David Torrance MSP

That the Parliament congratulates the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) on what it considers the excellent Fife Coastal Path, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary; understands that this attraction was made possible by private landowners as well as public bodies including Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise Fife, the Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board and Scottish Natural Heritage; understands that Scotland’s longest and busiest coastal path is annually used by 500,000 people for recreation and enjoying the outdoors; commends the FCCT on making what it considers this jewel in the countryside accessible and free to use by everyone and considers that the path has helped Fife become the number one outdoor destination in Scotland for the last six years; understands that the 117-mile path connects coastal sites in Fife, generating between £24 million and £29 million for the Fife economy each year, supporting over 800 jobs; recognises what it considers the hard work and dedication of all volunteers, expert rangers and maintenance personnel in promoting and safeguarding what it considers this unique attraction, and wishes the trust and its staff continued success and recognition in their efforts to enhance the social wellbeing of the Scottish people and all of the visitors from throughout the world who use the path.

That the Parliament congratulates the Fife Coast and Countryside Trust (FCCT) on what it considers the excellent Fife Coastal Path, which is now celebrating its 10th anniversary; understands that this attraction was made possible by private landowners as well as public bodies including Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise Fife, the Kingdom of Fife Tourist Board and Scottish Natural Heritage; understands that Scotland’s longest and busiest coastal path is annually used by 500,000 people for recreation and enjoying the outdoors; commends the FCCT on making what it considers this jewel in the countryside accessible and free to use by everyone and considers that the path has helped Fife become the number one outdoor destination in Scotland for the last six years; understands that the 117-mile path connects coastal sites in Fife, generating between £24 million and £29 million for the Fife economy each year, supporting over 800 jobs; recognises what it considers the hard work and dedication of all volunteers, expert rangers and maintenance personnel in promoting and safeguarding what it considers this unique attraction, and wishes the trust and its staff continued success and recognition in their efforts to enhance the social wellbeing of the Scottish people and all of the visitors from throughout the world who use the path.

That the Parliament congratulates the Fife Volunteers Social Group on being awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that this grant will be used to provide an opportunity for volunteers and carers in Fife to socialise; believes that it will help the charity to host its next event in Kirkcaldy, a 1950s Coronation Celebration Special, and to buy equipment in order to expand its activities across Fife, and considers that the charity’s work is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers and carers in the community and their invaluable and selfless service to the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates the Fife Volunteers Social Group on being awarded £10,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that this grant will be used to provide an opportunity for volunteers and carers in Fife to socialise; believes that it will help the charity to host its next event in Kirkcaldy, a 1950s Coronation Celebration Special, and to buy equipment in order to expand its activities across Fife, and considers that the charity’s work is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers and carers in the community and their invaluable and selfless service to the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament thanks the pupils from Pathhead Primary School who donated £200 worth of books to the children’s unit at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy; notes what it sees as their hard work and dedication in raising the money over the Christmas period, which included activities such as making decorations and posting cards; commends Waterstones on adding a further £100 worth of books; understands that the unit will use the donation to distract children undergoing medical procedures, including blood tests and cannula insertions, by being used as visual barriers to help them deal with the situation; wishes the unit at the hospital continued success in providing high quality care, and commends what it considers the invaluable and selfless service of the Pathhead pupils to their wider community.

That the Parliament thanks the pupils from Pathhead Primary School who donated £200 worth of books to the children’s unit at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy; notes what it sees as their hard work and dedication in raising the money over the Christmas period, which included activities such as making decorations and posting cards; commends Waterstones on adding a further £100 worth of books; understands that the unit will use the donation to distract children undergoing medical procedures, including blood tests and cannula insertions, by being used as visual barriers to help them deal with the situation; wishes the unit at the hospital continued success in providing high quality care, and commends what it considers the invaluable and selfless service of the Pathhead pupils to their wider community.

That the Parliament congratulates Caught In The Net on winning the top prize at the Cybersmart Awards, considered to be the first-ever awards scheme that celebrates online safety in the UK; understands that Caught In The Net, a drama and performance workshop that aims to raise awareness in schools about online dangers, was chosen ahead of 23 other nominees; notes that the group was presented with a cheque for £5,000 which, it understands, will go toward further developing and enhancing its work, and recognises that the group intends to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013.

That the Parliament congratulates Caught In The Net on winning the top prize at the Cybersmart Awards, considered to be the first-ever awards scheme that celebrates online safety in the UK; understands that Caught In The Net, a drama and performance workshop that aims to raise awareness in schools about online dangers, was chosen ahead of 23 other nominees; notes that the group was presented with a cheque for £5,000 which, it understands, will go toward further developing and enhancing its work, and recognises that the group intends to perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2013.

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Gingerbread on receiving a £1,250,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that Fife Gingerbread will use these funds to lead a partnership of other local and national organisations concerned with providing support to vulnerable single parents; commends Fife Gingerbread for providing volunteering opportunities and counselling services to single parents as well as assisting them in looking for employment; understands that Fife Gingerbread will help develop tailored plans of action to achieve success for each individual, and considers that these services will help strengthen families and help secure better futures for children throughout Fife.

That the Parliament congratulates Fife Gingerbread on receiving a £1,250,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that Fife Gingerbread will use these funds to lead a partnership of other local and national organisations concerned with providing support to vulnerable single parents; commends Fife Gingerbread for providing volunteering opportunities and counselling services to single parents as well as assisting them in looking for employment; understands that Fife Gingerbread will help develop tailored plans of action to achieve success for each individual, and considers that these services will help strengthen families and help secure better futures for children throughout Fife.

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to improve its services for users of British Sign Language.

To ask the Scottish Government what action the NHS is taking to improve its services for users of British Sign Language.

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of all road users is cyclists and how often they have been (a) involved or (b) injured in accidents over the last five years.

To ask the Scottish Government what proportion of all road users is cyclists and how often they have been (a) involved or (b) injured in accidents over the last five years.

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the uptake of foreign language qualifications among university students to increase their employability.

To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to increase the uptake of foreign language qualifications among university students to increase their employability.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to raise energy productivity in order to ease the energy cost burdens on individual households and create a more competitive marketplace for small businesses.

To ask the Scottish Government what action it will take to raise energy productivity in order to ease the energy cost burdens on individual households and create a more competitive marketplace for small businesses.

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the S4 school leavers in 2011 who did not enter apprenticeship schemes or further or higher education found employment within six months.

To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the S4 school leavers in 2011 who did not enter apprenticeship schemes or further or higher education found employment within six months.