Father Michael Walsh; recognises in particular the important part that the parish has played in the education of young people in the community, and wishes the parish well in its year of celebrations.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry

S3M-4900 Bill Kidd: No to Savage Cut to Child Benefit—That the Parliament notes with concern the suggestion by Liberal Democrat Leader Nick Clegg that, as part of a package of savage cuts, child benefit, a universal benefit with a high uptake and paid directly to mothers, be made subject to means-testing and considers that such a savage cut would fall on mothers and children, adding to child poverty and inequality for mothers and that, by such a measure, children and mothers would effectively be made victims of a banking financial crisis for which they were not responsible.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Christine Grahame, Anne McLaughlin, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Smith, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Willie Coffey, Christina McKelvie, Dave Thompson, Michael Matheson

S3M-4899 Margaret Smith: Scotland's Students are Overstretched and Overdrawn—That the Parliament notes the report by NUS Scotland, Overstretched and Overdrawn, showing that the majority of students are in some form of debt, with over half suffering from commercial debt; notes the finding that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds (NS-SEC classes 4-7) are more likely to be concerned about commercial debt; further notes the finding that 70% of students are being forced to work more than the 10 hours a week limit recommended in the Cubie report while studying full time; expresses concern at evidence showing clear failings in current childcare support, and calls on the Scottish Government to use the £30 million considered in the Supporting a Smarter Scotland consultation to increase student loans, bursaries and improve childcare support system for students in Scotland, as called for by NUS Scotland, student associations across Scotland and the main opposition parties.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Robin Harper, Ken Macintosh, Robert Brown, Murdo Fraser, Claire Baker, Sarah Boyack, Karen Gillon, Liam McArthur, Hugh Henry, Iain Smith, Alison McInnes, Ross Finnie, Rhona Brankin

S3M-4898 Sarah Boyack: Macmillan Cancer Support, World's Biggest Coffee Morning—That the Parliament welcomes Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event, which will be held at venues across the United Kingdom on and around 25 September 2009; notes that Macmillan is expecting over 4,000 coffee mornings to be held across Scotland, raising around £880,000, with every penny going towards helping people affected by cancer; further notes that every day 822 people in the United Kingdom are told that they have cancer and that charities such as Macmillan provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support while pushing for better cancer care, and urges people to visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee to find the nearest coffee morning that they can attend.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Malcolm Chisholm, Hugh Henry, Irene Oldfather, Marlyn Glen, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4896 Helen Eadie: Patients in Scotland being Required to Pay £900 Prescription Charges for Drugs for Infertility Services—That the Parliament expresses profound concern that NHS patients are being asked if they will pay £900 for drugs to assist with their infertility treatment and that patients in Fife are being told not even to ask to go on the waiting list because by the time they reach the top of the list they will no longer be eligible under the criteria for treatment and regrets that many young couples are to be left with a childless future owing to the lack of action and disregard by the Scottish Government.

Supported by: Tom McCabe, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4895 Dr Richard Simpson: Stirling University Named Sunday Times Scottish University of the Year—That the Parliament congratulates the University of Stirling on being named by The Sunday Times as Scottish University of the Year 2009-10 and notes that this accolade comes on top of being ranked first in the Research Assessment Exercise 2008 for sports research and for nursing and midwifery research, best in the United Kingdom for a "good place to be" in the International Student Barometer for 2007 and 2008 and first in Scotland for sports facilities and services in The Times Good University Guide 2008.

Supported by: Stewart Maxwell, David Whitton, Kenneth Gibson, John Park, Alex Johnstone, Robin Harper, Jackie Baillie, Elizabeth Smith, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Trish Godman, Jackson Carlaw, Mr Frank McAveety, Marilyn Livingstone, Bill Butler, Murdo Fraser, Claire Baker, Mary Mulligan, Maureen Watt, Elaine Smith, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Cathie Craigie, Pauline McNeill, Jack McConnell, Bill Kidd, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4894 Nanette Milne: World Ostomy Day—That the Parliament welcomes World Ostomy Day, to be held on 3 October 2009, and the activity of patients’ groups throughout Scotland; notes that every year over 3,000 Scots with serious illnesses such as cancer and inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, undergo stoma surgery to tackle their condition or to ease discomfort and so improve their quality of life, and recognises that events like World Ostomy Day raise awareness and help promote public discussion of the issues.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Michael McMahon, Ian McKee, Bill Aitken, John Scott, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan, Jackson Carlaw, John Lamont, Jamie McGrigor, Elizabeth Smith, Sandra White, Margaret Mitchell, Bill Butler, Brian Adam, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Karen Whitefield, Rob Gibson, Ross Finnie, Gil Paterson, Liam McArthur, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ted Brocklebank, Dr Richard Simpson, Elaine Murray, Rhoda Grant, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson, Patrick Harvie, Andrew Welsh

S3M-4893 Ross Finnie: Congratulations to Earnhill Primary School—That the Parliament congratulates Earnhill Primary School in Renfrewshire for its excellent HM Inspectorate of Education report; notes that Earnhill Primary received one excellent rating and four very good ratings, and further notes that the children’s attainment in English language, mathematics and their wider achievements, the teamwork of staff and their high expectations of the children were also praised in the report.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Hugh O'Donnell, Jim Hume, Jim Tolson, Bill Wilson, Jamie McGrigor, Gil Paterson

S3M-4892 Bill Kidd: Congratulations to Glasgow Schools’ Symphony Orchestra—That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow Schools’ Symphony Orchestra (GSSO) on three very successful concerts in Glasgow this summer, at the Royal Concert Hall on 25 June 2009, at the Academy Concert Hall of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama on 6 September and at City Halls on 7 September; notes that the GSSO performed beautiful renditions of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Georges Bizet’s L’Arlesienne Suites and Hamish MacCunn’s strongly nationalistic overture, The Land of the Mountain and the Flood, and commends all the hard work put in by all GSSO performers in the months leading up to these concerts, which celebrated and showcased the talent of Glasgow’s young musicians.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Jamie Hepburn, Nanette Milne, Rob Gibson, Ian McKee, Sandra White, Stuart McMillan, Pauline McNeill, Robin Harper, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Angela Constance

S3M-4891 David Whitton: Enterprising Student Awards—That the Parliament congratulates the winners of the first Enterprising Student Awards; notes that the awards, a collaboration with the Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland and Scotland’s Colleges, are designed to recognise how important the college sector is to the economy and that colleges are a major partner in the economic development of Scotland, and further congratulates Walter Law, named Enterprising Student of the Year, who, after spending years as a glazier before completing computer qualifications at Cumbernauld College, now provides technical support to clients, including John Lewis, from his business in Kirkintilloch.

Supported by: James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, David Stewart, Des McNulty, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Stuart McMillan, Mary Mulligan, Jim Tolson, Dr Richard Simpson, Claire Baker, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Jack McConnell

S3M-4890 Kenneth Gibson: Gathering Dust?—That the Parliament notes the report of the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution and wonders whether the UK Government intends to implement any of the recommendations and, if so, when.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Ian McKee, Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Maureen Watt, Brian Adam, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4889 Gil Paterson: Clydebank Bowling Club, 125 Years and Still Going Strong—That the Parliament congratulates Clydebank Bowling Club on reaching its 125th year in 2009; notes that it has made a significant contribution to the community of Clydebank, and wishes it another 125 years of success.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Des McNulty, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Bill Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Jackson Carlaw, Aileen Campbell, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Bill Kidd

S3M-4888 Gil Paterson: Congratulations to Kilbowie Primary School—That the Parliament congratulates the pupils and staff at Kilbowie Primary School, Clydebank, on being awarded the prestigious International School Award in recognition of the outstanding international dimensions of teaching and learning in the school and encourages the school in its efforts in promoting a better understanding of different cultures and traditions of countries the world over.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Des McNulty, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Bill Kidd

S3M-4887 Bill Kidd: The Hidden Costs of Trident—That the Parliament notes the publication of a new report by Greenpeace that refutes the UK Government estimates of the costs of renewing the Trident missile system; is concerned by the report’s finding that the total cost of replacing Trident will be £97 billion over the system’s 30-year life span; notes that the cost estimate of £20 billion provided in the Defence White Paper 2006 does not take account of the cost of conventional military forces directly assigned to support Trident nor the cost of new installations that would be required at the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston; believes that, in light of these distended costs and a £500 million cut in the Scottish budget ordered by the UK Government, this report highlights the continued urgency of dropping Trident; supports the aims and work of the Scottish Government’s Working Group on Scotland Without Nuclear Weapons, and calls on the UK Government to relinquish its dogged commitment to squandering precious public resources on a weapons system that is unnecessary and irrelevant.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Sandra White, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Stuart McMillan, Bill Wilson, Stewart Maxwell, Christopher Harvie, Christine Grahame, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Angela Constance, Kenneth Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Ian McKee, Michael Matheson, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Mike Pringle, Dave Thompson, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4886 Anne McLaughlin: Congratulating a Bighearted Fundraising Champion—That the Parliament warmly congratulates 11-year-old Abby Louise Tombs of Govanhill, Glasgow, on becoming runner-up in the Bighearted Scotland Child of the Year award; recognises her three years of effort, raising over £10,000 for Kidney Research UK with a variety of fundraising events including hikes up Ben Nevis, race nights and more; notes her courage and commitment to this charity in the face of her own ongoing health concerns, and encourages the people of Scotland to take inspiration from her example and renew their dedication to charitable efforts.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sandra White, Jamie McGrigor, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Michael Matheson, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Mary Scanlon, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Dave Thompson

S3M-4885 Karen Whitefield: GTC Scotland Teaching Awards—That the Parliament congratulates Heather Slimmon from Kirk O'Shotts Primary School in Salsburgh on being awarded professional recognition as a sustainable development teacher by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS); notes that her award is in recognition of her work in supporting the school's progress toward a second Eco-Schools Green Flag award; further notes that Ms Slimmon has been instrumental in establishing the school’s first eco-committee and encouraging pupils throughout the school, along with teachers, non-teaching staff and parents to become actively involved; considers that there are huge benefits to Kirk O'Shotts Primary of having a teacher gain an enhanced standard of knowledge and skills in this field; notes that, as a result, the school now has a fully operational travel plan, a silver health-promoting establishment award and is currently working toward the gold award; welcomes the increasing emphasis on sustainable development education in Scotland’s schools and commends Ms Slimmon's work to ensure that sustainable development is firmly embedded in the curriculum at Kirk O'Shotts Primary and in the values and actions of the school and in encouraging pupils, teachers and parents to plan for a better and more sustainable future; commends the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of all 18 teachers who were recently awarded professional recognition status by GTCS, and looks forward to more teachers across Scotland achieving this valuable award in the future.

Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Mary Mulligan, James Kelly, Kenneth Gibson, Des McNulty, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, Claire Baker, Michael McMahon, Marlyn Glen, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone, Elaine Smith R, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Helen Eadie

S3M-4884 Aileen Campbell: US Administration Reviews Missile Defence Plans—That the Parliament notes the decision of US President Barack Obama to drop plans for missile defence bases in mainland Europe; believes that this decision will ease tensions with Russia and demonstrates the determination of the US administration to work within existing international structures to maintain global peace and security; notes that the President has also commented on the need for cost considerations in such strategic defence decisions, and calls on the UK Government to review its commitment to the costly and unnecessary renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons programme.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Christine Grahame, Kenneth Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson

S3M-4883 Tricia Marwick: 200th Anniversary of Tullis Russell—That the Parliament congratulates Tullis Russell Papermakers on its 200th anniversary; considers that, as a major employer in the Glenrothes area, the company plays a key role in shaping the local economy; recognises Tullis Russell’s ongoing commitment to the environment through its proposals to construct a new biomass plant that will reduce its carbon emissions by around 250,000 tonnes each year; congratulates the company on securing £497,000 as part of the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund to help construct its new Eco-Interpretation Centre, and believes that this is fitting tribute to Tullis Russell as it celebrates its 200th anniversary.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Jackie Baillie, Aileen Campbell, Brian Adam, Angela Constance, John Park, Murdo Fraser, Maureen Watt, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Jack McConnell

S3M-4881 Helen Eadie: Retrospective Adjustments to the Terms and Conditions of Employees of the Scottish Government and Agencies of the Scottish Government—That the Parliament is very concerned to learn that human relations staff in various departments of the Scottish Government are putting in place retrospectively a change to the agreed terms and conditions of staff in the civil service; hopes that any changes to terms and conditions will be undertaken with prior consultation and proper trade union agreement irrespective of which department of the civil service is affected, and further hopes that, when any quango is abolished, the staff concerned in the transfer to a new body will not suffer any detriment to their terms and conditions, as it understands is being proposed to the employees of the Care Commission who will move from a civil service pension scheme to a local government pension scheme if the changes proposed in the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Bill are enacted.

Supported by: Mary Mulligan, Mr Frank McAveety, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh Henry, Irene Oldfather, Marlyn Glen, Sarah Boyack, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4880 John Park: Rok Apprentice 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.

Supported by: David Stewart, Bob Doris, David Whitton, James Kelly, Kenneth Gibson, Malcolm Chisholm, Ken Macintosh, Des McNulty, Jackie Baillie, Sandra White, Charlie Gordon, Mary Mulligan, Jim Tolson, Dr Richard Simpson, Claire Baker, Elaine Smith, Trish Godman, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone, Mr Frank McAveety, Gil Paterson, Marlyn Glen, Angela Constance, Rhoda Grant, Bill Kidd, Lewis Macdonald

S3M-4879 Michael Matheson: Community Green Initiative Shows the Way—That the Parliament notes the work that the voluntary group, Community Green Initiative, based in Dunipace, does for the environment in its locality; acknowledges that the exercise of mapping the problem of Japanese Knotweed in the River Carron demonstrates the willingness of the people of Dunipace to solve this problem, and congratulates this group in continuing its efforts to make Dunipace a better place to live.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, John Wilson, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4878 Cathie Craigie: 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.

Supported by: Jack McConnell, Jamie Hepburn, Tom McCabe, Marlyn Glen, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4877 George Foulkes: Top of the Lollipops—That the Parliament recognises the important and valuable work that lollipop people do across Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom; applauds Kwik Fit Insurance’s heart-warming campaign to find the UK’s favourite lollipop person while also raising critical issues of road safety, and hopes that all schools across Scotland are encouraged by their councillors, MPs and MSPs to take part and together promote better road safety across all of Scotland’s communities.

Supported by: David Stewart, Nanette Milne, Malcolm Chisholm, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Sarah Boyack, Des McNulty, Murdo Fraser, Jackie Baillie, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Dr Richard Simpson, Joe FitzPatrick, Cathy Jamieson, Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, John Lamont, Cathy Peattie, Jack McConnell, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Alison McInnes, Sandra White

S3M-4876 Sarah Boyack: Seal 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.

Supported by: Margaret Curran, Jackie Baillie, Marlyn Glen, Malcolm Chisholm, Trish Godman, John Park, Lewis Macdonald, James Kelly, Cathy Jamieson, Dr Richard Simpson, Karen Gillon, Elaine Murray, Des McNulty, Patricia Ferguson, Ms Wendy Alexander, Cathy Peattie, Ken Macintosh, Pauline McNeill, Jack McConnell, Mary Mulligan, Jamie Hepburn, Irene Oldfather, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4875 Patricia Ferguson: Ruchill Golf Course—That the Parliament welcomes the official opening of Ruchill Golf Course in Maryhill by Colin Montgomerie on 17 September 2009; notes that the facility, having been closed since 1997, has undergone a £2.5 million overhaul and will now offer a nine hole pay-as-you-play course as well as coaching sessions, a dedicated clubhouse and community facilities; further notes that a golf course has been on the site for 100 years and therefore recognises the importance of this event, and congratulates the hard work and dedication of all those involved in the regeneration of the golf course, including Ruchill Community Golf Course Trust, Ruchill Community Council and Councillor Jim Mackechnie.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Tom McCabe

S3M-4874 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Transition Edinburgh University Launch Event—That the Parliament welcomes the Transition Edinburgh University (TEU) launch event on Thursday 1 October 2009; highlights that the TEU is a student and staff initiative aimed at tackling climate change and peak oil; looks forward to the launch, which marks the conclusion of the phase one four-month feasibility study into calculating the baseline carbon footprint attributable to being a member of the university community as part of an overall 16-month carbon crash programme aimed at reducing personal emissions; notes that the TEU is supported by the University of Edinburgh’s People and Planet group and Energy and Sustainability Office and is grant-funded by the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund, and further notes that more information about the project can be found at www.transitionedinburghuni.org.uk.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Ian McKee, Sarah Boyack, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4873 Ian McKee: Wester Hailes Education Centre PE Success—That the Parliament congratulates Wester Hailes Education Centre for exceeding the Scottish Government target of delivering two hours of physical education per week; notes that the Scottish Parliament Health and Sport Committee led a fact-finding visit to the school as part of its Pathways into Sport and Physical Activity inquiry and found that all S1 pupils receive two hours of quality PE, rising to three hours in S2 and S3 and five hours in S4; further notes that in S5 and S6, when PE becomes optional, 64% of pupils continue with classes, which is well above the national average, and encourages other schools in Edinburgh and throughout Scotland to follow the example of Wester Hailes Education Centre to include at least two hours of quality PE in the curriculum in order to improve the long-term health and wellbeing of Scotland’s children and young people.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Christine Grahame, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Aileen Campbell, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt

S3M-4872 Stuart McMillan: Best Partnership Working (Public/Voluntary) Award—That the Parliament congratulates Inverclyde Council for winning the Best Partnership Working (Public/Voluntary) award at the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE) award ceremony held in Cardiff on 9 and 10 September 2009; notes that the ceremony attracted over 700 guests and more than 400 entries for the awards; further notes that the APSE awards are unique in the local government calendar in being dedicated to awarding excellence in frontline local government public services, and acknowledges the success of Inverclyde Council in winning the award, which was one of three successes for Scottish local authorities.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Jackson Carlaw, Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Kenneth Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Tom McCabe

S3M-4871 Jeremy Purvis: World-class Education Facilities for the Scottish Borders—That the Parliament celebrates the opening of the Heriot-Watt University and Borders College co-located Scottish Borders Campus by The Princess Royal, Princess Anne; welcomes the unique collaboration between further and higher education to maximise tertiary education opportunities for the Borders; praises Heriot-Watt University and Borders College for investing £31.4 million in this world-class facility that will offer a first-class education to all who walk through its doors; recognises the contribution that the new campus will make to maximising education and employment opportunities, and, finally, welcomes the economic benefits that the new campus will bring not only to the Borders’ economy, but to the Scottish economy as a whole.

Supported by: Christine Grahame

S3M-4870 Pauline McNeill: 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.

