Chamber and committees

That the Parliament

That the Parliament congratulates the talented students from The Waid Academy in Anstruther on securing a place in the final of the HRUC National Innovation Challenge, where they will compete against three other schools; understands that this is the second consecutive year that the school has reached the national final and is the only school in Scotland to achieve this impressive milestone; notes that the competition inspires young people to champion sustainability by developing innovative solutions to real-world global challenges, with entries judged on innovation, features and benefits, overall impact and future potential; commends the exceptional drive of the school; applauds finalists Anneliese Uringa and Arran Ogilvie for their visionary project, Synthetic Tree, which aims to combat climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and breaking it down into valuable by-products such as graphite and diamonds; notes that the winning team will earn an educational trip to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston in September 2026; wishes Anneliese, Arran and everyone at school the very best of luck ahead of the final, and celebrates them as a shining example of Scottish youth innovation.

That the Parliament recognises the distinguished service and sacrifice of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, whose soldiers have served with courage, professionalism and distinction in conflict, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations across the world; acknowledges the regiment’s proud lineage and deep connection to communities throughout Scotland, including the service and sacrifice of those who served in Scottish regiments during the First and Second World Wars and in more recent military operations; notes the vital contribution made by serving personnel, reservists, veterans and military families; believes that those who wear The King’s uniform deserve the highest respect and gratitude for their service to Crown and country, in defence of freedom, democracy and national security; further believes that civic recognition should reflect the extraordinary contribution of Scotland’s armed forces to national life, and therefore welcomes calls for the Royal Regiment of Scotland to be granted the Freedom of the City of Glasgow in recognition of its service, sacrifice and enduring bond with the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates His Majesty King Charles III on his highly successful state visit to the United States; welcomes what it sees as the historic announcement that a deal has been secured with the US Government to lift tariffs on Scotch Whisky; acknowledges the vital contribution of the Scotch Whisky industry to Scotland’s economy, culture and international reputation; notes that the industry supports tens of thousands of jobs, particularly in rural and island communities; believes that the removal of these trade barriers will provide a significant and timely boost to Scottish exporters, opening up further opportunities in one of Scotland's most valuable global markets, and commends His Majesty for his continued role in promoting Scottish interests, heritage and industry on the world stage.

That the Parliament recognises the Scottish Parliament as a central pillar of Scotland’s democracy, founded in 1999 on the principles of openness, accountability and responsiveness; believes that, more than 25 years on from devolution, it is essential that the Parliament undertakes a comprehensive review of its structures, procedures and culture to ensure that its founding principles are fully realised, and further believes that such reform should strengthen transparency, scrutiny, accountability, efficiency and public participation in order to renew and deepen the relationship between the Scottish Parliament and the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament notes the introduction of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2025, which is also referred to as the "Hillsborough Law", to the House of Commons in September 2025; understands that the Bill seeks to ensure that no family has again to fight the state to find the truth, reflecting what it sees as a moral purpose and a rare moment of unity across the UK Parliament; notes that the legislation would establish a statutory duty of candour for public authorities and officials, guarantee parity of legal representation for bereaved families at inquests and inquiries and replace the outdated common law offence of "misconduct in public office"; believes that the values underpinning this legislation, which are truth, fairness, candour, accountability and equality before the law, form the foundation of a just society and are essential for rebuilding public trust in institutions; further believes that implementing the duty of candour represents a significant cultural change, affirming transparency and responsibility as expectations of those who hold public office; expresses concern that, without legislative consent from the Scottish Parliament, families in Scotland could be left disadvantaged compared with those in England and Wales, where non-means-tested legal aid and guaranteed legal representation will be provided, thereby risking what it sees as the creation of a two-tier system of access to justice across the UK; recognises that the legislation serves a wider preventive purpose, helping to ensure that families, whistle-blowers and ordinary citizens are never left powerless in seeking truth and accountability; believes that this Bill represents a landmark in the pursuit of justice, reaffirming that no person in Scotland should be denied equality before the law, and calls on the Scottish Government to confirm its support for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2025 in full, bring forward a legislative consent motion at the earliest opportunity, ensuring that its provisions, including those relating to legal representation and legal aid, apply equally in Scotland, set out a clear timetable for doing so, publish its assessment of the resources required to deliver non-means-tested legal aid parity for families in Scotland, and engage directly with those affected, including bereaved families, legal aid providers, and organisations representing whistle-blowers, to ensure that Scotland’s approach is comprehensive and true to the spirit and intent of the Bill.

