Seòmar agus comataidhean

That the Parliament agrees that the Greyhound Racing (Offences) (Scotland) Bill be passed.

That the Parliament recognises that Scotland’s fishing and seafood industry is a key economic driver, supporting jobs, businesses and communities across the country, including in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency; celebrates the diversity of Scotland’s fishing and seafood sector, from catching and processing to engineering, logistics and exports; considers that the Scottish fish quota is a strategic national asset and believes that it should deliver maximum benefit to Scotland’s economy and to coastal communities; recognises what it sees as the success of the economic link licence in increasing the volume of catch landed and processed in Scotland; understands that this has helped support local employment, encouraged investment in ports and infrastructure, and strengthened supply chains in coastal areas, and notes the view that maintaining and strengthening policies that anchor economic value in Scotland is vital to securing a sustainable and prosperous future for the fishing industry and the communities that depend upon it.

That the Parliament congratulates Buckie Community High School on its work towards achieving a Gold Award in the Reading Schools programme, which has involved an inspiring initiative in which S2 pupils have spent one afternoon each week at Parklands Care Home reading with residents and taking time to chat, listen and share experiences; celebrates the pupils involved for their kindness, confidence and commitment to building connection across generations; acknowledges Parklands Care Home for welcoming young people into their community and supporting meaningful interaction between pupils and residents; notes that this innovative project helps break down social barriers, tackle loneliness and foster empathy, understanding and mutual respect, and commends all those involved for demonstrating the positive impact that creative community partnerships can have on wellbeing, learning and social cohesion.

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Fishing Federation (SFF) on its new exhibition, People in Fishing, which celebrates the lives, work and heritage of those involved in Scotland’s fishing and seafood sector; recognises that the exhibition highlights the human stories behind an industry that is central to Scotland’s economy, coastal communities and cultural identity; acknowledges the importance of showcasing the contributions of fishermen, processors, families and others whose daily labour sustains a world-class fishing industry; notes that this kind of cultural work helps to build understanding and respect for the challenges and achievements of the sector, and thanks the SFF and all those involved in bringing this exhibition to life for providing a meaningful way for people to connect with and appreciate the history and ongoing significance of fishing in Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates Longniddry and District Rotary Club on organising a charity curling bonspiel at Curl Edinburgh, in Murrayfield, which raised £3,000 for Carers of East Lothian; recognises that 10 rinks from local curling clubs and Rotarians participated in an afternoon of friendly but competitive play, with Longniddry and District Rotary’s rink winning the Longniddry Quaich; acknowledges the generous support of sponsors, players and club members whose contributions made the event possible; notes that representatives of CoEL, including the chief executive and volunteer and training co-ordinator, attended a cheque presentation on 22 January 2026 to celebrate the success of the fundraiser; understands that CoEL provides vital support for unpaid carers across East Lothian, offering guidance, training and practical assistance to those caring for family members or friends, and commends all involved in the event for raising awareness of the essential role unpaid carers play in communities, and for helping to fund the charity’s continuing work.

That the Parliament celebrates the origins of International Working Women’s Day as part of a global socialist movement to attain women's suffrage; notes that 8 March marks the day that women workers in Petrograd engaged in a mass strike demanding peace and bread which ultimately led to the Russian revolution; notes strides made in Cuba, particularly by the Federation of Cuban Women, to deal with misogyny and commends the federation for its work combatting women's oppression; further notes Vilma Espín for her often forgotten role in history and her determination to ensure that women's liberation would always be at the forefront of Cuba’s political programme, and believes that only through economic liberation will women be free from patriarchal structures.

That the Parliament congratulates Declan Swan on receiving the Apprentice of the Year Award at the Forth Ports annual awards celebration; notes that Declan joined Forth Ports in 2025 as an apprentice customer service administrator in Grangemouth and is currently working to achieve his Modern Apprenticeship in Freight Logistics; further notes that Declan received this recognition for his integration into his team, his willingness to take on additional tasks and his readiness to assist the Learning and Development team at events and visits; acknowledges that the awards event was held simultaneously in Grangemouth and Tilbury, recognising the achievements of apprentices across the business; congratulates Declan once again on receiving this award, and wishes him all the very best in his future career.

That the Parliament commends the work of Sandy Brindley, who has stepped down as chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland after 24 years with the organisation; acknowledges that with more than 30 years within the Rape Crisis movement, Sandy has been at the forefront of initiatives to raise awareness of sexual violence, challenge public attitudes and press for legal change to improve victim-survivors’ experiences of the criminal justice system; notes that while still at university, Sandy began her long association with the Rape Crisis movement, volunteering at the Rape Crisis Centre in Glasgow where she provided one-to-one support to survivors of sexual violence; understands that as a member of the Scottish Law Commission’s Advisory Group, she played a pivotal role in redefining the crime of rape to include male rape, and providing a statutory definition of consent; applauds Sandy’s contribution to the development of NHS SARCs to improve survivors' access to specialist forensic medical examinations; notes that she was instrumental in establishing the Scottish Women’s Rights Centre in 2015, a partnership which provides free legal advice to survivors of gender-based violence and aims to improve women’s legal rights through strategic litigation; recognises the ground-breaking work achieved throughout her career to support victims of gender-based violence and trauma, and wishes her well for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Daydreams Bookshop in Milngavie on being named a finalist in the British Book Awards’ Independent Bookshop of the Year 2026; acknowledges that the awards celebrate the best and most innovative "indie" book shops in the country; recognises that this year’s cohort of finalists is the largest ever, with 76 shops competing, including seven others from across Scotland; praises the shop's owner, Elaine Sinclair, and the rest of the team at Daydreams Bookshop on this incredible achievement, and wishes them the best of luck for the awards in May.

That the Parliament congratulates NHS Forth Valley's prison healthcare team at HMP and YOI Polmont on being named a finalist at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2026; notes that the team has been shortlisted in the Nursing Team of the Year category, an award that recognises nursing teams that are committed to delivering person-centred, innovative and high-quality services that make a positive impact to service users, families and colleagues; further notes that the team has been nominated for consistently delivering safe and effective care in a complex prison environment, and for embodying NHS Forth Valley’s values of dignity, respect and equity; recognises that the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards celebrate the best in Scottish nursing, highlighting excellence and honouring the outstanding care and dedication of Scotland's nursing professionals; congratulates the prison healthcare team once again on this important recognition, and wishes everyone involved the very best of luck at the awards ceremony in April 2026.