Supported by: Elaine Smith, Hugh Henry, Liam McArthur, Robin Harper, Mr Frank McAveety, Marlyn Glen, Patrick Harvie, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Butler, Jackie Baillie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ms Wendy Alexander, Jim Tolson, Sarah Boyack, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson, Dave Thompson, Cathy Peattie, Marilyn Livingstone, Gil Paterson, Rhoda Grant, Sandra White

S3M-4869 Linda Fabiani: Nova Scotia Day—That the Parliament welcomes the proclamation signed by Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia, that "Whereas it is fitting in Scotland’s International year of Homecoming to recognize the strong historic, linguistic and cultural links Nova Scotia shares with Scotland; and whereas these links go far back to the time of Sir William Alexander, who played an important role in the beginning of European migration to Nova Scotia and is commemorated by a statue in Victoria Park, a public space located in our province’s capital city of Halifax; and whereas through Sir William’s personal efforts the foundation of Nova Scotia was laid by Royal Charter in 1621 through which our province later received its coat of arms and flag and in recognition that Sir William and the Knights Baronet of Nova Scotia represent a foundation of the affectionate relationship enjoyed between Nova Scotia and Scotland; and whereas it is fitting to acknowledge those who have influenced Nova Scotia’s language, culture and heritage which, having evolved over the centuries, can be proudly acknowledged as diverse because of the vibrant cultures that have shaped our history", that 10 September 2009 be Nova Scotia Day and that Nova Scotia will continue to build on its mutual historic, linguistic, cultural and entrepreneurial ties with Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, Christine Grahame, Stuart McMillan, Hugh Henry, Rob Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Joe FitzPatrick, Brian Adam, Jim Hume, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ted Brocklebank, Aileen Campbell, Murdo Fraser, Stewart Maxwell, Elaine Smith, Jamie Stone, Tricia Marwick, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Ian McKee, John Wilson, Tom McCabe, Christina McKelvie, Maureen Watt, Dave Thompson

S3M-4868 Margaret Mitchell: Hamilton Speakers Club—That the Parliament congratulates Hamilton Speakers Club, which held its inaugural meeting in May 1949, on its 60th anniversary; notes that the club was the first toastmasters club to be formed in Lanarkshire; further notes that the club opened up its membership to women in 1998 and that one third of its membership is now women, and wishes the club every success in the years ahead.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Aileen Campbell, Alex Johnstone, John Lamont, Nanette Milne, Bill Aitken, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Dave Thompson, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe

S3M-4867 Bill Wilson: Ending the GDP Fetish—That the Parliament welcomes the recent report by the Commission on the Measurement of Economic Performance and Social Progress, contributed to by economics professors Amartya Sen, Joseph Stiglitz and Jean-Paul Fitoussi, which calls for an end to "GDP fetishism"; believes that an economic approach focused on ever-increasing GDP to the detriment of other factors is unsustainable and has been disastrous for the wellbeing of individuals and the environment; agrees with the report that a new indicator of progress is needed, one that considers issues such as environmental protection and work/life balance as well as economic output, to rate a country’s ability to maintain the sustainable happiness of its inhabitants; notes that, were such methodology to be used, and, as a result, GDP took into account outcomes and not just financial inputs, the United States of America's apparently large economic lead over France in terms of its GDP would be greatly reduced due to France's high-quality health service, welfare system and long holidays, all of which contribute to the wellbeing of its inhabitants; commends French President Nicolas Sarkozy for his response to the report, not least his statement that "the (present economic) crisis doesn't only make us free to imagine other models, another future, another world. It obliges us to do so", and his instruction to France’s national statistics body, Insee, to update its methods in accordance with the report's recommendations, and calls on the Scottish and UK Governments urgently to follow his lead and to encourage other countries to do so.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn, Dave Thompson, Patrick Harvie, Christine Grahame, Ian McKee

S3M-4866 Rhoda Grant: Congratulations to Nevis Bakery, Winner of the Great Taste Awards 2009—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.

Supported by: Peter Peacock, David Stewart, Bill Kidd, Des McNulty, Pauline McNeill, Sarah Boyack, Jamie McGrigor, Mary Scanlon, Hugh Henry, Helen Eadie, Rob Gibson, James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Lewis Macdonald

S3M-4865 Christina McKelvie: Scottish Skills Success—That the Parliament congratulates Mark Nevin of Edinburgh, Richard Sagar of Langholm, Katie Watson of Hamilton and Martin Eusebi of Motherwell on their medal-winning performances, as part of the UK team, at this year's WorldSkills competition in Calgary, Canada; notes that WorldSkills is the biggest and toughest international skills competition for young people aged 16 to 23, with more than 51 countries taking part in 45 different skills categories this year; considers that the success of these young people has demonstrated Scotland's up-and-coming strength in skills areas as diverse as electrical energy, painting and decorating, catering and hospitality and mechanical engineering, and hopes that other skilled young Scots will be inspired to enter the next WorldSkills competition, scheduled to take place in London in 2011.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson

S3M-4864 Sandra White: Report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict—That the Parliament notes the report of the United Nations Fact Finding Mission on the Gaza Conflict, which has found evidence that Israel has committed serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, actions amounting to war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity that were carefully planned in all their phases as a deliberately disproportionate attack designed to punish, humiliate and terrorise a civilian population and mounted a blockade that amounted to collective punishment in the lead-up to the conflict, while also finding that Palestinian groups had committed war crimes and possibly crimes against humanity in their repeated rocket and mortar attacks on Israel; welcomes the recommendation of the mission that the United Nations Human Rights Council submits the report to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, and believes that all parties involved in the conflict must fully investigate the allegations contained in the report if they are to deliver on the desire of their people to reach a meaningful and lasting peace.

Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Hugh O'Donnell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn, Pauline McNeill, Michael Matheson, Cathy Peattie, Christine Grahame, Gil Paterson

S3M-4863 Peter Peacock: Uist Defence Jobs—That the Parliament welcomes the decision of Her Majesty’s Government not to proceed with proposals by QinetiQ 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 their people, support the economy and maintain a strong defence capability for the nation and its allies.

Supported by: David Stewart, Johann Lamont, Karen Gillon, Patricia Ferguson, Cathy Jamieson, Bill Butler, Rhoda Grant, Elaine Murray, Pauline McNeill, Hugh Henry, Mr Frank McAveety, James Kelly, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Dr Richard Simpson, Sarah Boyack, Lewis Macdonald, John Park, Trish Godman, Jack McConnell, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4860 Jamie Hepburn: Ravenswood Bog and Meadow Nature Reserve—That the Parliament celebrates the launch on 24 September 2009 of Ravenswood Bog and Meadow Nature Reserve in Cumbernauld, a project that is the culmination of a successful partnership between Greenspace Services of North Lanarkshire Council, the Scottish Training Foundation and the local community; notes that the project has transformed a large and inaccessible area of open waste land between the A80 and A73 to an all-weather surfaced path network that includes a timber boardwalk and the creation of new wildlife ponds, gardens and orchid meadow areas, and also notes that the project has provided 40 training opportunities for local people to develop new skills and gain essential work experience.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson

S3M-4859 Rob Gibson: Supporting Scotland's Hydrogen Future—That the Parliament welcomes the first hydrogen corridor in the United Kingdom, with the Royal Mail Group, CIFAL Findhorn, members of the Scottish Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association and others joining forces to create one of the most ambitious hydrogen transport programmes in the world; notes that the Scottish Hydrogen Corridor will run from Aberdeen to Inverness via Findhorn, employing a diversity of renewable energy solutions in different locations, with hydrogen refuelling stations placed at strategic locations along the route to service a range of users, including public transport providers, local authority vehicles, Royal Mail vans and, ultimately, private car users all dedicated to reaching CO2 reduction goals through sustainable mobility and other initiatives; notes the recent letter of understanding addressed to oil and energy companies, government organisations and NOW GmbH, signed by top executives from Daimler, Ford, GM/Opel, Honda, Hyundai/KIA, the Renault-Nissan Alliance and Toyota, committing each company to the cooperative development and market introduction of fuel cell vehicles and an eventual competitive network of commercialised fuel cell vehicles from 2015 onwards; further commends Royal Mail, CENEX, PostEurop and Fuel Cell Europe for joining forces to accelerate development of hydrogen fuel cell postal vans and opening the design brief to all other European postal operators for input in order to stimulate mainstream construction at affordable prices; welcomes delegates to Scotland’s Hydrogen Future Conference, organised by CIFAL Findhorn, UNITAR and many other partners in cooperation with the Scottish Government, taking place at Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, on 15 and 16 September 2009, and praises their commitment to extending the role that hydrogen can play in creating a sustainable economy for Scotland.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Christopher Harvie, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Liam McArthur, Robin Harper, Ian McKee, Jamie Hepburn, Ms Wendy Alexander, Maureen Watt, Brian Adam, Dave Thompson, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4858 Tom McCabe: Tomorrow's People, 25th Anniversary in Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates the national employment charity, Tomorrow’s People, on its 25th anniversary in Scotland; notes that, since its inception in 1984, the charity has been operating in deprived communities across the central belt of Scotland, helping over 10,000 long-term unemployed people on their journeys back into work; acknowledges that, in this time, Tomorrow’s People has been very focused on the plight of socially-excluded and marginalised young people, running successful programmes for 16 to 24-year-olds since 1999; applauds its announcement that, over the next five years, it will expand its Working It Out programme into four new areas across the central belt and Ayrshire; recognises that this programme focuses on disadvantaged young people who have left school with no formal qualifications or who have been involved in drugs, gangs or alcohol-related crime and gives them the opportunity to learn new skills through working on projects in their local communities, and further congratulates Tomorrow’s People on giving these young people the confidence and self-belief to help them change their lives forever and get out of the dangerous cycle of unemployment and crime that many find themselves in today.

Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Jackie Baillie, Hugh O'Donnell, Des McNulty, David Whitton, Kenneth Gibson, Karen Gillon, John Park, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Karen Whitefield, Claire Baker, Jamie Hepburn, Paul Martin, Rhona Brankin, Bill Butler, Patricia Ferguson, Marilyn Livingstone, Ian McKee, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack, Dave Thompson, Trish Godman, Elaine Smith, Cathy Peattie, Pauline McNeill, Mary Mulligan, Jack McConnell, Marlyn Glen, Sandra White

S3M-4851.1 Maureen Watt: Kintore Station and Aberdeen Crossrail—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4851) in the name of Mike Rumbles, leave out from "the decision" to end and insert "it was the current Scottish Government that delivered the long awaited station reopening, and believes that such projects are testament to the Scottish Government’s commitment to improving transport links in the north east."

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Brian Adam, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Dave Thompson, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Nigel Don

S3M-4850 Dave Thompson: Protecting and Encouraging Scottish Food and Drink—That the Parliament welcomes the 2009 Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight and its aims to encourage people to discover, buy and enjoy the produce produced on their doorstep, encourage the food industry, from restaurants to retailers and caterers, to source and champion quality Scottish produce, build Scotland’s reputation for excellent quality food and drink and raise awareness of and support for the people who produce Scotland’s food and drink; praises Scotland Food and Drink’s goal of growing the industry from £7.5 billion to £10 billion by 2017 and its vision of building Scotland’s international reputation as the land of food and drink; further welcomes the Scottish Government’s support for Scotland Food and Drink and their collaboration on Workstream 1 of the National Food and Drink Policy, driving forward sustainable economic growth across the industry and boosting the profile of Scottish produce, and finally welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to protecting the identity of iconic Scottish produce through Protected Food Name (PFN) status, with nine Scottish foods already designated PFNs, and extending the list with a number of applications currently being considered, including Stornoway black pudding, traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese and Scottish wild salmon, which will further cement Scotland’s reputation as the land of food and drink.

Supported by: Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Kenneth Gibson, Mike Pringle, Anne McLaughlin, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt, Ian McKee, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Christine Grahame

S3M-4849 Jackie Baillie: Imprisonment of Peaceful Protestor Min Ko Naing—That the Parliament notes that Burmese democracy campaigner Min Ko Naing faces up to 20 years in prison for leading a peaceful protest against the policies of that country’s government and has been adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International; understands that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to take part in the government of one’s country are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); believes that the opportunity for citizens to engage with and influence their government provides an important feedback mechanism as well as a necessary check and balance on government action, and expresses its hope that the people of Burma/Myanmar will one day be able to fully enjoy all of their human rights as set out in the UDHR.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Ross Finnie, Marlyn Glen, Ms Wendy Alexander, Kenneth Gibson, Karen Gillon, Mike Pringle, Elaine Murray, Hugh O'Donnell, Patrick Harvie, David Stewart, Joe FitzPatrick, Dr Richard Simpson, Mr Frank McAveety, Des McNulty, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Bill Butler, Marilyn Livingstone, Ken Macintosh, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Liam McArthur, Trish Godman, Cathy Peattie, Sarah Boyack, Elaine Smith, Mary Mulligan, Tom McCabe, Rhoda Grant, Helen Eadie, Sandra White

S3M-4848 Tavish Scott: Open University Graduation Ceremony in Shetland—That the Parliament commends the Open University for holding a graduation ceremony in the Town Hall, Lerwick, on 5 September 2009 to mark the special relationship between the Open University and Shetland; notes that, in the 40 years since the Open University was founded, over 3,400 Shetlanders have studied with it, including 156 Shetlanders in 2007-08; further notes that this gives Shetland the highest participation rate in Open University study of anywhere in the United Kingdom; believes that the Open University’s success in Shetland is the result of its offering a service suited to Shetlanders’ needs and that it sets an example that many other Scottish and UK public and private organisations would do well to follow; congratulates all Shetlanders who have completed Open University degree courses over the past 40 years, and offers best wishes to all those who will study with it over the next 40 years.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock

S3M-4847 Brian Adam: Offshore Europe Exhibition Good for Aberdeen and for Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates the City of Aberdeen for playing host to the most successful ever Offshore Europe Exhibition; recognises the outstanding efforts of the organisers, Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre, the council and the citizens of Aberdeen city and shire in welcoming the 47,000 visitors to the event, and wishes the many contributors well in planning for the 2011 event.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Dave Thompson, Rob Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Robin Harper, Bob Doris, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Maureen Watt, Nanette Milne, Liam McArthur, Michael Matheson, Alison McInnes, Nicol Stephen

S3M-4846 Sarah Boyack: People's Postcode Lottery Raises Over £3.2 Million for Good Causes—That the Parliament congratulates People’s Postcode Lottery on raising over £3.2 million for its charity partners since its launch in January 2008; notes that the five charity partners, Children 1st, Maggie’s, Missing People (in Scotland), Scottish Wildlife Trust and the recently created People’s Postcode Trust, have all benefited from substantial financial support, which, in many cases, has allowed them to consolidate and build on their existing services; looks forward to the further development of the People’s Postcode Trust, which has already begun to provide financial support to a number of grassroots projects across Scotland, and fully supports the continued investment in good causes by People’s Postcode Lottery across Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Mr Frank McAveety, Jackson Carlaw, David Whitton, Hugh O'Donnell, Karen Gillon, Des McNulty, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jackie Baillie, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Karen Whitefield, Kenneth Gibson, Claire Baker, George Foulkes, Bill Butler, Patricia Ferguson, Marilyn Livingstone, Elaine Murray, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, Hugh Henry, Dr Richard Simpson, Stuart McMillan, Cathy Peattie, Pauline McNeill, Mary Mulligan, Irene Oldfather

S3M-4845 Marilyn Livingstone: Muirhead Outreach Project, Kirkcaldy—That the Parliament congratulates the Muirhead Outreach Project in Kirkcaldy on its receipt of a £10,000 Awards for All grant from the Big Lottery Fund; recognises that the charity provides respite care for children with various forms of disability; notes that the grant will be used to buy a caravan that will benefit young people and their families, and acknowledges the staff at the Muirhead Outreach Project and their work in helping to care for disabled children in Kirkcaldy.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, Bill Butler, Mary Mulligan, John Park, Des McNulty, Sarah Boyack, Claire Baker, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Gil Paterson, Mr Frank McAveety, Pauline McNeill, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-4844 Christine Grahame: Mary's Last Letter—That the Parliament notes the forthcoming exhibiting of the last letter written by Mary, Queen of Scots, to her brother-in-law just a few hours before her execution by Queen Elizabeth I of England; notes that this important artefact has not been seen in public for 30 years and that its unveiling marks the official opening of a £2.2 million visitor centre at the National Library of Scotland, and further notes the ongoing interest in the life of Queen Mary, who remains a significant figure in Scottish history.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Smith, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Brian Adam, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Mike Pringle, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Bill Kidd

S3M-4843 Angela Constance: International Democracy Day—That the Parliament recognises the importance of the UN International Day of Democracy, which is held on 15 September each year; acknowledges the value of this initiative in providing an opportunity to review the state of democracy in the world today; applauds the underlying principles that stress the need to promote democratisation, development and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and supports the principles underlying the United Nation’s affirmation that "while democracies share common features, there is no single model of democracy and that democracy does not belong to any country or region", and endorses the affirmation that democracy is "a universal value based systems based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of life".

Supported by: Hugh Henry, Rob Gibson, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Bill Butler, Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Liam McArthur, Jackie Baillie, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Anne McLaughlin, Christine Grahame, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Wilson, Brian Adam, Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Robert Brown, Robin Harper, Hugh O'Donnell, Maureen Watt, Michael Matheson, Cathy Peattie, Willie Coffey, Ken Macintosh, Tom McCabe

S3M-4841 Robert Brown: Opening of the Small Animal Hospital—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the University of Glasgow’s new Small Animal Hospital, a world-class facility for the west of Scotland and indeed the whole of the United Kingdom; notes that the hospital is the first in Scotland to offer animals radiotherapy, hydrotherapy and a pain and rehabilitation centre; also notes that the new Centre for Comparative Oncology links the animal hospital’s comparative medicine with the neighbouring Beatson Institute for Cancer Research, making it an internationally recognised centre for excellence in cancer research and treatment for both humans and animals; commends the new opportunities for e-learning and telemedicine; applauds the work of Dr Mark Jackson, director of the new Small Animal Hospital, for bringing the project together; congratulates the new facility for putting Glasgow and the west of Scotland at the forefront of veterinary medicine, and wishes the new hospital every success for the future.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Jim Tolson, Kenneth Gibson, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Bill Butler, Mike Pringle, Gil Paterson, Hugh Henry, Irene Oldfather, Ross Finnie

S3M-4840# Sarah Boyack: National Eligibility Criteria for Adult Social Care—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.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, David Stewart, Robin Harper, James Kelly, Cathy Jamieson, Trish Godman, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Ken Macintosh, Hugh Henry, George Foulkes, Jackie Baillie, Hugh O'Donnell, Marlyn Glen, Karen Gillon, John Park, Elaine Smith, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-4839 Michael Matheson: Congratulations to HEROtsc—That the Parliament congratulates HEROtsc in being short listed for the award of Outsourcing Contact Centre Provider of the Year by the National Outsourcers’ Association; notes the dedication of management and staff at its centres at Larbert, Kilmarnock and Dunoon, and wishes HEROtsc well at the awards ceremony in London.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Jamie McGrigor, Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Christina McKelvie, Willie Coffey

S3M-4838 Marilyn Livingstone: Funding for Adam Smith College—That the Parliament welcomes the allocation by the Scottish Funding Council of £1,442,740 to Adam Smith College, Kirkcaldy, as part of the £12 million further education funding aimed at areas with high unemployment; acknowledges that this marks a 12% increase in Adam Smith College’s income; commends the contribution by the Scottish Funding Council, designed to allow colleges to invest in building and equipment for learning and teaching, and welcomes the fact that the funding will contribute to the college’s investment in a brand-new £16 million facility for engineering, construction and science.

Supported by: John Park, Cathy Jamieson, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Karen Whitefield, Dr Richard Simpson, Des McNulty, Claire Baker, Mary Mulligan, David Stewart

S3M-4837 Bill Wilson: Asylum Seekers, Victims of Bankers' Incompetence?—That the Parliament notes the United Kingdom’s history of offering asylum to those people fleeing abuse and persecution, such as those escaping Nazi Germany, the Pinochet regime in Chile, the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq; believes that any nation that would call itself civilised should welcome such vulnerable people and offer them every opportunity to live decently, integrate themselves into society and contribute to it; believes that by not allowing asylum seekers to work and, from October 2009, forcing all single asylum seekers to live on only £5 a day while attempting to surmount the complex hurdles put in their way by the UK Border Agency, the UK Government is making these often traumatised and stigmatised individuals pay the price of the incompetence of well-paid bankers who have no experience of living on £5 a day, far less of rape, torture and genocide, and so is shamefully in breach of its duty of care; notes that this is happening at a time when the number of immigrants and asylum seekers is declining; welcomes comments by representatives of the Scottish Refugee Council, Oxfam Scotland and the British Red Cross criticising the UK Government’s treatment of asylum seekers, and calls on the UK Government urgently to review its policies in this respect.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Dave Thompson, Jamie Hepburn, Mike Pringle, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Patrick Harvie

S3M-4836 Mr Frank McAveety: Homeless World Cup Milano 2009—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.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Johann Lamont, Michael Matheson, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart, Jack McConnell

S3M-4834 Bill Wilson: Welcoming Sea Angling Strategy Group—That the Parliament notes the estimate in the Scottish Government’s recent report, Economic Impact of Recreational Sea Angling in Scotland, that sea angling is as significant to the Scottish economy as all forms of freshwater angling combined, contributing almost £141 million annually and sustaining 3,148 jobs; further notes, however, concerns expressed by the Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network (SSACN) that sea angling is in serious decline due to historically poor fisheries management and practices, with the Clyde now being described as a monoculture fishery, and welcomes the SSACN vision for Scottish sea angling and agrees with it that, if stocks were to be regenerated and sustainably managed, sea angling could provide a major growth opportunity for many fragile coastal economies, and therefore applauds the Scottish Government’s support for a recreational sea angling strategy group.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Stewart Maxwell, Stuart McMillan, Jackson Carlaw, Hugh Henry, Michael Matheson, Dave Thompson, Elaine Murray, Ms Wendy Alexander

S3M-4834.1 Robin Harper: Welcoming Sea Angling Strategy Group—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4834) in the name of Bill Wilson, insert at end ", and recognises the significant contribution that sea anglers can make to inshore fisheries research on the basis of the painstakingly recorded figures that they have accumulated on catches of a wide variety of fish around Scotland’s coasts over the years, and calls on the Scottish Government to recognise the Sea Anglers’ Conservation Network as a statutory consultee in the run up to the proposed Marine (Scotland) Bill and all further regulatory developments in relation to activities in Scotland's waters and to include it as a full member of the Inshore Fisheries Groups.