That the Parliament welcomes what it sees as the long-awaited roll-out of body worn video cameras for frontline police officers and staff across Forth Valley, which began on 24 September 2025; notes that around 500 officers, including road policing teams, dog handlers, special constables and custody staff, will now be equipped with this important technology, with Police Scotland having committed to issuing more than 10,500 cameras to ensure all frontline uniformed officers are covered nationwide; understands that this step finally brings Police Scotland into line with the rest of the UK, where body worn video has been standard issue since 2019, following earlier trials and phased roll-outs beginning in 2005; acknowledges what it considers are the proven benefits already demonstrated elsewhere in the UK, including, it believes, stronger public trust, enhanced officer and public safety, de-escalation of incidents, more efficient evidence gathering and sharing, and reductions in complaints, and considers that communities in Forth Valley will now benefit from a modern policing tool that has long been the standard across the rest of the country.

That the Parliament congratulates Falkirk Council’s Mobile Emergency Care Service (MECS) team on being shortlisted in the Home Care Team category of the Great British Care Awards Scottish final; recognises the team’s outstanding dedication in providing 24/7 urgent response support to over 3,000 people in the Falkirk area, enabling individuals to maintain their independence with dignity through the use of telecare equipment, personal care, first aid and access to mobile defibrillators; commends the compassion and professionalism of the MECS team, which aims to ensure that vulnerable people feel safe and supported in their own homes; acknowledges the vital role of social care services in fostering community resilience and promoting independent living across Scotland; expresses its gratitude to all social care workers for their tireless efforts in delivering high-quality, person-centred care, and wishes the Falkirk MECS team every success at the final in Glasgow on 10 November 2025.

That the Parliament commends NHS Forth Valley for its pioneering adoption of the BE FAST stroke recognition tool in A&E services since early 2024; understands that this has made it the first NHS board in Scotland to formally integrate BE FAST into clinical practice; notes with encouragement the reported improvements in patient outcomes, including NHS Forth Valley achieving the best performance in Scotland for delivering thrombolysis within 60 minutes and a statistically significant improvement in the proportion of stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) patients being reviewed at a specialist service within four days of referral; recognises what it sees as the important contribution of independent research published by Enlighten, formerly Reform Scotland, in shaping this debate, and believes that the combination of academic analysis and frontline clinical practice provides a model of innovation and evidence-led improvement that can help transform stroke care across Scotland.

That the Parliament notes with sadness the passing of President Russell M Nelson, the 17th President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who died on 27 September 2025 at the age of 101; recognises that, before entering full-time church service, President Nelson was a pioneering heart surgeon of global renown, credited with performing thousands of life-saving operations and advancing the development of open-heart surgery; acknowledges his subsequent lifetime of religious service, having been called as an Apostle in 1984 and later becoming President of the Church in January 2018; notes his emphasis on compassion, personal faith and bridge-building across communities and nations; further notes the global reach of his ministry, including his decision in April 2024 to announce the first temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Scotland, to be built in Edinburgh, which, it believes, has been widely welcomed by members of the church in Scotland and will stand as a lasting legacy of his leadership; expresses sympathy to his wife, Sister Wendy Nelson, to his family, and to the worldwide membership of the Church, and recognises what it sees as the profound impact that his life of service has had on people of faith in Scotland and around the world.