Supported by: Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack, Karen Gillon, Elaine Murray, Dave Thompson

S3M-4833 Richard Baker: Congratulations to Allan Thomas on Winning Bighearted Scotland 2009 Fundraising Award—That the Parliament congratulates Allan Thomas on winning the Fundraiser of the Year award at the Bighearted Scotland 2009 Awards for his efforts in support of Cancer Link Aberdeen and North (CLAN); notes that CLAN is an independent charity that supports those affected by all types of cancer, from diagnosis onwards, whether affected personally, as a family member, carer or friend; also notes that, from its base in Aberdeen and services in Ballater, Inverurie, Kirkwall, Peterhead and Stonehaven, CLAN offers support to people in Grampian, Orkney and Shetland; further notes that CLAN offers a wide range of services including information, support, counselling, complementary therapies, family support, social events and activities and accommodation; notes that Mr Thomas, supported by the exceptional fundraising efforts of others, has raised almost £50,000 to date; also notes that part of the fundraising effort involved Mr Thomas climbing 29,029 feet to the summit of Mount Everest; further notes CLAN's 123 campaign, which was launched in March this year, whereby the one (1) charity alone has two (2) years to raise three (3) million pounds; commends the work of CLAN to date and the efforts of the fundraising team members, and wishes them all the best in the future.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Lewis Macdonald, Karen Gillon, James Kelly, Nanette Milne, Hugh Henry, Karen Whitefield, Paul Martin, Alison McInnes, John Park, Mary Mulligan, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Marilyn Livingstone, Maureen Watt, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart, Tom McCabe, Nigel Don

S3M-4832 Patricia Ferguson: Diageo's Social Responsibility—That the Parliament notes with concern the announcement by Diageo that it is intent on closing its plants at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock; regrets that this decision was made in spite of widespread support for the campaign to save jobs at both sites and the loyalty and commitment of its workforce; believes that Diageo must recognise its continuing responsibility to the workers at both plants, and asks the Scottish Government to indicate what it will do to ensure that Diageo recognises and honours that commitment.

Supported by: Bill Butler, Elaine Murray, Marlyn Glen, David Whitton, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, John Park, Ms Wendy Alexander, Cathie Craigie, Pauline McNeill, David Stewart, Karen Whitefield, Des McNulty, James Kelly, Mary Mulligan, Paul Martin, Johann Lamont, Ken Macintosh, Cathy Peattie, Hugh Henry

S3M-4831 Patricia Ferguson: 110 Years of Mackintosh in Maryhill—That the Parliament notes the 110th anniversary of the opening of the former St Matthew’s Free Church of Scotland at Queen’s Cross in Glasgow; recognises this important example of the work of its architect, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the only church designed by him to be completed; congratulates the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society for ensuring the building’s sympathetic renovation, and wishes the society well as it celebrates this important landmark.

Supported by: Bill Butler, Jackie Baillie, Ms Wendy Alexander, David Stewart, Karen Whitefield, Des McNulty, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Paul Martin, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone, Ken Macintosh, Cathy Peattie, Jack McConnell, Pauline McNeill

S3M-4830 Alasdair Allan: Island Emigrants—That the Parliament congratulates the Islands Book Trust on organising the Island Emigrants - Emigration from the Outer Hebrides three-day conference, taking place from Thursday 10 September to Saturday 12 September 2009 in Leverburgh, Isle of Harris; notes that this official Year of Homecoming event and conference follows a number of successful conferences organised by the Islands Book Trust with the aim of bringing together knowledgeable speakers from different backgrounds to further understanding and enjoyment of the history of the Scottish islands in their wider context, and welcomes the aims of this conference to bring together outstanding speakers, local people, visitors to the islands and descendants of families who have left the Outer Hebrides over the last 250 years to consider the remarkable story of emigration from the islands to places such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, John Wilson, Sandra White, Gil Paterson, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Maureen Watt, Mary Scanlon, Brian Adam, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Anne McLaughlin, Michael Matheson, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, David Stewart, Peter Peacock

S3M-4829 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Edinburgh Festivals' 2009 Success—That the Parliament congratulates the Edinburgh festivals, which ended with a spectacular bang at the Edinburgh International Festival Bank of Scotland fireworks on Sunday 6 September 2009; notes that the 63rd annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe broke all previous records with a 21% increase in ticket sales compared with last year and a 9% rise on its previous best-ever year; welcomes the news that the International Book Festival sold nearly 80% of its tickets and that there was a 7% increase in attendees at the world’s largest literary gathering; further notes the tourism and economic benefits that the festival period brings to the city, with Edinburgh hoteliers reporting that occupancy rates were up by 7.7% in July 2009, and looks forward to next year’s exciting programmes from all of the capital’s festivals.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Jamie Hepburn, Mike Pringle, Anne McLaughlin, Jim Tolson, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Linda Fabiani, Liam McArthur

S3M-4828 Dr Richard Simpson: Suicide Prevention Week—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".

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Christine Grahame, Karen Whitefield, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Johann Lamont, Rhoda Grant, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart, Tom McCabe, Jack McConnell

S3M-4827 Stuart McMillan: Hanover Housing Delivering Housing for Older People Across Scotland—That the Parliament notes that housing associations play a vital role in meeting both the service and housing needs of older people; believes that they have a strategic role to play in the delivery of housing for older people across Scotland for years to come; welcomes the official opening of Hanover (Scotland) Plasmon Mill Court development in Forres; notes that the development will provide modern, appropriate apartments for older people in Moray; believes that the development will be a fine addition to the range of housing for older people currently provided by Hanover (Scotland); further notes the work that Hanover (Scotland) does in the West of Scotland offering sheltered housing, very sheltered housing, amenity housing and general-needs housing, and hopes that Hanover (Scotland) continues its important work in the West of Scotland in assisting people with their housing needs.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Ms Wendy Alexander, Aileen Campbell, Johann Lamont

S3M-4826 Nanette Milne: Aberdeen, UK City of Culture 2013—That the Parliament supports the bid by Aberdeen City Council to be UK City of Culture 2013; notes that Aberdeen already has many cultural events, including the world-renowned Aberdeen International Youth Festival and the Word Festival at the University of Aberdeen, and wishes Aberdeen, apparently the sole Scottish city to bid so far, the best of luck in achieving its ambition.

Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Ted Brocklebank, Bill Aitken, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Elizabeth Smith, Nigel Don, Bill Kidd, Jim Tolson, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Maureen Watt, Mary Scanlon, Brian Adam, Mike Pringle, Aileen Campbell, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4825 Angela Constance: Congratulations to Livingston Firm Specialists Lubricants—That the Parliament commends Livingston-based Specialist Lubricants for its pioneering eco-friendly packaging solution that has led to a multi-million pound contract with the global packaging firm, Tetra Pak; acknowledges the importance of its development of a more environmentally friendly solution to the traditional soap and water based lubricants systems; pays tribute to the pioneering development work that has resulted in a product that has been proven to save millions of gallons of water each year in bottling facilities worldwide, and wishes the company and its workforce well in future developments and expansion of its customer base as a result of this contract with Tetra Pak.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Kenneth Gibson, Nigel Don, Sandra White, Christina McKelvie, Bill Kidd, Des McNulty, Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Bob Doris, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Tom McCabe

S3M-4824 Mary Scanlon: Salmon Farmers’ Contribution to Highlands and Islands Economies—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.

Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Margaret Mitchell, John Lamont, Alasdair Allan, Jamie McGrigor, Bill Aitken, Des McNulty, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Gil Paterson, John Scott, Nanette Milne, Sandra White, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Liam McArthur, Maureen Watt, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart, Peter Peacock

S3M-4823 Jamie Hepburn: Welcoming NHS Improvements in Central Scotland—That the Parliament welcomes the recent improvements in patient safety across central Scotland thanks to new and improved practices undertaken by NHS Lanarkshire and NHS Forth Valley; notes that, thanks to new best-practice measures introduced by the dedicated staff of NHS Lanarkshire, the instances of Clostridium difficile infections were reduced by 50% in a 20-month period; also notes that recipients of NHS Forth Valley care have benefited from measures introduced by staff who have ensured that there have been no patients with central line infections since January 2008, and further notes NHS Forth Valley’s progress in reducing the time that patients spend in intensive care and reducing the occurrences of ventilator-acquired pneumonia.

Supported by: Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, John Wilson, Gil Paterson, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Joe FitzPatrick, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4822 Rob Gibson: 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

Supported by: Rhoda Grant, David Stewart

S3M-4821 Helen Eadie: Dalgety Bay Friends of Engcongolweni—That the Parliament is delighted to note that Dalgety Bay Friends of Malawi brought 16 Malawians to visit the Parliament on Wednesday 9 September 2009 as they and Scotland celebrate the fact that 150 years ago this month Dr David Livingstone from Blantyre landed at Lake Malawi, ensuring that the futures of both nations would be intertwined in ways that have become inspirational; further expresses its pleasure that the Aberdour and Dalgety Bay Labour Party, Dalgety Bay Church and the General and Municipal Boilermakers Union combined in partnership to raise in excess of £2,000 to support the Dalgety Bay Friends of Malawi as it strives to raise the money to ensure that the project of bringing piped water, building the pre-school nursery and providing for a manse can be completed, and recognises with appreciation and thanks the management at Bowlplex in Dunfermline for the part it played in bringing joy to our Malawi visitors who had never seen or played bowling before.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Karen Whitefield, Jack McConnell, David Stewart

S3M-4818 Jackie Baillie: Urgent Investment Required for the A83 and A82—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.

Supported by: Des McNulty, Mary Mulligan, Patricia Ferguson, Ms Wendy Alexander, Ross Finnie, James Kelly, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Marlyn Glen, Karen Whitefield, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart, Tom McCabe

S3M-4817 Liam McArthur: Definitely Not The Last Post—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.

Supported by: Rhoda Grant, David Stewart

S3M-4816 Bob Doris: Disappointment at Diageo Decision—That the Parliament expresses disappointment at the announcement that Diageo has rejected Scottish Government task force proposals to save jobs at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock; praises the campaign efforts of workers, unions and politicians of all parties; considers that, where jobs are at risk, it is appropriate that the Parliament unites across party divides to steer corporate decision making in the direction that protects the Scottish national interest, and looks forward, despite the bad news, to the continuation of political unity as we strive to get the best deal from Diageo for redundant workers and to ensure the best support for retraining and the provision of employment services.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Kenneth Gibson, Sandra White, Nigel Don, Alasdair Allan, Willie Coffey, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Anne McLaughlin, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Angela Constance, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Ross Finnie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Christine Grahame, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4815 Cathy Jamieson: Dalmellington Band Land O' Burns Competition 2009—That the Parliament commends the Dalmellington Band for its continued commitment to organising the annual Land O’ Burns Invitation Brass Band Contest; recognises that the event is now in its 15th year; acknowledges the support received from South Ayrshire Council, and congratulates all the participants in this year’s competition for performing to such a high standard and in particular Whitburn Brass Band, which won the overall prize, receiving the Knoweview Nursing Home trophy, and the Dunaskin Doon Band, which won the Co-operative Trophy for the highest placed Ayrshire band. R

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Karen Whitefield, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart

S3M-4814# Angela Constance: Bausch and Lomb Job losses in Livingston—That the Parliament regrets the decision by Bausch and Lomb to pursue closure of its manufacturing plant in Livingston; is deeply concerned that this will result in the loss of 500 jobs; notes that unemployment in West Lothian is at its highest in a decade; applauds the productive, skilled and committed workforce, which has been crucial to the success and efficiency of the Livingston site; also regrets the Bausch and Lomb plans to remove production from Livingston to the Republic of Ireland and is concerned that some of the reasons for this decision include the higher costs involved in closing the Irish site, lower corporation tax in the Republic of Ireland and the lack of access to additional funding streams, given that West Lothian lost its Regional Selective Assistance status in 2006; considers that the 90-day statutory consultation period and plans for phased closure will afford an opportunity for all alternatives to be extensively explored with a view to saving jobs in Livingston; also notes that both Bausch and Lomb and the Scottish Government have confirmed their commitment to continue their dialogue; hopes that both the Scottish Government and Bausch and Lomb will respectfully and meaningfully listen to the views of staff and their representatives, and welcomes the cross-party and community-wide support for the workforce and the determination to succeed that exists in West Lothian despite the current economic challenges.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Bill Wilson, Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Alasdair Allan, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Christina McKelvie, Stuart McMillan, Christine Grahame, Sandra White, Maureen Watt, Willie Coffey, Michael Matheson, Robin Harper, Margo MacDonald, George Foulkes, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4814.1# George Foulkes: Bausch and Lomb Job losses in Livingston—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4814) in the name of Angela Constance, leave out from "is concerned" to "2006" and insert " urges it to reconsider this decision; meanwhile, ".

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. considers that, with (a) so many unanswered questions relating to the prosecution and conviction of Abdelbaset al Megrahi, (b) the abandonment of his appeal with the evidence upon which the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission concluded that there may have been a miscarriage of justice on the basis of unheard evidence, (c) inter alia new evidence indicating that Mr Megrahi was not in Malta when a crucial purchase of items linking him directly to the explosion took place, (d) information that four days before he was picked out at an identity parade by Tony Gauci, the shop keeper who is said to have sold those items, the same Gauci had seen a photograph of Mr Megrahi in an article linking him to the bombing, (e) evidence not made available to the defence and (f) further new evidence, in the name of justice for the victims, their relatives and Mr Megrahi, a public inquiry with the full participation of United Kingdom and United States authorities is essential.

S3M-4812 Pauline McNeill: Thornwood Community Council—That the Parliament congratulates Thornwood Community Council on its recent Awards for All grant from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the community council project will allow people to gain access to online information, such as development applications, in the Glasgow City Council area, and further notes that the project meets the Awards for All outcome of "communities are safer, stronger and more able to work together to tackle inequalities".

Supported by: Mr Frank McAveety, Karen Gillon, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Jamieson, Trish Godman, Patrick Harvie, Marilyn Livingstone, David Stewart, Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Sarah Boyack, Sandra White

S3M-4809 Rob Gibson: Slainte Blas—That the Parliament applauds the start of the fifth Blas Festival, taking place throughout the Highlands from 4 to 12 September 2009; notes the contribution that the festival makes to cultural and community life in the region and the emphasis placed on the Gaelic language; recognises the variety of venues used, ranging from Eilean Donan Castle to community venues such as village halls the length and breadth of the Highlands, making it a truly local and grassroots festival that offers a unique taste of Highland and traditional culture; congratulates the organisers and participants, including artists from Nova Scotia, for an excellent opening weekend, which saw the premier of Blair Douglas’s Gaelic mass at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Inverness, as well as a host of concerts in a range of venues across the region; recognises the importance of this festival in the annual cultural patchwork of Scotland, and encourages further support from funders and satisfied audiences for the future of Blas.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Anne McLaughlin, Alasdair Allan, Stewart Maxwell, Bill Kidd, Sandra White, David Stewart, Kenneth Gibson, Ted Brocklebank, Jamie McGrigor, Bob Doris, Jack McConnell, Christina McKelvie, Mary Scanlon, Gil Paterson, John Wilson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Robin Harper, Linda Fabiani, Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock

S3M-4808 Stuart McMillan: Congratulations to John Simpson on Retaining Commonwealth Featherweight Title—That the Parliament congratulates John Simpson of Inverclyde on retaining his Commonwealth featherweight boxing title with a tenth round stoppage of a former champion; acknowledges the hard work and dedication that it takes to be a top-class boxer, and wishes him every success for the future.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Stewart Maxwell, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Anne McLaughlin, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4802 Jamie Hepburn: Congratulations to Kirsty Neary on The Stately Pantheon—That the Parliament congratulates 22-year-old Kirsty Neary on the publication of her first novel, The Stately Pantheon, and the publisher, Wild Wolf Publishing, for its vote of confidence in one of Scotland’s youngest authors of 2009.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Christina McKelvie, Mike Pringle, Bob Doris, Jamie McGrigor, Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4801 Pauline McNeill: Glasgow School of Art Selects Architects—That the Parliament congratulates the Glasgow School of Art on its selection of architects to design and deliver the new building on the site opposite its iconic Mackintosh Building; notes that an extensive international competition that involved over 150 submissions has led to the appointment of Steven Holl Architects, New York, and JM Architects, Glasgow, and believes that the collaboration will create a world-class building for the school, providing an inspiring environment for students and staff that will enhance the international reputation of the school, Garnethill and the city of Glasgow.

Supported by: Cathy Jamieson, Rhona Brankin, Jackie Baillie, Patricia Ferguson, Karen Gillon, Kenneth Gibson, Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Robin Harper, Mary Mulligan, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry, Marilyn Livingstone, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Bill Kidd, Karen Whitefield, David Stewart

S3M-4800 Sarah Boyack: Meningitis in Babies Awareness Week, 21 to 27 September 2009—That the Parliament welcomes Meningitis Research Foundation’s Meningitis in Babies Awareness Campaign; notes that meningitis and septicaemia are diseases that affect over 97 babies a year in Scotland under the age of 12 months, of whom around one in ten will die and about a quarter are left with life-altering effects that can be as severe as brain damage, deafness, cerebral palsy and multiple amputations; further notes that babies in Scotland under 12 months are 40 times more likely to develop meningitis than children over one and adults and that more young lives can be saved through raising awareness among clinical practitioners and the public of the early warning signs and symptoms, and welcomes a new research project funded by Meningitis Research Foundation to investigate healthcare delivery and look for ways to improve management of meningitis in newborn babies.

Supported by: Nanette Milne, Stuart McMillan, Johann Lamont, Rhona Brankin, Ross Finnie, Christina McKelvie, Mike Pringle, John Park, George Foulkes, Ian McKee, Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Karen Gillon, Jackson Carlaw, Jamie Hepburn, Pauline McNeill, Marlyn Glen, Bill Kidd, Joe FitzPatrick, James Kelly, Bill Butler, Bill Wilson, Hugh O'Donnell, Jackie Baillie, Malcolm Chisholm, Elaine Murray, Mary Mulligan, Mary Scanlon, Jim Hume, Dr Richard Simpson, Hugh Henry, Patricia Ferguson, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathie Craigie, Aileen Campbell, Jack McConnell, Ken Macintosh, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Sandra White, Liam McArthur, Michael Matheson, Irene Oldfather, Christine Grahame, Karen Whitefield, Maureen Watt, Trish Godman, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart, Tom McCabe

S3M-4799 Cathy Jamieson: Bighearted Scotland 2009 Carer of the Year Award—That the Parliament congratulates Brenda Emmerson on winning the Bighearted Scotland 2009 Carer of the Year award; recognises the tireless work that she has undertaken to champion the cause of carers; also congratulates all the Bighearted Scotland award winners and nominees for their outstanding contribution to society, and thanks everyone who attended the awards ceremony for their support for Bighearted Scotland.

Supported by: Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Sarah Boyack, Elaine Smith, Jack McConnell, Karen Whitefield, Johann Lamont, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart

S3M-4798 Des McNulty: The Thistle Travel Card—That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Government to discontinue funding for the Thistle Travel Card that was previously available to people who require help with public transport due to age, a learning or physical disability or other condition affecting their confidence or competence in knowing what bus or train to get on and where to get off, being able to count out the correct fare or understand timetables and travel announcements, all of which create barriers to such people being able to use public transport; notes that the scheme was supported by the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), which advises ministers on the transport needs of disabled people, and by the Confederation of Passenger Transport; regrets that the demise of the Thistle Travel Card will seriously impact on the mobility and quality of life of an estimated 120,000 people with learning disabilities and other communication difficulties, and notes that this is the same group of people who get only the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, which means that they do not qualify as eligible under the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons because of the decision made by the Scottish Government not to extend eligibility after its recent review of the scheme.

Supported by: Trish Godman, Hugh O'Donnell, Jackie Baillie, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Murray, James Kelly, Paul Martin, Ken Macintosh, Cathy Jamieson, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, David Stewart, Dr Richard Simpson, Helen Eadie, Bill Butler, Cathie Craigie, Marlyn Glen, Irene Oldfather, Karen Whitefield, Charlie Gordon, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant, Tom McCabe, Pauline McNeill

S3M-4796 Bill Butler: Shine on Bighearted Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates Ryan McLaughlin on winning the Bighearted Scotland 2009 Child of the Year award; acknowledges the importance of the Shine on Scotland campaign that Ryan has led, which seeks to raise awareness of the benefits of vitamin D in combating multiple sclerosis, with particular regard to young children and pregnant women; applauds all the Bighearted Scotland award winners and nominees for their outstanding contribution to society, and commends Ryan and his family for their tireless commitment to fighting MS.

Supported by: Jackson Carlaw, Patricia Ferguson, Jamie McGrigor, Marlyn Glen, George Foulkes, Bob Doris, Des McNulty, Robin Harper, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, David Whitton, Hugh Henry, Kenneth Gibson, James Kelly, Joe FitzPatrick, Karen Whitefield, Hugh O'Donnell, Elaine Smith, Mary Mulligan, Christina McKelvie, Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Jim Hume, Cathy Peattie, Mr Frank McAveety, Jack McConnell, Marilyn Livingstone, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Ken Macintosh, Dr Richard Simpson, Johann Lamont, David Stewart, Pauline McNeill

S3M-4795 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Scotland's Commitment to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions—That the Parliament welcomes Scotland’s commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 42% by 2020 in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009; notes that the most recent scientific evidence shows that this is the minimum needed to prevent dangerous climate change; believes that Scotland has set a world-leading example for other developed countries to subscribe to, ahead of the international climate negotiations in Copenhagen later this year; urges the UK Government to push for equally ambitious domestic emissions reduction targets across Europe, while simultaneously committing mitigation and adaptation funds to developing countries to compensate for the developed world’s past emissions, and calls on all MSPs to support the upcoming climate change march, The Wave, in Glasgow on 5 December 2009, organised by Stop Climate Chaos Scotland.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Mike Pringle, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Wilson, Ms Wendy Alexander, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Maureen Watt, Michael Matheson, John Park, Cathy Peattie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4794 Claire Baker: Congratulations to 1st Methil Girls' Brigade—That the Parliament warmly congratulates the 1st Methil Girls’ Brigade on its diamond anniversary; congratulates past and present members on their many achievements with the 1st Methil Girls’ Brigade; recognises the hard work of the volunteers and parents who, over the last 60 years, have supported the activity of the 1st Methil Girls’ Brigade, and recognises the contribution that girls’ brigades across Scotland make to girls’ lives and their communities.

Supported by: Karen Whitefield, David Stewart

S3M-4793 Malcolm Chisholm: Shelter Scotland Report—That the Parliament welcomes the report, Building solutions, prepared by Shelter Scotland, in which the benefits of investing in affordable homes are set out; specifically acknowledges the benefits for education, health and community cohesion of more and better homes, and recognises the importance of publicly funded housing programmes in sustaining employment in the construction sector at a time when private housing output has dramatically declined.

Supported by: Sandra White, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Kenneth Gibson, John Park, Ian McKee, Mary Mulligan, Patrick Harvie, Jackie Baillie, Christine Grahame, Mike Pringle, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Murray, James Kelly, Robin Harper, Robert Brown, Trish Godman, Liam McArthur, Hugh Henry, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathie Craigie, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Marlyn Glen, Karen Whitefield, Alison McInnes, Bill Wilson, Ken Macintosh, Stewart Maxwell, Elaine Smith, Johann Lamont, George Foulkes, Sarah Boyack, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant, David Stewart, Pauline McNeill, Richard Baker

S3M-4792 Claire Baker: Tullis Russell Mills Band, 90th Anniversary Year—That the Parliament congratulates the Tullis Russell Mills Band on its 90th anniversary year; recognises that the Tullis Russell Mills Band is the only surviving mills band in Scotland; applauds its youth initiative, the Tullis Russell Youth Band, which is ensuring the future of the brass band tradition in Fife and Scotland, and wishes the band all the best with its 90th Anniversary Gala Concert on 19 September 2009 in Rothes Halls, Glenrothes.

Supported by: Helen Eadie, Michael Matheson, Karen Whitefield, Johann Lamont, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart

S3M-4791# Elaine Smith: Highway Robbery—That the Parliament expresses concern at the growing trend for parking enforcement in private car parks and the vast amounts of money being taken from drivers in this regard, including in Coatbridge town centre; recognises that, while it may be legal for companies to charge for the use of their land for parking with appropriate planning consents, there is growing concern that many so-called fines for breaches of private parking rules are neither reasonable nor reflect a fair recompense for loss of business; notes that the law surrounding this issue is the common law of contract, involving companies making their offer by prominently and clearly displaying signs indicating that the relevant car parks are private property requiring payment or subject to time limitations, with the acceptance of the contract being implied by the client’s parking there; further notes that such offer and acceptance would require to be tested in a civil court if disputed; is disturbed by the apparent ease with which car parking companies can access the private details of car owners from the DVLA’s vehicle database to then issue fines to people at their home addresses; agrees with the recent comments by the Automobile Association that "the prevalence of bad and immoral practices is now shocking and unacceptable", and condemns the often threatening and predatory manner in which these modern-day highway robbers pursue payment of these charges.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Brian Adam, Mr Frank McAveety, Bill Kidd, Elaine Murray, Hugh O'Donnell, John Scott, Christina McKelvie, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Jim Hume, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Cathie Craigie, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Karen Whitefield, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart, Tom McCabe

S3M-4790 Stuart McMillan: Strathclyde Police Campaign Against Violence—That the Parliament congratulates Strathclyde Police on seizing cocaine in Bishopbriggs reportedly valued at more than £3 million; recognises that the officers raided properties and recovered the illegal substances as part of their Campaign Against Violence; acknowledges the hard work of Strathclyde Police in enforcing the law and curtailing illegal drug movement throughout the region; notes the force’s long-term commitment to reducing violence and making communities safer by targeting gangs, weapons and violent offenders, and hopes that the current serious and organised crime phase of the force’s Campaign Against Violence continues to be successful.

Supported by: Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Ross Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, Stewart Maxwell, Elaine Smith, John Wilson, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4789 Rob Gibson: Neolithic Orcadian Figure—That the Parliament notes the major find of a 5,000-year-old neolithic figure, thought to be a representation of a goddess, at the Noltland dig on the island of Westray; asserts that this is a major world-wide find that enhances Orkney’s reputation as an archaeological treasure trove; praises the expertise and dedication of the EASE Archaeology team that is carrying out the excavation on behalf of Historic Scotland; applauds the decision to extend the dig on Orkney, and looks forward with anticipation to the next find.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Joe FitzPatrick, Brian Adam, Jim Hume, Michael Matheson, Christopher Harvie, Patricia Ferguson, Sandra White, Bill Wilson, John Wilson, Alasdair Allan, David Stewart, Ian McKee, Jamie McGrigor, Christina McKelvie, Stewart Maxwell, Maureen Watt, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Aileen Campbell, Liam McArthur, Sarah Boyack, Linda Fabiani, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4787 Pauline McNeill: 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.

Supported by: Robert Brown, Karen Whitefield, Bill Butler, Jackie Baillie, Mary Mulligan, Patricia Ferguson, Dr Richard Simpson, Ken Macintosh, Rhoda Grant, Trish Godman, Mr Frank McAveety, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh Henry, Peter Peacock, David Stewart, Linda Fabiani, Johann Lamont, Liam McArthur, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4786 Mike Pringle: 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.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Ross Finnie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Ian McKee, Rhoda Grant, Christina McKelvie, Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh O'Donnell, Robin Harper, Gil Paterson, David Stewart, Bill Kidd, Tom McCabe, Cathy Peattie, Peter Peacock

S3M-4785 Alasdair Allan: Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust Western Isles Regional Awards 2009—That the Parliament congratulates Sarah Morrison of Stornoway jewellery and accessories business, Rock N’ Retro, for winning the regional awards of the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust in the Western Isles; notes that these awards aim to recognise excellence among young businesses; notes also the success and achievements of finalist and runner-up Anna Donachie of Barraheads Salon on the Isle of Barra; looks forward to the future success of Sarah’s and Anna’s businesses, and wishes Sarah all the best in going on to the national final of the Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust Awards.

Supported by: Sandra White, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Jamie McGrigor, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bill Kidd, Mary Scanlon, Robin Harper, Nanette Milne, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Peter Peacock, David Stewart, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4784 Robin Harper: Congratulations to Edinburgh's Climate Challenge Fund Beneficiaries—That the Parliament heartily congratulates all of the Edinburgh projects that recently received an award from the Climate Challenge Fund, Care and Repair Edinburgh Ltd, Drylaw Neighbourhood Centre, Edinburgh University People and Planet Society and the Grange Association and LifeCare; appreciates that they are among a growing number of community projects across Scotland that are proving to be this country's best source of innovation in tackling climate change; considers that the people behind these projects are true climate pioneers doing work that Scotland can be proud of; acknowledges that, if Scotland is to meet the 42% carbon reduction targets set out by the Parliament last month, it will need to scale up projects like these and learn from their experiences, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue to meet the demand from community groups for this invaluable assistance.

Supported by: Des McNulty, George Foulkes, Patrick Harvie, Mike Pringle, Malcolm Chisholm, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, David Stewart, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4783 Rob Gibson: 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.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Marlyn Glen, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt, Bob Doris, Mary Scanlon, Robin Harper, Elaine Smith, Rhoda Grant, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson, Peter Peacock, David Stewart, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Alison McInnes, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4782 Sandra White: Welcome Gaelic Funding—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that Glasgow is set to benefit from an allocation of £500,000 to increase the provision of Gaelic in the city; notes the continuing success and popularity of the Glasgow Gaelic School; commends the great commitment and dedication of staff and pupils at the school, and believes that this investment will help ensure that the school can continue to build on its fantastic success.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Anne McLaughlin, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Robert Brown, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Dave Thompson, Ken Macintosh, Angela Constance, Maureen Watt, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4781 Liam McArthur: 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.

Supported by: Rhoda Grant, Peter Peacock, David Stewart

S3M-4780# Des McNulty: Concessionary Travel—That the Parliament welcomes the recommendation of the Review of the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled People to include seriously injured armed forces veterans in the scheme but notes with disappointment and concern the review’s recommendation that appears to disenfranchise disabled people who receive the lower rate of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the scheme; further notes that the review paints a worst-case scenario of the costs of including disabled people who receive the lower rate of DLA, that the methods used to arrive at these projected costs is questionable and that the review also played down the positive social impact that the scheme has on people’s lives; considers that denying disabled people on the lower rate of DLA access to the scheme will damage the main aims and ethos of the scheme, namely to allow disabled people improved access to services, facilities and social networks by free scheduled bus services and so promote social inclusion and improve health by promoting a more active lifestyle for disabled people; notes that previous local schemes operated in Strathclyde and West Lothian provided people on the lower rate of DLA access to concessionary travel schemes and that they supported the national scheme, mirroring its eligibility criteria instead of the stringent criteria that are now adopted; supports disability organisations Leonard Cheshire Disability, Learning Disability Alliance Scotland (LDAS), Inclusion Scotland and many more in challenging the review’s negative recommendation; considers that disabled people’s views and those of the organisations that represent them should be taken into account, and believes that the recommendation on eligibility contained in the review is unfair and that that the national concessionary travel scheme should include those in receipt of the lower rate of DLA.

Supported by: Michael McMahon, Jackie Baillie, Mr Frank McAveety, James Kelly, Margaret Curran, Ken Macintosh, Pauline McNeill, Cathy Jamieson, Mike Pringle, Robin Harper, John Park, Trish Godman, George Foulkes, Hugh O'Donnell, Karen Gillon, Ms Wendy Alexander, Hugh Henry, Mary Mulligan, Elaine Murray, Bill Butler, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathie Craigie, David Stewart, Margaret Smith, Marlyn Glen, Irene Oldfather, Sarah Boyack, Malcolm Chisholm, Robert Brown, Claire Baker, Charlie Gordon, Johann Lamont, Cathy Peattie, Jim Tolson, Jim Hume

S3M-4779 Bill Kidd: Newly-released Ministry of Defence Documents Indicate Nuclear Risk at Faslane—That the Parliament notes with concern Ministry of Defence internal safety reports regarding the risk of a major nuclear accident at Faslane Naval base, newly released following a freedom of information request by the Scottish Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; considers that these reports state that plutonium from up to 48 nuclear warheads could potentially escape and cause widespread contamination and cancers if there was to be an accident while a Trident submarine was being moved by the on-base shiplift facility; further notes with particular concern that in the released reports the numbers regarding how far the contamination could potentially spread, how many cancers it might cause and how probable such an accident may be have been redacted; believes that the content of these reports reveals the gravity of the risk that Trident poses to the Scottish public, and calls on the UK Government to abandon plans to renew what is widely believed to be the irrelevant Trident weapons system and remove all nuclear submarines from Scottish waters.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Christopher Harvie, Joe FitzPatrick, Brian Adam, Christine Grahame, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Dave Thompson, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4778 Margaret Curran: Bannerman High School—That the Parliament congratulates the pupils of Bannerman High School, Glasgow, on their recent academic achievement in the summer 2009 diet of SQA Examinations; notes that the pupils’ results were top among Glasgow schools for achievement in SCQF levels 3 and 4; also notes that achievement at SCQF level 5 was second among Glasgow schools; recognises the hard work of the teachers and support staff at Bannerman High School in helping the young people to achieve their potential; wishes the young people of Bannerman High the very best in their futures, and calls on the Scottish Government to work to ensure that there are opportunities available for all those school leavers in Scotland with regard to employment, education and training.

Supported by: Mr Frank McAveety, Des McNulty, Jackie Baillie, James Kelly, Trish Godman, Mary Mulligan, Jack McConnell, Marilyn Livingstone, Ken Macintosh, David Stewart

S3M-4777# Anne McLaughlin: Rights for Constituents to be Represented by Members of the Scottish Parliament—That the Parliament expresses its concern at the apparent refusal of the UK Border Agency to work with members of the Scottish Parliament seeking to represent constituents in Glasgow; considers that constituents should have the right to be represented by any of their elected representatives, be they councillors, MSPs, MPs or MEPs; considers that the Scottish Parliament is a legitimate body of representation for the people of Scotland, as is recognised by other government agencies in Scotland and the UK, and believes that constituents, who are often vulnerable asylum seekers, have the right to choose who should represent them.

Supported by: Joe FitzPatrick, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Maureen Watt, Aileen Campbell, Christina McKelvie, Hugh O'Donnell, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Shirley-Anne Somerville

S3M-4775 Ian McKee: 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.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bob Doris, Linda Fabiani, Ken Macintosh, Michael Matheson, Rhoda Grant, Stuart McMillan, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Dr Richard Simpson, Aileen Campbell, John Park

S3M-4774 Dr Richard Simpson: 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.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ian McKee, Mary Scanlon, Rhoda Grant, Jack McConnell, Stuart McMillan, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, John Park, David Stewart, Tom McCabe, Irene Oldfather, Aileen Campbell, Elaine Smith, Jackie Baillie, Karen Gillon, Nanette Milne, Johann Lamont, Michael Matheson, David Whitton, Bill Wilson, Jamie McGrigor, Jackson Carlaw, Ken Macintosh, Hugh O'Donnell, Elaine Murray, Marlyn Glen, Liam McArthur, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4773 Robin Harper: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Collection—That the Parliament notes that the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collection of 40,000 items, including photographs, personal papers, first editions and many other items of considerable interest, bequeathed by the late Richard Lancelyn Green to the city of Portsmouth in 2005, remains to be fully catalogued, with most of the collection languishing in storage, just two unpaid volunteers working part time on the project and no sign of any building or display facility despite a commitment by the local authority to have the cataloguing complete by 2007; further notes that Mr Lancelyn Green’s preference, if Portsmouth was unable to display the collection, was for it to come to Edinburgh; regrets that this unfortunate situation has arisen, and calls on the Scottish Government to do what it can to help negotiate the possible transfer of the collection to National Museums Scotland, which has the expertise and personnel to catalogue, conserve, archive, house and display this unique collection as intended for the benefit of the public and in accordance with the wishes of the late Mr Lancelyn Green.

Supported by: John Wilson, David Stewart, Patrick Harvie, Dr Richard Simpson, Jim Hume, Jim Tolson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Hugh O'Donnell, Mike Pringle, Christine Grahame, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh Henry, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson

S3M-4772 Margaret Smith: Edinburgh's Last Scout Post—That the Parliament regrets the news that, after 25 years of excellent service to communities across the city, Edinburgh’s scout post Christmas delivery service has now been cancelled; applauds all those involved in the service over the years for their hard work and dedication and the thousands of pounds raised for charities at home and overseas, and hopes that scout groups across the city can find alternative ways of raising much-needed funds.

Supported by: Jim Tolson, Des McNulty, Hugh O'Donnell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Mike Pringle, Robert Brown, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Angela Constance, Bill Kidd

S3M-4771 Margaret Smith: Wear it Pink 2009—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 30 October 2009; notes 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 £3.5 million in 2008 through wear it pink.

Supported by: Elaine Murray, Nanette Milne, John Park, Sandra White, Marlyn Glen, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Hugh O'Donnell, Rob Gibson, Dave Thompson, Jackson Carlaw, Jamie McGrigor, Mary Scanlon, Kenneth Gibson, David Whitton, Elizabeth Smith, Stuart McMillan, Mary Mulligan, Joe FitzPatrick, Jackie Baillie, John Lamont, Bill Butler, Christine Grahame, Michael Matheson, Jack McConnell, Mike Pringle, Jim Tolson, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Elaine Smith, James Kelly, Robin Harper, Trish Godman, Bill Wilson, Margaret Mitchell, Liam McArthur, Hugh Henry, Alison McInnes, Ken Macintosh, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Maureen Watt, Tom McCabe, Irene Oldfather, Aileen Campbell, Johann Lamont, Rhona Brankin, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4769 Stewart Maxwell: Addition of Folic Acid to Wheat and Grain Products—That the Parliament notes with sadness the sudden rise in babies born in Scotland with neural tube defects; recognises that folic acid supplements reduce the incidence of babies born with neural tube defects; further recognises that the neural tube forms in the first 28 days of pregnancy and in the case of unplanned pregnancies the neural tube has formed before a woman is aware that she is pregnant; notes that an estimated 50% of pregnancies are unplanned; further notes that the incidence of neural tube defects in Canada dropped by at least 54% after grain products were fortified with folic acid, and therefore supports the addition of folic acid to flour and other grain products sold in Scotland in order to reduce dramatically the number of children born in Scotland who suffer from neural tube defects.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Joe FitzPatrick, Hugh Henry, Ian McKee, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Stuart McMillan, Robin Harper, Sarah Boyack, Dr Richard Simpson, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, James Kelly, Ken Macintosh, Marilyn Livingstone, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4768 Mary Scanlon: Congratulations to Andrew Banks and Pentland Ferries—That the Parliament congratulates Andrew Banks of Pentland Ferries for the work that he has done since the inception of Pentland Ferries in 1997; notes that Pentland Ferries receives no state aid to support its service; further notes that the recent addition of the MV Pentalina is a welcome boost to passengers as it can carry 250 passengers, 32 cars and nine articulated lorries, with a service speed of 18 knots making the crossing from Gills Bay to St Margaret’s Hope less than one hour; acknowledges the perseverance of Andrew Banks who has literally built up the business since 1997, constructing the pier at Gills Bay, and wishes Pentland Ferries continued success for the future.

Supported by: John Lamont, Elizabeth Smith, Nanette Milne, Jamie McGrigor, Bill Aitken, Jim Hume, Hugh Henry, Rob Gibson, Alex Johnstone, Liam McArthur, Robin Harper, Ted Brocklebank, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4767 Rob Gibson: Power of Scotland Renewed—That the Parliament notes the publication by Friends of the Earth Scotland, the World Development Movement, WWF Scotland and RSPB Scotland of a new report, The Power of Scotland Renewed; welcomes its findings that by 2030 renewable energy could meet between 60% and 143% of Scotland’s projected annual electricity demand, even when avoiding sensitive wildlife and landscape sites; believes that this demonstrates that centralised power plants can be rapidly replaced by more decentralised forms of generation; further believes that this vindicates the view that a new generation of nuclear power in Scotland is not needed, and calls for priority to be given to energy conservation and renewables and the supporting framework required to decarbonise electricity generation.

Supported by: Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Mike Pringle, Stuart McMillan, Stewart Maxwell, Sandra White, Kenneth Gibson, Brian Adam, Bill Wilson, Bill Kidd, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Robin Harper

S3M-4767.1 Lewis Macdonald: Power of Scotland Renewed—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4767) in the name of Rob Gibson, leave out from "further" to end and insert ", and further believes that this demonstrates the value of the British Electricity Trading and Transmission Arrangements, which ensure that the costs of any expansion of renewable energy are shared among the United Kingdom’s 60 million consumers and not confined to Scotland's five million consumers alone."

Supported by: Karen Gillon, Richard Baker, Trish Godman, Elaine Murray, George Foulkes, James Kelly, Ms Wendy Alexander, Mr Frank McAveety, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4766 Jamie Hepburn: Celebrating 40 Years of Cumbernauld Colts Football Club—That the Parliament congratulates Cumbernauld Colts Football Club on reaching its 40th anniversary in 2009, having been formed as Cumbernauld new town’s first youth football club in 1969; notes that the club went into a period of decline with a reduction in the number of teams being run till the last remaining team was disbanded during the 1998-99 season before being reformed in 1999; further congratulates those involved over the 10-year period since the club was reformed for growing the club to 22 teams, including a number of boys’ teams, two girls’ teams, an under-21 team and an adult male amateur team; commends the club for becoming the first in the central region to be awarded the SFA Quality Mark Community Level award in August 2008, and wishes the various Cumbernauld Colts teams all the best for this football season and the club in general well for the future.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Angela Constance, Des McNulty, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Dave Thompson, Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4765 Stuart McMillan: Climate Challenge Fund—That the Parliament congratulates all those who received a share of the latest round of funding totalling £3.5 million from the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund; acknowledges the awards given to St Matthew’s Primary School’s cycle club in Bishopbriggs and Twechar Community Action in Twechar for their contribution to tackling climate change and congratulates them both on being recognised in this round of funding awards and gaining over £150,000 between them for East Dunbartonshire; notes the Scottish Government’s commitment to this initiative for three years, and welcomes the action being taken by the Scottish Government to tackle climate change in Scotland.

Supported by: Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Ross Finnie, Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Angela Constance, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Bill Kidd

S3M-4764 Alasdair Morgan: Circumnavigation—That the Parliament congratulates Gil Campbell on completing his five-year walk round Scotland’s coast at Gretna on Saturday 29 August 2009, recognises the scale of Mr Campbell’s achievement; supports all the other individuals who are undertaking the same project; welcomes his commitment to the concept of a Scottish coastal path, and believes that the creation of such a long-distance route would be a valuable addition to all that the Scottish outdoors has to offer.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, David Stewart

S3M-4763 Sandra White: Scotland's Growing Business Confidence—That the Parliament notes the publication of the UK Business Confidence Monitor Report, which shows that business confidence has risen to its highest level since the middle of 2007 and is now the second highest in the United Kingdom; further notes that Wales and Scotland are the two most confident areas of the UK, and believes that these results serve to highlight the success of both devolved administrations in tackling the current economic downturn.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Dave Thompson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Angela Constance, Christina McKelvie, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4762# Jamie Stone: Increasing Opportunities for Rural Athletes—That the Parliament notes that, as part of the Reaching Higher revised national sports strategy, launched on 8 March 2007, the Scottish Government committed itself to achieving increasing participation and to improving performance in sporting activities; commends the Scottish Government’s continuing commitment to delivering equal opportunities for all regardless of personal circumstances; is concerned, however, that such equality has not been achieved in the field of sport, in that the careers of promising young athletes from remote areas, such as Caithness, are being held back by the high financial costs incurred in travelling to and participating in national sporting events, and would welcome the availability of funding for athletes from remote areas and their families to offset the considerable costs of pursuing their sporting goals.

Supported by: David Stewart, Ross Finnie, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, Peter Peacock

S3M-4761 Elaine Smith: A Charter for Change—That the Parliament expresses concern that the current economic crisis in Britain is resulting in mass unemployment, repossession of homes, public service cuts, a threat to equality and increasing national debt; considers that The People’s Charter for Change sets out what must be done to get out of this crisis and put people first, before the interests of bankers and speculators; notes that the aim is to get one million signatures for the charter; urges attendance at the public meetings being held on 10 October 2009 in Edinburgh and 11 October 2009 in Glasgow to raise awareness of the charter, and supports the six principles outlined in the charter to deliver change, hope and a fairer Britain.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Marlyn Glen, John Wilson, Marilyn Livingstone, Bill Butler, Cathy Peattie, David Stewart, Patricia Ferguson, Helen Eadie, Angela Constance

S3M-4761.1 Sandra White: A Charter for Change—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4761) in the name of Elaine Smith, leave out from "urges" to end and insert ", and believes that this change can only be brought about through the establishment of a fully independent Scotland."

Supported by: Dave Thompson, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Wilson, Joe FitzPatrick, Michael Matheson, Angela Constance, Christine Grahame, Gil Paterson

S3M-4760 Maureen Watt: Congratulations to Milltimber School on Being Awarded Health Promoting School of Excellence Status—That the Parliament congratulates Milltimber School on being awarded Health Promoting Schools - Excellence status and notes that it has become only the second school in the north east to gain such status and comes after a great deal of hard work and dedication from the whole school and the wider Milltimber community.

Supported by: Angela Constance, Michael Matheson, Alasdair Allan, Sandra White, Alex Johnstone, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Alison McInnes, Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Nanette Milne, Nicol Stephen

S3M-4759 Anne McLaughlin: The Third Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival, Something for Everyone—That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Mental Health Arts and Film Festival and all of its many partners on the successful launch of its 2009 programme, which will run from 1 to 22 October; supports the key message from the festival that good mental health is fundamental not only to our own happiness and contentment but also to our success as a society; endorses its aim to transform social attitudes towards mental ill health, which will directly affect one in four people at some point in their lives; supports the view that creativity can make a significant contribution to recovery from mental illness, and encourages everyone to attend at least one of the 200 affordable events in 100 venues across Scotland and to visit the website, mhfestival.com, for more details.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Bob Doris, Bill Kidd, Ian McKee, Rob Gibson, Jim Hume, Angela Constance, Bill Butler, Sandra White, Joe FitzPatrick, John Park, Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Dave Thompson, Robin Harper, Jamie McGrigor, Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, Trish Godman, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe, Ken Macintosh

S3M-4756 David Stewart: WeeW—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new WeeW retail outlet on the main street in Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, in the autumn of 2009; notes that this will help regenerate the town centre, assist with the economic and social regeneration of the island and create 28 new jobs, following the closure of the local Woolworths store earlier in the year; congratulates all those involved, particularly Terry Ovenstone who will be the manager of the new WeeW store, and wishes the new WeeW every success for the future.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Jackie Baillie, Peter Peacock, Alasdair Allan, Mary Scanlon, Rhona Brankin, David Whitton, Mr Frank McAveety, Des McNulty, Marilyn Livingstone, Trish Godman, Ken Macintosh, James Kelly, Sarah Boyack, Elaine Smith, Lewis Macdonald, Cathy Peattie, Bill Kidd

S3M-4753 George Foulkes: Celebrating 20 Years of Capital Credit Union in Scotland—That the Parliament congratulates Capital Credit Union on reaching its 20th year of offering people an ethical alternative to mainstream banking; joins Capital Credit Union in celebrating its 20 years of success in providing non-exploitative, competitive financial services to people from all walks of life, regardless of social status and economic background; recognises that more and more people in Scotland are choosing to use Capital Credit Union to manage their finances, and continues to offer its support in securing another 20 years of Capital Credit Union in communities across Scotland.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Bill Butler, Des McNulty, John Park, Jackie Baillie, Malcolm Chisholm, James Kelly, Bill Kidd, Marilyn Livingstone, Claire Baker, Ken Macintosh, Elaine Murray, Kenneth Gibson, Mary Mulligan, Jamie Hepburn, Rhona Brankin, Patricia Ferguson, Mike Pringle, Mr Frank McAveety, Trish Godman, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Dr Richard Simpson, Sarah Boyack, Sandra White, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Tom McCabe, Johann Lamont, Cathy Peattie, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4752 Shirley-Anne Somerville: St Columba's Hospice—That the Parliament welcomes the St Columba’s Hospice Family Fun Day on Sunday 6 September 2009; notes that the event will take place at Victoria Park from 10.30 am for the 1K run and 11.00 am for the 2.5K and 5K runs; further notes that one can walk, jog, run, skip or jump one’s way around the course to raise funds for the hospice; highlights that St Columba’s Hospice offers care for patients with active, progressive, far-advanced illness as well as support for relatives and carers; congratulates all organisers and sponsors, including Foresters and Holiday Inn, for planning an event that is suitable for all the family and fitness levels, and further notes that information regarding the hospice and the event can be found at www.stcolumbashospice.org.uk.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Sandra White, Michael Matheson

S3M-4751 Joe FitzPatrick: Dundee United FC Centenary—That the Parliament congratulates Dundee United Football Club on its 100th anniversary; notes that United played its first game on 18 August 1909 as Dundee Hibernian in a game that resulted in a 1-1 draw with Hibernian; notes that in 1910 Dundee United joined the Scottish football league and went on to win all of Scotland’s major football honours, winning the league cup in 1979-80 and 1980-81, the league in 1982-83 and the Scottish Cup in 1993-94; further notes that united was the first Scottish side to reach the final of the UEFA Cup in 1987 where, although they were narrowly beaten by IFK Gothenburg, FIFA awarded its first-ever Fair Play Award to the club for the sporting behaviour of the fans at Tannadice Park; acknowledges the contribution that Dundee United has made to International football, hosting International players from three continents and producing some of Scotland’s greats, including Dave Narey who famously put Scotland ahead against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup with a "toe poke", and wishes all the players, staff and fans good luck for their centenary year.

Supported by: Marlyn Glen, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Brian Adam, Jamie Hepburn, Nigel Don, David Whitton, Christina McKelvie, Bill Butler, Stuart McMillan, Andrew Welsh, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Ross Finnie, Aileen Campbell, George Foulkes, James Kelly, John Park, Sandra White, Michael Matheson, Jack McConnell, Gil Paterson, Alison McInnes

S3M-4750 Jamie Hepburn: 70th Anniversary of the Beginning of the Second World War—That the Parliament notes that 3 September 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of the declaration of war that marked the beginning of the Second World War; remembers that this was a war that affected all strata of society and all individuals in some way, with hostilities across the globe; recalls that over 70 million people were killed on both sides in hostilities during the war, with around two-thirds of these deaths being civilian casualties and over 10 million people murdered by the Nazis as part of the Holocaust; believes that it is of the utmost importance that future generations continue to learn about this period of history so that its horrors are not repeated, and offers its gratitude to those men and women who were part of that generation that combined to defeat Nazism and fascism during the Second World War.

Supported by: Hugh O'Donnell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Anne McLaughlin, Gil Paterson, Paul Martin, Maureen Watt, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Bill Butler, Brian Adam, George Foulkes, Robin Harper, John Park, Christina McKelvie, Ken Macintosh, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Liam McArthur, Patricia Ferguson, Robert Brown, Dave Thompson, Jim Hume, Sandra White, Michael Matheson, Stewart Maxwell, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Christine Grahame, Angela Constance, Tom McCabe, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4749 Rob Gibson: Caithness Summer Football Champs—That the Parliament congratulates Wick Groats Football Club on its successful 2009 season in which it won the Caithness County League Division One, won the Wick League, won the David Allan Shield, reached the semi-finals of the Highland Amateur Cup and produced the County Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year; congratulates young player/manager Stewart Ross on taking the team from the second division two years ago and leading them to such success; further congratulates Staxigoe United FC on winning the Caithness County League Division Two and the Steven Cup in its first year and Thurso Swifts FC on winning the Eain Macintosh Cup; recognises the importance of summer football in the far north for all ages, and wishes all the teams involved a restful winter and an equally exciting season next year.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Jamie McGrigor, Gil Paterson

S3M-4747 Jackie Baillie: 150th Anniversary of Our Lady and St Mark's—That the Parliament congratulates Our Lady and St Mark’s on the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the parish in Alexandria; notes that the parish is a vital part of the community in Alexandria; welcomes the Mass of Thanksgiving held on 5 August 2009 to celebrate this milestone, and wishes the parish and the church another successful 150 years at the heart of the community in Alexandria.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Bob Doris, Des McNulty, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Karen Whitefield, Bill Butler, Pauline McNeill, Ross Finnie, Helen Eadie, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4746 Jackie Baillie: Helensburgh’s Auld Alliance—That the Parliament recognises the special relationship between Helensburgh and the medieval market town of Thouars, a Loire town in the Poitou region of France; notes that Thouars was chosen to twin with Helensburgh because Margaret of Scotland was buried there; notes that over the years there have been numerous visits, a number of work experience placements and lasting friendships that have cemented the connection between the towns, and congratulates all involved in maintaining such a strong bond, which has fostered both social and economic advantages for Helensburgh and Thouars for over 30 years.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, David Stewart, Kenneth Gibson, Des McNulty, John Park, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Helen Eadie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4745 Robin Harper: Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme—That the Parliament congratulates the thousands of Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award volunteers, leaders and staff across Scotland on the publication of the recent HM Inspectorate of Education report that rates the impact of the DofE scheme on young people as excellent (outstanding and sector-leading); welcomes the report’s conclusions that the DofE scheme provides a significant personal development programme that complements the core activities of a diverse range of providers, including schools, those who work with marginalised and disaffected young people, mental health units and young offenders institutions; applauds the impressive impact that the programme has on young people with additional support needs, and further notes that the DofE scheme has a valuable contribution to make to the values, purposes and capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Nanette Milne, Elizabeth Smith, Hugh O'Donnell, Patrick Harvie, Rob Gibson, Ken Macintosh, David Whitton, Karen Gillon, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Jackson Carlaw, Mike Pringle, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Liam McArthur, Karen Whitefield, Dave Thompson, Jack McConnell, Robert Brown, Dr Richard Simpson, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack, Rhona Brankin

S3M-4744 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Launch of Preventing Violence Against Women Website—That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a new tool for campaigners working to prevent violence against women and children in Scotland, a new website found at www.vawpreventionscotland.org.uk; notes that this was developed by the pioneering Edinburgh charity, Zero Tolerance; commends the new website and network for providing a place for individuals and organisations to share expertise, information and good practice on preventing violence, abuse and exploitation of women and children and thus avoid unnecessary duplication and missed opportunities for collaboration; welcomes the funding from the Scottish Government, and acknowledges the need for continued resourcing and support for preventative initiatives such as this, as recognised in the Scottish Government’s shared approach document, Safer Lives: Changed Lives, which notes that "developing an effective approach to prevention and reducing violence against women" is a key issue of concern that needs to be addressed.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Stewart Maxwell, Nigel Don, Stuart McMillan, Kenneth Gibson, Robin Harper, Sandra White, Alasdair Allan, Ian McKee, Elaine Smith, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Anne McLaughlin, Bill Wilson, Rob Gibson, Angela Constance, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Jack McConnell, Marlyn Glen, Bill Butler, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani, Trish Godman, Christine Grahame, Christina McKelvie, Tom McCabe, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4743 Jackie Baillie: Vale of Leven Community Maternity Unit 24/7—That the Parliament expresses its concern regarding the news that NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde is proposing the mothballing of the Community Maternity Unit at the Vale of Leven Hospital at night; understands that the maternity unit will run normally during the day but be replaced by an on-call service in the evening; considers that this decision effectively downgrades the service and is a blow to a vital resource that midwives have fought so hard to build up and that expectant mothers need available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; further notes that this decision may have an adverse effect on the choices of future expectant mothers who may decide to go to another hospital, and calls on NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to abandon this daft proposal, which appears to be based on the premise that babies are born between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.

Supported by: David Stewart, Bill Butler, George Foulkes, John Park, Robin Harper, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Ross Finnie, Trish Godman, Helen Eadie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4742 Bill Kidd: The PATH (Scotland) Leadership Programme—That the Parliament welcomes the PATH (Scotland) Leadership Programme, which has been developed by PATH (Scotland) with funding from the Race, Religion and Refugee Integration Fund as a positive action measure to address the under-representation of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities in management roles; notes that this course is free to successful applicants and aims to examine power inequalities, the impact of racism on Scotland’s culture and the implications for people from BME communities while allowing participants to recognise and further develop their own skills and abilities as managers and leaders, and commends the work of PATH (Scotland) in tackling existing disadvantage because of colour, race, nationality or ethnic origin and in further promoting equality of opportunity for a fairer Scotland.

Supported by: Hugh O'Donnell, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Aileen Campbell, Christine Grahame, Sandra White, Bill Wilson, Angela Constance, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Joe FitzPatrick, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4741 Jackie Baillie: Arrochar and Tarbet, Scottish Calor Village of the Year 2009—That the Parliament congratulates Arrochar and Tarbet on being crowned Scottish Calor Village of the Year 2009; notes that the village was selected for its vision for the future, which includes redevelopment plans for the community hall and village pier; understands that Arrochar and Tarbet was commended for its community spirit, fantastic atmosphere and its collective desire to regenerate the village; applauds everyone involved in making the bid successful; commends the other two finalists, Forth and Isle of Eigg, and wishes Arrochar and Tarbet every success with its plans to regenerate its community.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Bob Doris, George Foulkes, Robin Harper, James Kelly, Marilyn Livingstone, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Karen Whitefield, Helen Eadie, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4740 Johann Lamont: South West Glasgow Community Champions Rock!—That the Parliament welcomes the Evening Times Community Champion initiative, which gives the opportunity to value, recognise and celebrate all those who give of themselves to improve lives across Glasgow’s communities; applauds all those who made the awards nights such a success; in particular, salutes all those from Greater Pollok and Greater Govan, the WIN Project, Stevie Grant, Pollok Credit Union, Nancy Cooper, Donna Foote, St Paul’s High School community volunteers, the GalGael Trust, Connal Cochrane, Gary Maguire, Govan Youth Information Project, Wilma Monaghan and Enterprising Badgers, who won Community Champion awards and who represent many more who work on behalf of others across the south west of Glasgow; looks forward to their sweeping the board at the grand finale, and believes that strong individuals and strong communities enrich the lives and experience of every Glaswegian.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack

S3M-4739 Brian Adam: Scotland against Continual Fuel Duty Hikes—That the Parliament notes with great concern the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s plans to increase fuel tax by two pence per litre; also notes that this is far from the first hike in fuel duty under the current administration; is concerned that these increases are causing growing inflation on the price of groceries and other goods due to high shipping costs, and calls on the Chancellor to take measures on behalf of the haulage industry, Scottish business and the Scottish people, to forego the tax increase and to bring forward measures to create more stability in the Scottish financial sector.

Supported by: Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson

S3M-4738# Margaret Mitchell: 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 will ensure that deafblind citizens can enjoy full access to public transport.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Sandra White, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Elizabeth Smith, John Scott, Jamie McGrigor, John Lamont, Bill Aitken, Karen Gillon, Bill Kidd, Ken Macintosh, Robin Harper, Hugh O'Donnell, Christine Grahame, Elaine Smith, Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Gil Paterson, Mary Scanlon, Bill Butler, Cathie Craigie, Jackie Baillie, Rhoda Grant, Kenneth Gibson, Liam McArthur, Dave Thompson, Ross Finnie, Tom McCabe, Karen Whitefield, Michael Matheson, Jack McConnell, Stuart McMillan, Cathy Peattie, Trish Godman, James Kelly, Patricia Ferguson, Brian Adam, Elaine Murray, Duncan McNeil, Mr Frank McAveety, Ms Wendy Alexander, Nicol Stephen, Nigel Don, Mary Mulligan, Angela Constance, Dr Richard Simpson, Annabel Goldie, George Foulkes, Jim Tolson*

S3M-4737 Stuart McMillan: Winter is Looming so Time to Contact The Energy Saving Trust—That the Parliament recognises that the winter months are nearing in Scotland and considers that it is vital that people, especially those on low incomes and older people, contact the Energy Saving Trust to ascertain what assistance is available to them to tackle fuel poverty; notes that the Energy Saving Trust, which manages the Energy Assistance Package on behalf of the Scottish Government, takes an integrated approach to tackling fuel poverty by reducing high fuel costs through giving advice on social tariffs and improving the energy efficiency of properties through advice, insulation and heating measures; further notes that there is a free telephone advice line that people can contact on 0800 512 012 to seek assistance, and urges all constituents who are concerned about the winter months ahead to contact the advice line as soon as possible.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Brian Adam, Maureen Watt, Rob Gibson, Joe FitzPatrick, Aileen Campbell, Mike Pringle, Christopher Harvie, Christine Grahame, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Jim Hume, Michael Matheson, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4736 Ms Wendy Alexander: Lance Armstrong Cycles into Paisley—That the Parliament notes the recent visit of seven-times winner of the Tour de France, Lance Armstrong, to Paisley and his invitation to local cyclists to join him; further notes that he issued the invitation via his Twitter page which led to between 200 and 300 riders, including cycling star Graeme Obree, joining this Renfrewshire cycle; welcomes the very positive publicity for Paisley brought about by this impromptu visit, and hopes that it will encourage others to visit local attractions like Paisley Abbey, Weaver’s Cottage in Kilbarchan and the Lochwinnoch RSPB reserve.

Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Robin Harper, Dr Richard Simpson, John Park, David Whitton, James Kelly, Des McNulty, Sandra White, Sarah Boyack, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Mulligan, Gil Paterson, Marilyn Livingstone, Bill Wilson, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Tom McCabe, Jim Hume, Pauline McNeill

S3M-4735 Sandra White: Rangers Charity Foundation Teams up with Glasgow Old People's Welfare Association—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement from the Rangers Charity Foundation that the Glasgow Old People’s Welfare Association (GOPWA) will be its new community charity partner for season 2009-10; acknowledges that the support that GOPWA provides, such as its heat-and-eat service, which gives older people the opportunity to get out and socialise with one another before being safely returned home, is essential in maintaining and enhancing the wellbeing of many older people, and believes that the generosity of the Rangers Charity Foundation, which will help to provide a dedicated bus for this invaluable service, will ensure that many older people continue to benefit from this excellent service.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie

S3M-4733# Elaine Smith: Auchengeich Colliery Disaster—That the Parliament notes the 50th anniversary of the Auchengeich Colliery disaster, which claimed the lives of 47 miners on 18 September 1959; recognises that the tragedy not only directly affected the 41 widows and 76 children left fatherless but also impacted on all of the people of the Chryston area and surrounding communities; appreciates that this devastating event continues to be significant to the people of the area; welcomes local projects set up in memory of the tragedy including the opening of *memorial gardens in St Michael’s and Glenmanor primary schools*, Moodiesburn and a fund-raising amateur boxing tournament in Auchengeich Miners Welfare, both of which ensure continued awareness of the disaster among future generations; commends the local community for the dignity and respect that it has shown to the memory of the victims and their families during commemorative events held annually at the disaster memorial; considers that such events play an important role in ensuring that those who die as a result of work are not forgotten, and welcomes all support for the 50th anniversary commemoration event organised by the Auchengeich Colliery Memorial Committee, which takes place on 20 September 2009.

Supported by: James Kelly, Helen Eadie, Kenneth Gibson, Mr Frank McAveety, Patricia Ferguson, Jackie Baillie, Ken Macintosh, Pauline McNeill, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Michael McMahon, John Wilson, Margaret Curran, Mary Mulligan, Karen Whitefield, Stuart McMillan, Bill Butler, Bob Doris, Rob Gibson, Cathy Peattie, Maureen Watt, Cathie Craigie, Hugh O'Donnell, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone, Marlyn Glen, David Whitton, Jim Hume, Michael Matheson, Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell, Des McNulty, David Stewart, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Alasdair Allan, John Park, Karen Gillon, Brian Adam, Ted Brocklebank, Rhona Brankin, Sandra White, Hugh Henry, Robin Harper, Dr Richard Simpson, Sarah Boyack, Alex Johnstone, Trish Godman

S3M-4732 Shirley-Anne Somerville: Campaign for Queen’s Gallantry Medal for Ewan Williamson—That the Parliament supports the call for firefighter Ewan Williamson to be posthumously awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal; pays respect to the courage of the 35-year-old who died while tackling a blaze in the Balmoral Bar on Dalry Road on Sunday 12 July 2009; recognises that the brave action of Mr Williamson and his colleagues in Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service helped save 20 lives that morning; salutes the bravery of all firefighters who routinely put their lives at risk to save others; welcomes the news that Mr Williamson is to be honoured at the annual International Firefighters Service of Remembrance in London, and supports the Edinburgh Evening News-backed petition to have Mr Williamson honoured with a bravery medal, which is available to sign online at www.edinburghnews.com/ewanwilliamsonpetition.

Supported by: Malcolm Chisholm, Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson, George Foulkes, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Butler, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Joe FitzPatrick, Angela Constance, Ken Macintosh, Bill Wilson, Jim Hume, Bob Doris, David McLetchie, Richard Baker, Ian McKee, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Trish Godman, Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4731 Jamie Hepburn: 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.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Patricia Ferguson, Ken Macintosh, Malcolm Chisholm, Stuart McMillan, Alasdair Allan, Nanette Milne, Rob Gibson, Mike Pringle, Des McNulty, Jackie Baillie, Bill Kidd, John Park, Andrew Welsh, Robin Harper, Brian Adam, Liam McArthur, Christopher Harvie, Dave Thompson, Aileen Campbell, Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant, Trish Godman, Tom McCabe, Jim Hume, Michael Matheson, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4730 Bill Kidd: Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust Waste Collection Scheme—That the Parliament commends the work being carried out by the Dumbarton Road Corridor Environment Trust, a Scottish charity based in the Yoker, Scotstoun and Whiteinch areas of Glasgow, which in May 2009 launched a food waste collection scheme for the residents of the Kingsway high-rise flats in Scotstounhill; notes that this pioneering scheme sees the conversion of residents’ food waste to compost that can then be used for other purposes, and believes that this scheme provides an excellent example for other community groups across Scotland that seek to develop and implement initiatives that promote environmental sustainability in the local area.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Bob Doris, Kenneth Gibson, Michael Matheson, Rob Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Sandra White, Robin Harper, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4729 Stuart McMillan: Excellent Holy Family Primary School and Nursery Class HMIE Report—That the Parliament congratulates Holy Family Primary School and Nursery Class, Kirkintilloch, for achieving an excellent evaluation in its recent HM Inspectorate of Education report; notes that the primary school achieved two of the three excellent evaluations awarded and that the nursery class achieved one excellent and two very good evaluations; further notes that the children are highly motivated and keen to learn and that the quality of relationships among children and staff is a particular strength of the school; acknowledges that this is a commendable report, and wishes the pupils and staff the very best for the future.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Aileen Campbell, Jamie Hepburn, Gil Paterson, Bob Doris

S3M-4727 Ken Macintosh: 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.

Supported by: George Foulkes, James Kelly, Elaine Smith, Stuart McMillan, Johann Lamont, Bill Wilson, Jackson Carlaw, Bill Kidd, Bob Doris, Karen Whitefield, Paul Martin, Michael McMahon, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Des McNulty, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Elaine Murray, Nicol Stephen, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, Andrew Welsh, Patricia Ferguson, Stewart Maxwell, Margaret Curran, Liam McArthur, Andy Kerr, Cathie Craigie, Mr Frank McAveety, Aileen Campbell, Mary Mulligan, Bill Aitken, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Alison McInnes, Trish Godman, Marlyn Glen, Rob Gibson, Tom McCabe, David Whitton, Ross Finnie, Dave Thompson, Karen Gillon, Jack McConnell, Christina McKelvie, Joe FitzPatrick, Sarah Boyack, Cathy Peattie

S3M-4726 Stuart McMillan: On Your Bike—That the Parliament recognises the initiative to get people cycling in the Scottish Government’s Smarter Choices, Smarter Places scheme; acknowledges the £5 million being spent in Scotland over the next three years to encourage people to cycle more; commends the seven areas of Dundee, Glasgow’s east end, Falkirk, Dumfries, East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and Orkney for taking forward the project; congratulates the Scottish Government on its aim to get 10% of the population out of their cars and on their bikes; welcomes the inclusion in the initiative of projects such as self-service cycle hire schemes, Get Cycling road shows in schools, upgrading cycling and walking routes and improving public cycle storage facilities and bike racks, and encourages people to take up the challenge of using their cars less in order to create a greener and healthier Scotland.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Kenneth Gibson, Angela Constance, Bill Kidd, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Alasdair Morgan, Christopher Harvie, Aileen Campbell, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4725 Irene Oldfather: Marymass Festival 2009—That the Parliament congratulates the Marymass Development Committee, Irvine Carters’ Society and North Ayrshire Council for another successful Marymass Festival, held in Irvine between 13 and 24 August 2009; notes that the festival’s origins date back to the middle ages and celebrate Irvine’s heritage and community spirit; recognises the continuing role that the festival has in the local area and the contributions made by local churches and organisations, in particular, Irvine Incorporated Trades, Irvine Burns Club and the rotary clubs of Irvine; congratulates Greenwood Academy pupil Laurie Swan for being crowned this year’s Marymass Queen; notes that the Marymass Festival welcomes back former Irvine residents living both in Scotland and elsewhere in the world; thanks the organisers and volunteers of this year’s series of events, and looks forward to the festival’s continued success in years to come.

Supported by: Jim Hume

S3M-4724 Mr Frank McAveety: Daily Record's Gie's a Game Campaign Helping Unemployed Footballers—That the Parliament congratulates the Daily Record for its Gie’s a Game campaign to help unemployed footballers by creating a database of footballers looking for work and clubs seeking players; welcomes the successes in the campaign, with Jim Duffy using the database to recruit a striker for Brechin City; notes with concern the record number of unemployed footballers at the moment, and calls on the Scottish Government to do all it can to assist the campaign and work to help those footballers who find themselves out of work.

S3M-4722 Bill Wilson: Excessive Charges for Users of Prepayment Meters—That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations’ support for the National Housing Federation’s (NHF) campaign against excessive charges levied by power companies on those who use prepayment meters; congratulates Scottish Power, Npower and E.ON for removing such premiums on gas and electricity; notes, however, that, according to the NHF, British Gas, EDF Energy and Scottish and Southern Energy still penalise their gas prepayment customers by charging them up to £40 a year more for their fuel; further notes that, between 2006 and 2008, many premiums were far higher despite EU directives limiting premiums to only the extra cost of installing and maintaining meters, which Ofgem estimates at around £40 a year for gas and £30 a year for electricity; understands that, despite hundreds of letters sent by consumers, no company has yet offered a rebate; wishes the NHF and Consumer Focus well with their investigation of this matter, which potentially involves a breach of EU legislation, and calls on all power companies to cease practices that discriminate against the poorest members of society, make reparations for such practices in the past and treat all customers fairly.

Supported by: Elaine Smith, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Christopher Harvie, Bill Kidd, Brian Adam, Hugh O'Donnell, Dave Thompson, Christine Grahame, Tom McCabe, Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4721 Rob Gibson: Nordic Studies Centre Expands—That the Parliament commends the UHI Millennium Institute’s Centre for Nordic Studies in Kirkwall for its expansion to new premises on Kiln Corner and in Scalloway in the North Atlantic Fisheries College; notes its vital role in promoting and preserving all the indigenous cultures of the Highlands and Islands by including Norse, Scots and Gaelic elements in its courses which include the literature of Orkney and more widely the literature of the Highlands and Islands, and welcomes the distance learning ethos of the UHI Millennium Institute that contributes to the international reach of this dynamic centre of learning.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Robin Harper, Mary Scanlon, Brian Adam, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, John Wilson, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Jamie McGrigor, Angela Constance, Jamie Stone, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Liam McArthur, Aileen Campbell, Joe FitzPatrick, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4720 Rob Gibson: Glendale Life—That the Parliament

Supported by: Tricia Marwick, Robin Harper, Stewart Maxwell, Stuart McMillan, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Aileen Campbell, Dave Thompson, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4719 Jamie Hepburn: Equality for All Armed Forces Veterans—That the Parliament notes the campaign of the Armed Forces Pension Group to secure equality of pensions for former regular members of the Armed Forces who served for fewer than 22 years at any time to April 1975 and who were discharged before 5 April 1975; further notes that currently former service members who fall into this category receive no service pension at all and that this also applies to those regulars who were discharged prior to 1981 and who do not meet the criteria of length of service and age; believes this current situation to be a form of discrimination against those who have risked their lives in active service, and supports the group’s call for the introduction of pension rights based on years of service and related, pro rata, to pensions received by contemporaries who completed 22 years of service.

Supported by: Robin Harper, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Mike Pringle, Trish Godman, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson, Bob Doris, Aileen Campbell, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4718 Elaine Murray: Release of Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi—That the Parliament regrets the decision by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill MSP, to release Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds; notes that Mr al-Megrahi had dropped his appeal and therefore remains a convicted terrorist; notes also that no compassion was extended to the 270 victims of the Pan Am bombing of 21 December 1988 or to the people of the town of Lockerbie who have lived with the aftermath of the bombing for the past 20 years, and believes that the Cabinet Secretary for Justice badly mishandled the decision making process and that both the process of making the decision and the decision itself have damaged Scotland’s international reputation.

Supported by: Cathie Craigie, David Whitton, Paul Martin, Jack McConnell, Mary Mulligan, Mr Frank McAveety, Hugh Henry, John Park, Dr Richard Simpson, Robert Brown, Lewis Macdonald, Bill Butler, Helen Eadie, Margaret Curran, Richard Baker, Marilyn Livingstone, Tom McCabe, Margaret Mitchell

S3M-4716 Bill Kidd: The Need to Protect Attendance Allowance—That the Parliament notes with concern proposals contained in the UK Government’s Green Paper, Shaping the future of care together, to abolish attendance allowance by integrating it into the care and support system in order to fund future support and care for the elderly in England, and that any changes to the care and support system in England that integrate some disability benefits funding would affect the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and supports the retention of attendance allowance and disability living allowance as benefits which allow disabled persons to retain financial independence.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Michael Matheson, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Anne McLaughlin, Joe FitzPatrick, Gil Paterson, Hugh O'Donnell, Stuart McMillan, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Willie Coffey, Alasdair Morgan, Jack McConnell, Tricia Marwick, Linda Fabiani, Aileen Campbell, Stewart Maxwell

S3M-4715 Margaret Mitchell: Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi—That the Parliament condemns the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and the SNP government for releasing Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi; notes that Mr Megrahi has served only eight years of a life sentence that was passed for his part in murdering 270 people in the 1988 Pan AM disaster; recognises that Alex Salmond’s government has mishandled this whole affair and has alienated friends and allies of Scotland; further recognises that the SNP government has done a disservice to the relatives of the victims of the Lockerbie atrocity, and offers its deepest sympathy to the families of the victims at this difficult time.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Jackson Carlaw, Nanette Milne, Lewis Macdonald, Robert Brown, Elaine Murray, Tom McCabe

S3M-4714 Christine Grahame: Lockerbie, In the Name of Justice—That the Parliament

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Ian McKee, Patrick Harvie, Stuart McMillan, Sandra White, Bob Doris, Bill Wilson

S3M-4713 Liam McArthur: 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.

Supported by: Brian Adam, Jamie Stone, Jamie McGrigor, Hugh O'Donnell, Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Patricia Ferguson, Andy Kerr, Jackson Carlaw, Ms Wendy Alexander, Joe FitzPatrick, Ross Finnie, Maureen Watt, Robin Harper, Rob Gibson, Ken Macintosh, Christine Grahame, Robert Brown, Bill Butler, John Farquhar Munro, Mary Scanlon, Bill Kidd, Tavish Scott, Mike Pringle, Nicol Stephen, Gil Paterson, Des McNulty, Sarah Boyack, Cathy Peattie, Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4712 Margo MacDonald: The Release of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi—That the Parliament demands an inquiry into the circumstances leading to the conviction and imprisonment of Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi and an investigation into the circumstances leading to his release from prison.

S3M-4711 Jamie Hepburn: Special Olympics National Summer Games—That the Parliament congratulates Cumbernauld College pupils Marianne Keenan, Russell Keddie, Allan Reilly and Nicola Keppie on their recent medal winnings at the Special Olympics National Summer Games in Leicester; notes that this is an outstanding sporting achievement, and wishes the athletes luck in their future sporting endeavours.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Jackson Carlaw, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Linda Fabiani, Sandra White, Robin Harper, Liam McArthur, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4710# Jack McConnell: 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.

Supported by: Trish Godman, Bill Butler, Elaine Murray, Ken Macintosh, John Park, Angela Constance, Sarah Boyack, Liam McArthur, Karen Gillon, Linda Fabiani, Malcolm Chisholm, Mike Pringle, Andy Kerr, Rhona Brankin, Mr Frank McAveety, Elaine Smith, Patricia Ferguson, Jamie Hepburn, Marlyn Glen, Ms Wendy Alexander, Gil Paterson, Dr Richard Simpson, Cathy Peattie, Jackie Baillie, Peter Peacock, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Hugh Henry, Jim Hume, Pauline McNeill, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4709 Bill Kidd: Business and Human Rights—That the Parliament welcomes the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre’s launch of the world’s only online portal for all materials relating to the work of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative on business and human rights, Professor John Ruggie, www.business-humanrights.org/SpecialRepPortal; echoes the sentiments of Professor Ruggie that the portal represents a global town-hall meeting, where everyone can be heard and participate in the strengthening of the international human rights regime as it relates to business; believes that through tracking the human rights impacts of 4,500 companies in over 180 countries the resource centre provides an invaluable tool in the monitoring and development of human rights in the global business world, and hopes that this innovative approach will serve to further highlight and improve human rights issues throughout the world.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Robin Harper, Rob Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Wilson, Mike Pringle, Sandra White, Christina McKelvie, Linda Fabiani, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4708 Liam McArthur: Congratulations to Thorfinn FC—That the Parliament congratulates Orkney’s Thorfinn FC on winning the Highland Amateur Cup, defeating Black Isle side, Avoch, the 2006 and 2007 winners, on penalties in a dramatic final at Harmsworth Park, Wick on 8 August 2009; notes that this is the first time since Kirkwall Rovers won the title in 1997 that a side from Orkney has lifted the prestigious trophy; believes that the achievement is all the more remarkable given the comparatively young age of the Thorfinn team, which bodes well for future success, and acknowledges that the closeness of many of the matches in this season’s competition demonstrates the strength and depth of football talent across the Highlands and Islands.

Supported by: Trish Godman, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh O'Donnell, Bill Kidd, Mr Frank McAveety, Jamie McGrigor, Sarah Boyack, Hugh Henry

S3M-4707# Linda Fabiani: Scotland Cares—That the Parliament notes the contribution of Annie Lennox to the Festival of Politics 2009 in which she gave a presentation of the SING Campaign to raise awareness of the international HIV/AIDS pandemic; notes that Ms Lennox stated her willingness to act on behalf of Scotland and its Parliament in respect of such international development issues, and considers that Ms Lennox, with her acknowledged profile, would be an ideal ambassador for her native Aberdeen and Scotland.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Rob Gibson, Liam McArthur, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Maureen Watt, Stuart McMillan, Ken Macintosh, Angela Constance, Dave Thompson, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie Hepburn, Christina McKelvie, Sandra White, Aileen Campbell, Jack McConnell

S3M-4706# Duncan McNeil: IBM Pensions Proposals—That the Parliament expresses concern that IBM, a highly profitable company with substantial revenues and cash reserves which employs around 18,000 staff in the United Kingdom, including many in Scotland at its base in Greenock and other locations, is proposing changes to its final salary pension scheme that will see it closed to existing employees by 2010; believes that this will have a devastating impact on future pensions, and considers that the genuine concerns of loyal and hard-working employees should be addressed and their pension benefits protected.

Supported by: Des McNulty, Karen Gillon, Kenneth Gibson, Mr Frank McAveety, Gil Paterson, Mary Mulligan, Bill Kidd, Ms Wendy Alexander, James Kelly, Brian Adam, Bill Butler, Ken Macintosh, Stuart McMillan, John Park, Trish Godman, Charlie Gordon, Jamie Hepburn, David Whitton, Pauline McNeill, Cathy Peattie, Andy Kerr, Jackie Baillie, Elaine Murray, Bill Wilson, Ross Finnie, Mike Rumbles, Marilyn Livingstone, Hugh Henry, Sarah Boyack

S3M-4705 Patricia Ferguson: Glasgow Maryhill and the Big Lottery Fund’s 2014 Communities—That the Parliament welcomes the recent outcome of the second round of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s 2014 Communities, which provided awards of £1,000 each to North Glasgow Football Development Group and Ruchill Primary School in Glasgow Maryhill; further welcomes previous awards under this fund to Garscube Community Foundation, Abercorn Secondary School, Kelbourne School and Westercommon Primary School in Glasgow Maryhill; recognises that these grants will support increased participation in physical activity and various sports including football, golf, tennis, badminton and athletics; acknowledges the important contribution that the 2014 Communities fund will make towards building a legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and looks forward to many more community groups and organisations in the communities of Glasgow Maryhill benefiting from the fund in the coming years.

Supported by: Mr Frank McAveety, Des McNulty, Mary Mulligan, Bill Butler, Trish Godman, Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone, Pauline McNeill

S3M-4704 Ross Finnie: Congratulations to Clydebank Museum—That the Parliament congratulates Clydebank Museum for mounting its exhibition on the Second World War which provides a background to the war and a pictorial history of the impact that this conflict had on Clydebank and West Dunbartonshire and which highlights the bravery and resilience shown by the people of West Dunbartonshire throughout the Second World War.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Jackson Carlaw, Des McNulty, Jamie McGrigor, Mike Pringle, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Hugh O'Donnell, Robert Brown, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Sarah Boyack, Cathy Peattie, Jackie Baillie

S3M-4703 Elaine Smith: 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.

Supported by: Ken Macintosh, Mary Mulligan, Bill Butler, Elaine Murray, Bill Kidd, Mr Frank McAveety, Jamie McGrigor, Stuart McMillan, Karen Whitefield, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Sarah Boyack, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Jack McConnell, Maureen Watt

S3M-4702 Gil Paterson: 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.

Supported by: Jamie McGrigor, Bill Kidd, Stewart Maxwell, Anne McLaughlin, Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Joe FitzPatrick, Robin Harper, Alasdair Allan, Angela Constance, Bob Doris, Christina McKelvie, Jackson Carlaw, Jamie Hepburn, Ken Macintosh, Rob Gibson, Brian Adam, Nanette Milne, Jackie Baillie, Alison McInnes, Aileen Campbell, Rhoda Grant, Jack McConnell, Tom McCabe, Hugh Henry, Linda Fabiani, Maureen Watt

S3M-4700 Kenneth Gibson: Conservative Party Attacks on the NHS—That the Parliament notes with concern the vicious attacks being made on the NHS by right-wing Republicans in the United States; regrets the support being given to such attacks by Conservative Party politicians; is aware that Conservative MEP Daniel Hannan denounced the NHS on American television saying that he "wouldn’t wish it on anybody" and calling it a "60 year mistake"; acknowledges that his colleagues Roger Helmer MEP and Peter Bone MP backed these comments; agrees that this is a clear and calculated insult to everyone who works in the NHS, with the latter MEP calling it a "Stalinist system"; wonders whether such disgraceful views are widespread in the Conservative Party, and calls on the Conservative leader in the Scottish Parliament to publicly repudiate such comments and apologise to NHS staff and patients.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Stuart McMillan, Angela Constance, Jamie Hepburn, Brian Adam, Rob Gibson, Ian McKee, Patrick Harvie, Elaine Smith

S3M-4699 Willie Coffey: Hon. George Fowlds, from Fenwick to the New Zealand Parliament—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.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Margaret Mitchell, Bob Doris, Christina McKelvie, Johann Lamont, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Linda Fabiani, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4698 Robert Brown: Britain's Oldest Man—That the Parliament regrets the passing of Robert Taggart, Scotland and Britain’s oldest man, and pays tribute to his long life and experiences; sends its condolences to his daughters and wider family; notes that he was born and bred and lived his life in the Royal Burgh of Rutherglen, itself fittingly Scotland's oldest Royal Burgh; recalls his long association and achievements over 70 years with Overtoun Park Bowling Club, formerly Rutherglen Public Bowling Club, latterly as a life member, and mourns the passing of a generation who gave so much to Scotland and Britain.

Supported by: Shirley-Anne Somerville, James Kelly, Ross Finnie, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, Joe FitzPatrick, Liam McArthur, Angela Constance, Bob Doris, Jamie McGrigor, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh O'Donnell, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4697 Bob Doris: Congratulations to North Kelvin United on its 10th Anniversary—That the Parliament congratulates all those involved with the North Glasgow Football Development Group and North Kelvin United, whose senior team celebrates its 10th anniversary this year; pays tribute to players and coaching staff alike; acknowledges the wide community benefit that the club provides to its various youth and senior teams, and considers that a number of players have shown considerable effort, reliability, loyalty and service to the club over those years, not least the six senior squad players, David Kelly, Mark S Adams, Craig Gilfillan, Chris Campbell, Scott McKinnon and Alex Kay, who have played for each of the first 10 seasons, clocking up almost 1,300 appearances among them with four of them also reaching a landmark 200 appearances.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Michael Matheson

S3M-4696# Sandra White: Concerns over Children’s Beauty Salon—That the Parliament notes with concern the opening in Glasgow of Scotland’s first beauty salon targeted at children, Tantrims and Tiaras, which caters for tots to 16-year-olds, offering pamper parties accompanied with glasses of alcohol-free bubbly served up in champagne glasses; believes that the further erosion of childhood innocence and the continuing sexualisation of children pressurises children into acting and behaving in ways that are detrimental to their natural healthy development, leading to possible problems in the future such as emotional distress, anxiety, low self-esteem, eating disorders and depression; notes the findings of The Good Childhood Inquiry, which was commissioned by The Children's Society with the aim of renewing society’s understanding of modern childhood and which, alongside its other recommendations, believes that the premature sexualisation of children should be discouraged, and hopes that this inquiry and other work done in this field will help inform and shape policy toward providing children with the best possible childhood.

Supported by: Angela Constance, Marlyn Glen, Robert Brown, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Charlie Gordon, Margaret Curran, Hugh O'Donnell, Ian McKee, Gil Paterson, Dave Thompson, Cathy Peattie, Christine Grahame, Maureen Watt, Trish Godman

S3M-4695 Patricia Ferguson: Revive MS Support - 25 Years of Service—That the Parliament congratulates the workers, volunteers and users of Revive MS Support as they celebrate 25 years of service to those affected by Multiple Sclerosis; notes that every year over 2,500 people benefit from the therapies, information and support provided by the charity; recognises the strong emphasis on partnership working which is at the heart of the organisation, and commends all those involved in both the centre in Maryhill and at the outreach clinics operated across Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4694 Mike Pringle: New Adult Education Programme—That the Parliament congratulates the City of Edinburgh Council on the launch of its new adult education programme comprising hundreds of day, evening and weekend courses; welcomes the accessibility of the prospectus in libraries, council buildings, GP surgeries and some bookshops; applauds the clarity of the council’s online information and booking system, and wishes the citizens of Edinburgh enjoyment and success with the development of their academic and recreational skills.

Supported by: Hugh O'Donnell, Trish Godman, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Kenneth Gibson, Jim Tolson, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4693 Mike Pringle: Cash Boost for Telecare Services—That the Parliament welcomes the City of Edinburgh Council’s massive £1 million home care boost to increase funding for its Telecare programme now being extended across Edinburgh, which will allow vulnerable and older people to remain independent in their own homes, reduce the need for long-term care or hospital admission and save an estimated 3,000 hospital bed days and 3,000 care home days per year, while also expanding the Telecare programme to offer increased support to domestic abuse sufferers and disability groups.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Ian McKee, Jim Tolson, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd

S3M-4692 Jackson Carlaw: European Men's Health Forum's Prostate Health Project—That the Parliament welcomes the prostate health project being run by the European Men’s Health Forum (EMHF), which aims to gather information from men across Europe on their experiences of developing problems involving the prostate as they seek support, diagnosis and treatment and also on the responses that they have had from health service providers regarding these issues with a view to using this information to inform health professionals and policy makers in dealing with men’s prostate-related healthcare; notes that the EMHF is establishing a website to provide men with information on the issues of prostate health, which will go live on 14 August 2009, and encourages men to share their experiences of suffering from problems with the prostate in their respective countries through this web-based facility.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Jack McConnell, Rhoda Grant, Tom McCabe

S3M-4691 Christopher Harvie: Alloa Athletic Football Club—That the Parliament commends Alloa Athletic Football Club on its support of military personnel by allowing serving members of the armed forces free entry to Alloa Athletic home games; acknowledges the efforts of the board of directors of Alloa Athletic Football Club in recognising the dangerous job that the armed forces do; commends the board’s solidarity with those who have been in extreme peril and stress, and encourages other football clubs throughout Scotland to follow this example and provide free access to football grounds for army personnel in Scotland.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Mike Pringle, Ian McKee, Stuart McMillan, Dr Richard Simpson, Gil Paterson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Jack McConnell, Christina McKelvie, Michael Matheson, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4690 Duncan McNeil: 30 Years of Headway—That the Parliament congratulates Headway on reaching its 30th anniversary; notes that for three decades its dedicated and hard-working team has been providing vital and much-needed support and advice to brain injury survivors and their families; acknowledges that it has grown from humble beginnings to set up more than 100 groups and branches across the United Kingdom, including 13 in Scotland; welcomes its efforts to challenge the discrimination suffered by people with brain injuries, and offers the brain injury charity its support and best wishes for the future.

Supported by: Bill Butler, Johann Lamont, John Park, Michael Matheson, Claire Baker, Ken Macintosh, Kenneth Gibson, Karen Gillon, Elaine Murray, Ms Wendy Alexander, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, James Kelly, Ian McKee, Mr Frank McAveety, Jamie McGrigor, Robin Harper, Angela Constance, Bob Doris, Mary Scanlon, Mary Mulligan, Patricia Ferguson, Hugh O'Donnell, Linda Fabiani, Pauline McNeill, Rhona Brankin, Trish Godman, Jack McConnell, Jackie Baillie, Cathy Peattie, Dr Richard Simpson, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant, Tom McCabe, Hugh Henry, Murdo Fraser, Ted Brocklebank, Jim Tolson, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4689 Linda Fabiani: The Arc of Recovery—That the Parliament considers that Scotland is being held back by the mismanagement of the UK economy as evidenced by the forthcoming publication of the OECD Economic Outlook, which, on 17 August 2009, will report that the UK has the worst underlying financial balance as a percentage of GDP of any member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and that the UK’s current account balance will show a $56.3 billion deficit this year and a $56.2 billion deficit next year (-2.6% and -2.4% of GDP); believes that Scotland’s recovery would be faster and stronger as an independent nation and contrasts Scotland’s position as part of the UK with OECD figures for other nations, which show that Ireland will move from a deficit of $1.4 billion to a surplus of $2.1 billion (-0.6% to +0.9% of GDP), Iceland’s deficit equivalent will be $0.4 billion and $0.1 billion (-3% and -1.1% of GDP), Finland will have a surplus of $0.9 billion this year and a $1 billion surplus next year (+0.4% and +0.4% of GDP), while Norway will show a $70.3 billion surplus followed by a $84.9 billion surplus (+18.2% and +20.6% of GDP), and further considers that Scotland has got what it takes to get through this recession and would be better off with the same freedom and flexibility as these independent nations in this arc of recovery.

Supported by: Michael Matheson, Stuart McMillan, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, Bill Kidd, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Bill Wilson, Jamie Hepburn, Joe FitzPatrick, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4689.1 James Kelly: The Arc of Recovery—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4689) in the name of Linda Fabiani, leave out from "is being" to end and insert "has benefited from action taken by the UK Government to avoid the worst effects of the global economic downturn through a fiscal stimulus package including an increase in tax allowances equivalent to £145 less tax over this year, a 2.5% cut in VAT equivalent to a 1% cut in interest rates, accelerated increases in child benefit to £20 per week and child tax credits by 25% above inflation, a one-off payment to support pensioners during the downturn in addition to the annual Winter Fuel Allowance and an increase in Pensions Credits to £130 per week for single pensioners, UK-wide action to avoid home and business repossessions as well as action to avoid the potentially catastrophic consequences of a banking collapse including avoiding potential liquidation of the Royal Bank of Scotland, HBOS and the Dunfermline Building Society; notes that, while the global economic downturn has been painful in Scotland and the UK as a whole, the effects have been considerably less severe than the experiences in Iceland and the Republic of Ireland, two of the three "arc of prosperity" counties cited as appropriate economic comparators for an independent Scotland in the SNP’s Manifesto 2007, in which the global economic downturn has resulted in not just economic recession but official depression, defined as economic contraction of at least 10%; further notes in this regard that that OECD 2009 Economic Outlook cites the collapse of Iceland’s three main banks, the required bail-out by the International Monetary Fund followed by official interest rates of 18%, as well as, what it terms "substantial spending cuts and increases in taxation" in the Republic of Ireland, which has been forced to commission a public cuts study by "An Bord Snip Nua" proposing €5.3 billion of cuts including 17,300 public service job cuts, a 5% drop in social welfare and closure of police stations among other examples, and believes that, although the so-called "arc of prosperity" was always a deeply-flawed, simplistic and contradictory economic prescription for Scotland, having cited the Republic of Ireland and Iceland as appropriate models prior to the downturn, the SNP cannot now credibly claim that a separate Scotland would have escaped a similar economic fate as those countries that have been hit far worse than Scotland within the United Kingdom and that the SNP’s selective memory of the global downturn serves to underline not just its economic ineptitude but also its insincerity with the people of Scotland."

Supported by: Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-4688 Kenneth Gibson: Launch of Lifelong Carers Service—That the Parliament warmly commends ENABLE Scotland on the successful launch of its Lifelong Carers service for south-west Scotland; notes that this service, covering North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, is supported by the Big Lottery Fund and will support family carers who are over 50 and care for adult relatives with learning disabilities; is aware that there are 465 people in North Ayrshire alone with learning disabilities, almost half of whom live at home; recognises that many people who have cared for their loved ones, often their children, are understandably anxious about their future, and acknowledges that the Lifelong Carers service will help older carers and the people they care for create an emergency plan for any eventuality, ensuring that they have the right information to make decisions for the future.

Supported by: Angela Constance, Bill Kidd, Robin Harper, Stuart McMillan, Gil Paterson, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4687 Ian McKee: Edinburgh Has Got What it Takes—That the Parliament welcomes the four progress reports submitted to the City of Edinburgh Council’s Economic Development Committee, showing that the capital has not been as seriously affected by the economic recession as other comparable cities across the United Kingdom on the following four of five main indicators: house prices, city centre footfall, airport passenger numbers and new business formation; considers that the tourism sector has thrived in Edinburgh thanks to the success of Homecoming, the Royal Highland Show and, more recently, the Edinburgh festivals, which have boosted a wide range of businesses, including hotels, restaurants and other local businesses; further notes that the number of new start-up businesses registered for VAT rose by 26% over the April to June quarter and that the city has attracted more foreign investment packages in the first half of the year than in the whole of 2007 and 2008; highlights that, although Edinburgh’s labour market has been badly affected by the recession, the unemployment rate, at 3.1%, remains lower than the UK average, and believes that the people of Edinburgh have got what it takes to fight back against the economic recession.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Stuart McMillan, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4686 Margaret Mitchell: The Well Foundation—That the Parliament welcomes the establishment of the Hamilton-based charity, the Well Foundation, in January 2009; notes that the foundation aims to raise funds to provide wells and hand pumps for communities lacking safe drinking water; further notes that 1.1 billion people worldwide presently lack access to safe drinking water and that almost two million children die annually due to a lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation, and thus wishes the Well Foundation every success in its efforts over the years ahead.

Supported by: John Lamont, Jackson Carlaw, Bob Doris, Elizabeth Smith, Nanette Milne, Kenneth Gibson, Jackie Baillie, Jamie McGrigor, Ted Brocklebank, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Bill Wilson, Tom McCabe

S3M-4685 Jim Tolson: Bruce Festival 2009—That the Parliament welcomes the Bruce Festival, taking place in Dunfermline, Scotland’s ancient capital city, on 15 and 16 August 2009, featuring jousting, storytelling, a re-enactment group, musicians and displays from local groups, including the Scottish Lime Centre, Dunfermline Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland and McDonald Armouries; notes that full details are available at www.visitdunfermline.com; further notes that the event attracted 12,000 visitors last year, and welcomes the positive effect that the festival will have on the cultural wellbeing of people across Fife and visitors to the area.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Bob Doris, Ross Finnie, Kenneth Gibson, John Park, Mike Pringle, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Hugh O'Donnell, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4684 Margaret Smith: Edinburgh’s Resilience in Difficult Times—That the Parliament welcomes the progress reports showing that Scotland’s capital is surviving the recession much better than predicted, with main indicators such as house prices, city centre footfall, airport passenger numbers, employment and new business formation stronger than expected in the current climate; notes the contribution that events such as the Royal Highland Show, Homecoming and Edinburgh’s festivals have made to this success; applauds the efforts of the City of Edinburgh Council in developing an Economic Resilience Action Plan and an Economic Resilience Network to allow the city to respond rapidly to the changing economic circumstances, and, recognising the importance to Scotland as a whole of a strong, successful capital city, supports the ongoing work of the council and key partners to ensure that Edinburgh continues to thrive.

Supported by: Mike Pringle, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, Alison McInnes

S3M-4683 Michael Matheson: Town Centre Regeneration Fund Investment for Falkirk, Denny and Stenhousemuir—That the Parliament welcomes the news that the town centres of Falkirk, Denny and Stenhousemuir will benefit from the £2 million from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund allocated to Falkirk Council; congratulates all agencies involved in the bid for funding, and believes that this investment in town centres will make them more attractive and help boost the economy in these difficult economic times.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Bob Doris, Alasdair Allan, Bill Kidd, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4682 Pauline McNeill: Burma Court Finds Aung San Suu Kyi Guilty—That the Parliament expresses its deep concern at the news that Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to 18 months of house arrest; notes that Ms Suu Kyi, a Nobel peace laureate, has spent nearly 14 of the last 20 years in detention following her National League for Democracy (NLD) party's victory in the 1990 elections and that the NLD was never allowed to take power; further notes the international condemnation of the sentence and the belief that the verdict is designed to prevent Ms Suu Kyi from taking part in next year’s planned multi-party elections, and calls on the international community to continue to apply pressure on Burma’s military junta in order that human rights and democracy can properly flourish in the country.

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Robert Brown, Kenneth Gibson, Marlyn Glen, Bill Kidd, Bill Butler, Bob Doris, Robin Harper, Cathy Jamieson, Mary Mulligan, Des McNulty, Christine Grahame, Ross Finnie, Patricia Ferguson, Rhona Brankin, Bill Wilson, Liam McArthur, Mike Pringle, Ms Wendy Alexander, Margaret Mitchell, Ken Macintosh, Jackie Baillie, Anne McLaughlin, Malcolm Chisholm, Hugh Henry, Hugh O'Donnell, Gil Paterson, John Park, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Jack McConnell, Alison McInnes, Cathy Peattie, Aileen Campbell, Marilyn Livingstone, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4681 Christine Grahame: Town Centre Regeneration Fund Investment for Hawick—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that Hawick will benefit from £353,000 from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund, part of a £40 million package of funding from the Scottish Government that will boost town centres and support jobs; notes that the successful bid was made achievable through the coordinated efforts of local shopkeepers and that the money will be spent on improving the high street, on maintenance and on funding for local festivities that will attract more people to Hawick, and encourages more Border towns to put forward substantive applications for the final tranche of funding.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, John Lamont

S3M-4680 Brian Adam: Stanley Robertson, 1940-2009—That the Parliament recognises the great achievements of Stanley Robertson, a world-acclaimed north-east storyteller, ballad singer and piper, who brought a greater understanding of the Traveller way of life and did much to spread Scotland's national culture globally, and expresses its deepest sympathy to his family and loved ones at this time of his passing.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Rob Gibson, Kenneth Gibson, Bill Wilson, Robin Harper, Jim Hume, Stuart McMillan, Alasdair Allan, Nanette Milne, Anne McLaughlin, Bob Doris, Nigel Don, Hugh Henry, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Christopher Harvie, Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Christina McKelvie, Alison McInnes, Aileen Campbell, Maureen Watt

S3M-4679 Des McNulty: Fair Deal for Dunbartonshire—That the Parliament expresses concern that, of the £40 million assigned to 48 towns across Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund, nothing whatever has been allocated to either East or West Dunbartonshire; notes that Clydebank was identified by Experian earlier this year as one of five Scottish town centres most at risk as a result of the economic downturn; is concerned that the criteria against which projects were considered were not published in advance, and calls on ministers to explain why none of the four bids put forward by West Dunbartonshire Council was granted funding despite its being the second most deprived council area in Scotland and the area with one of the the highest unemployment rates.

Supported by: Helen Eadie, Mr Frank McAveety, Robin Harper, Mary Mulligan, David Whitton, Jackie Baillie, Dr Richard Simpson, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4678 Aileen Campbell: National Youth Orchestra of Iraq—That the Parliament congratulates Zuhal Sultan, a young pianist from Baghdad, on setting up the National Youth Orchestra of Iraq at the age of 17; notes that the 35-piece orchestra will perform its first concert on 16 August 2009 in the northern Kurdish city of Sulaymaniyah; wishes the orchestra the best of luck with this inaugural concert; notes the bravery of the members of the orchestra, who are reported to receive death threats for playing western classical instruments; believes that the cultural landscape in Iraq can still thrive and young talents still be discovered despite the backdrop of conflict, and hopes that Zuhal Sultan will succeed in her goal of establishing a haven for the next generation of Iraqi musicians.

Supported by: Anne McLaughlin, Bill Kidd, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Jamie Hepburn, Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Alasdair Allan, Bob Doris, Bill Wilson, Stuart McMillan, Liam McArthur, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Ian McKee, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4677 Christina McKelvie: The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research—That the Parliament welcomes the opening of The Euan MacDonald Centre for Motor Neurone Disease Research and the arrival of Siddharthan Chandran as Professor of Neurology at the University of Edinburgh and director of the centre; considers that Professor Chandran's appointment and the pooling of international expertise at the centre offers an excellent chance of advancing the knowledge of degenerative diseases and the practice of regenerative medicine, and looks forward to the centre producing novel interventions to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from degenerative diseases and to extend the time during which patients can enjoy that improved quality of life.

Supported by: Jamie Hepburn, Linda Fabiani, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4676 David McLetchie: Waterwalks for Leonard Cheshire Disability—That the Parliament welcomes Leonard Cheshire Disability’s sponsored Waterwalks from Colinton Village to Edinburgh Quay on 13 September 2009, which are not only a healthy way of raising money for charity but also encourage people to discover Edinburgh’s beautiful hidden gem, the Union Canal, and wishes all participants an enjoyable and successful day out.

Supported by: Bob Doris, Bill Aitken, Sarah Boyack, John Lamont, Alex Johnstone, Elizabeth Smith, Murdo Fraser, Jackson Carlaw, Margaret Mitchell, Kenneth Gibson, Ken Macintosh, Mary Scanlon, Bill Kidd, Jackie Baillie, Robin Harper, Gavin Brown, Ted Brocklebank, Mike Pringle, Joe FitzPatrick, Mary Mulligan, Hugh O'Donnell, Angela Constance, Jamie McGrigor, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Gil Paterson, Cathy Peattie, Annabel Goldie

S3M-4675 Margo MacDonald: Tackling Healthcare Associated Infections—That the Parliament, in light of the seriousness of Professor Hugh Pennington’s assessment of the penetration of Clostridium difficile in Scotland’s hospitals and while recognising the various initiatives taken by the Scottish Government to counteract the presence and spread of Clostridium difficile and other healthcare associated infections, calls on the health spokespersons of all parties to form an ad hoc committee to review ongoing initiatives and agree a focused and effective way forward to minimise healthcare associated infections and restore patient confidence in Scotland’s hospitals.

S3M-4674 Aileen Campbell: Town Centre Regeneration Fund Investment for Biggar and Carluke—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that 48 towns across Scotland will benefit from £40 million of funding from the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund, the boost that this will bring to town centres and the estimated 640 jobs that it will help to support; congratulates The Bubbles Factory in Carluke and the Biggar Theatre Workshop for being allocated £550,370 and £197,350 respectively, and believes that both projects will be a welcome addition and help to make these towns even better places to live.

Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan, Stuart McMillan, Christina McKelvie, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4673 Robin Harper: Same as You, Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability—That the Parliament notes the contents of the research published by the Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability, Adults with Learning Disabilities Implementation of "The Same As You?", published on 10 August 2009; notes in particular that adults with learning disabilities now have access to a wider range of day opportunities, that full-time attendance at a day centre has declined from 37% in 2003 to 12% in 2008, that 16% has used a Local Area Co-ordinator to help them become more involved in their community but that only 18% are in paid employment and that one in five aged 35 and over still live with a family carer; congratulates, however, local authorities on the progress that they have made so far, while noting that it is essential that efforts continue to ensure that people with learning disabilities benefit from government policies to promote independent living, and calls on the Government to continue to support and assist in the extension of the scope of support presently in place for those with learning disabilities.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Bill Kidd, Bill Butler, Mike Pringle, Ken Macintosh, Patrick Harvie, Hugh Henry, Hugh O'Donnell, Angela Constance, Gil Paterson, Jamie Hepburn, Cathy Peattie, Joe FitzPatrick

S3M-4672 Alasdair Allan: Tattoo Hebrides—That the Parliament congratulates the Stornoway Amenity Trust for organising Tattoo Hebrides in Stornoway on 7 and 8 August 2009; notes that Friday 7 August saw over 5,000 people enjoy Homecoming celebrations at the first island tattoo for over 40 years in the grounds of Lews Castle, which saw pipe bands from across Scotland perform along with the 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band of Canada and massed Gaelic choirs, and recognises and commends the hard work done by the local organisers to make this event such a success.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Robin Harper, Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Kenneth Gibson, Stuart McMillan, Mary Scanlon, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Angela Constance, Brian Adam, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Jamie McGrigor, Aileen Campbell, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4671 Aileen Campbell: Surviving the Recession, A Lesson from Scandinavia—That the Parliament notes the comments of Christian Ketels, economist at Harvard Business School and Stockholm School of Economics, in a recent Guardian newspaper article saying that Sweden, Denmark and Norway will return more quickly and in better shape economically than most countries in the world due in part to the tighter banking regulations put in place in those countries in the 1990s and their strong welfare and public sectors; notes with interest that Norway, due to its oil and gas revenues, currently possesses a sovereign wealth fund now worth 2.384 trillion Kroner (£228 billion), 1.4 times its GDP, and is able to stimulate its economy without having to cut public spending as the UK Government is set to do; believes that if an independent Scotland was in control of its oil and gas revenues and every other power that normal independent countries possess, Scotland would be facing a brighter economic future beside its Scandinavian counterparts than it does inside "bankrupt Britain", and welcomes the publication of the Scottish Government’s discussion paper, An Oil Fund for Scotland: Taking forward our National Conversation.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Jamie Hepburn, Angela Constance, Maureen Watt, Brian Adam, Christine Grahame, Christina McKelvie, Bob Doris, Joe FitzPatrick, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Stuart McMillan, Linda Fabiani

S3M-4671.1 James Kelly: Surviving the Recession, A Lesson from Scandinavia—As an amendment to motion (S3M-4671) in the name of Aileen Campbell, leave out from second "notes" and insert "therefore believes that this questions even further the First Minister’s economic judgment given his call in April 2007 for "light touch regulation" of banks in comparison to what he termed the UK’s "gold plated" system; further believes that the First Minister’s economic credibility was already in question following his advocacy of the Republic of Ireland and Iceland as suitable economic models for Scotland, despite the fact that the global economic downturn has resulted not just in a recession in each of those countries, but an official economic depression, and further believes that any claim by the SNP that Norway was the exclusive economic model for an independent Scotland advocated by it prior to the economic downturn would damage the party’s credibility even further."

Supported by: Sarah Boyack, Dr Richard Simpson

S3M-4670 Jamie Hepburn: Reviving Scotland’s Town Centres—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that £40 million has been assigned to 48 towns across Scotland as part of the Scottish Government’s Town Centre Regeneration Fund; notes that this funding will revitalise town centres across central Scotland, with £2.7 million having been allocated to North Lanarkshire Council for projects in Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth, Motherwell, Wishaw and, as part of the £2 million grant allocated to Falkirk Council, Bo’ness, Stenhousemuir and Grangemouth; welcomes further bids for the second tranche of funds, amounting to £20 million, to be allocated later this year, and believes that, in the current economic climate, these funds will facilitate vital improvements for Scotland’s town centres by improving community amenities, supporting local economies and sustaining and creating jobs.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Michael Matheson, Kenneth Gibson, Bob Doris, Gil Paterson, Linda Fabiani, Aileen Campbell

S3M-4669 Pauline McNeill: Glasgow is Top Destination for Conferences—That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow on attracting more international delegates to top-level conferences in 2008 than any other British city, including London; notes that statistics from the International Congress and Convention Association show that Glasgow welcomed 20,070 people to international association meetings in 2008; further notes that these international conferences contribute about £131 million to the city’s economy, and also notes that the four biggest international conferences held in Glasgow last year were held at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC), that they all attracted record numbers of delegates and were worth a total of more than £26 million.

Supported by: Bill Kidd, Charlie Gordon, Kenneth Gibson, Johann Lamont, Bill Butler, Cathy Jamieson, Jackie Baillie, Andy Kerr, George Foulkes, Hugh Henry, Gil Paterson, Mr Frank McAveety, Jamie Hepburn, Marilyn Livingstone

S3M-4668 Johann Lamont: Panorama: Britain's Homecare Scandal, An Example of Investigative Journalism at its Best—That the Parliament expresses grave concern regarding the arrest of Arifa Farooq, the journalist who, with her colleagues in the Panorama programme, Britain’s Homecare Scandal, exposed scandalously poor quality of care experienced by elderly people in their own homes; notes that the programme has prompted action by the Scottish Government and an inquiry by the Parliament’s Local Government and Communities Committee into home care; applauds all those involved in producing a powerful programme, which is already ensuring more protection for older people who rely on home care; believes that this Panorama programme is in the finest tradition of investigative journalism, and is concerned that while undercover journalism and any methods involving deception must be closely monitored and operate within clear conditions, the action by the police in this instance could deter journalists from one of their core purposes of exposing wrongdoing, cruelty and neglect.

Supported by: Gil Paterson, Mary Scanlon, Marlyn Glen, Karen Gillon, John Park, Malcolm Chisholm, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Duncan McNeil, Jackie Baillie, Kenneth Gibson, Mary Mulligan, Dr Richard Simpson, Michael McMahon, Robin Harper, Mike Pringle, Patrick Harvie, Cathie Craigie, Hugh O'Donnell, Angela Constance, Cathy Peattie, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4667 Patricia Ferguson: Maryhill and Possilpark, Town Centre Regeneration—That the Parliament welcomes the award of £1.8 million to Maryhill Burgh Halls from the Town Centre Regeneration Fund; notes that this completes the funding package for the regeneration of the Burgh Halls that will see the building restored to its former glory for community use; further notes that a working group is drawing up a bid for the regeneration of Saracen Street in Possilpark in the second round of Town Centre Regeneration Fund applications; welcomes the community support that this has received through petition signatures and community consultation; hopes that this bid will succeed in order to complement the regeneration of the wider Possilpark community, and further hopes, given the huge demand for town centre regeneration funding across Scotland, that the Scottish Government will continue this fund into future years.

Supported by: Marilyn Livingstone, Des McNulty, Trish Godman, Bill Butler

S3M-4666 Richard Baker: Tombstoning, Jumping into the Unknown—That the Parliament notes with concern the dangerous practice of tombstoning, a potentially lethal practice that involves jumping into the sea, rivers and lochs from a cliff or other high point; further notes with concern the incidence of tombstoning in areas of north east Scotland, including Arbroath and the ongoing occurrence of tombstoning at both coastal and inland locations across Scotland; also notes with concern that in the United Kingdom tombstoning has killed 10 and seriously injured 26 people since 2005; again notes with concern that tombstoning not only puts the lives of all those directly involved at risk but also takes up a significant amount of time of the emergency services; notes also with concern the emergence of websites and videos promoting this dangerous activity that often give a false impression that tombstoning is risk-free, which can lead to copycat behaviour; welcomes the joint efforts to address this issue between police forces and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and in particular congratulates the local collaborative approach taken between Tayside Police and the MCA, which has resulted in a local education campaign in schools, warning of the dangers of tombstoning, a campaign leaflet focussed on holiday-makers and an appropriate enforcement strategy; notes the need for a dual approach of education and enforcement, and finally welcomes the ongoing Don’t Jump into the Unknown campaign, run by the MCA, that aims to raise awareness among young people about the risks involved in tombstoning.

Supported by: Jackie Baillie, Marilyn Livingstone, Maureen Watt, John Park, Bill Kidd, Dr Richard Simpson, Marlyn Glen, Pauline McNeill, Robin Harper, Shirley-Anne Somerville, George Foulkes, Claire Baker

S3M-4665 Jamie Hepburn: Inquiry into Allegations of MI5 and MI6 Complicity in Torture—That the Parliament notes the publication of a parliamentary report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights calling for an inquiry into allegations of MI5 and MI6 complicity in torture; agrees with the report that a system whereby ministers have been able to shirk responsibility and accountability by providing hollow blanket denials is "woefully deficient"; believes the practice of assisting other states in the commission of torture, or acquiescing in such torture, to be abhorrent; further notes that, according to a poll published by the PoliticsHome website, 65% of voters believe that the UK’s moral authority on the international stage has been weakened over the last 10 years as a result of government foreign policy, and calls on the UK Government to take heed of the calls of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and embark on a full inquiry, as soon as is possible, into this matter.

Supported by: Alasdair Allan, Rob Gibson, Gil Paterson, Bill Kidd, Bill Wilson, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Joe FitzPatrick, Stuart McMillan

S3M-4664 George Foulkes: We Will Remember Them—That the Parliament mourns the passing of Harry Patch and Henry Allingham, Britain’s last surviving World War I veterans; acknowledges the huge debt of gratitude that we owe both these men and their comrades who fought and died for the freedoms that we enjoy today; encourages young people to learn more about the heroic sacrifices made by British service personnel during the war, and pledges to continue to commemorate the lives and memory of all those who fell during the First World War.

Supported by: Patricia Ferguson, Bob Doris, John Lamont, Jackie Baillie, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Rhona Brankin, Kenneth Gibson, Jim Hume, John Park, Mary Mulligan, Marilyn Livingstone, Murdo Fraser, Hugh Henry, Trish Godman, Bill Kidd, Elaine Murray, Nanette Milne, Dr Richard Simpson, Robin Harper, Bill Butler, Alison McInnes, Cathie Craigie, Hugh O'Donnell, Michael Matheson, Joe FitzPatrick, Jamie McGrigor, Jack McConnell, Angela Constance, Mr Frank McAveety, Margaret Curran, Jamie Hepburn, Mary Scanlon, Tom McCabe, Karen Whitefield, Pauline McNeill, Peter Peacock, Rhoda Grant

S3M-4663♦ Maureen Watt: Devolving Marine Conservation—That the Parliament acknowledges the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution’s recommendation that marine conservation policy should be devolved to Scottish control; notes that Scottish Environment LINK believes that the marine Bills currently before Westminster and Holyrood provide a unique and quick opportunity to devolve responsibility for marine conservation; considers the devolution of marine conservation to be vital for the north east and other coastal areas, and believes that by working together the Scottish and UK governments can ensure that this opportunity is not wasted.

Supported by: Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Kenneth Gibson, Brian Adam, Bill Kidd, Dave Thompson, Stuart McMillan, Robin Harper, Bill Wilson, Michael Matheson, Gil Paterson, Angela Constance, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4662 Bob Doris: Welcoming Town Centre Investment—That the Parliament welcomes the announcement that £40 million has been allocated in the first round of grants from the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund and looks forward to the much-needed improvements that this funding will bring to the 48 successful bids and the estimated 640 jobs that will be supported; praises the wide geographical spread of successful bidders and that with almost £10 million going to successful city bids, including over £5 million for Glasgow, notes that this fund is reaching out to both urban and rural town centres; notes the real need to regenerate many of our urban community centres that lie outside city centre areas, including the project at Maryhill Burgh Halls where £1.8 million will help to create a significant community hub with a garden courtyard area, café, office space, gallery, recording studio and the creation of 75 jobs by the end of 2009; notes that the second round of bids for this year is in preparation, including one from Glasgow for the town centre area at Saracen in Possilpark, and believes that this innovative funding model can create the stimulus for new jobs and local regeneration in a way that provides exceptional value for the public purse.

Supported by: Aileen Campbell, Stuart McMillan, Bill Kidd, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Stewart Maxwell, Kenneth Gibson, Rob Gibson, Alasdair Allan, Anne McLaughlin, Gil Paterson, Michael Matheson, Jamie Hepburn

S3M-4661 Bill Kidd: Congratulations to Scotland’s 7th World Taekwondo Championship Medallists—That the Parliament offers its congratulations to all those who took part in and won medals at the 7th World Taekwondo Championships, which took place in Malaysia in July 2009; notes that Scottish competitors brought home an impressive 18 medals, including five bronze, five silver and eight gold; further notes that medallists included Ryan McLaughlin from the