Chamber and committees

As an amendment to amendment S7M-00413.1, in the name of Neil Gray (Achieving a Sustainable Prison Population), leave out from “notes that' and  and insert "acknowledges that' 

As an amendment to motion S7M-00309 in the name of Ivan McKee (Public Service Reform: Empowering Staff, Service Users and Local Communities), insert at end  “, that the Scottish Government’s approach to public service reform should align with the principles of Community Wealth Building, Fair Work and the European Charter for Local Self-Government and the need to encourage economic growth, and calls on the Scottish Government to produce a detailed timetable for the reduction in the number of public bodies as part of a drive to reduce broader waste and to produce a holistic assessment of the impact of the public sector reform programme on Scotland's vital third sector.”

As an amendment to motion S7M-00249 in the name of Jenny Gilruth (Wealth Taxation for Public Services), insert at end "; notes that the Scottish Government’s Medium Term Financial Strategy, published in June 2025, projected a funding gap of over £4.7 billion by 2029-30; considers that developing a sustainable plan to close this gap is essential to Scotland’s public services and that it is incumbent on all parties in the Parliament to work towards this goal; believes that, to this end, the Scottish Government should take a strategic approach across all devolved taxation in Scotland to include an immediate and comprehensive review of business rates, including consideration of measures such as widening the scope of Fresh Start relief to include businesses that occupy an empty unit within six months of the unit becoming vacant, and further believes that the Scottish Government should convene cross-party talks on council tax reform immediately."  

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Dundee on it rising 14 places to 25th in the UK in the latest Complete University Guide rankings, making it one of the fastest-rising universities in the country and the third-ranked university in Scotland; recognises the hard work and dedication of staff, students and researchers whose efforts have contributed to this achievement; notes the vital role that the university plays as a major employer in Dundee and across Scotland; welcomes the recognition of the university’s strengths in teaching, quality, student satisfaction and graduate outcomes, and believes that this success demonstrates the hard work and resilience of staff and students in challenging circumstances for the institution, as well as the importance of securing a sustainable future for Scotland’s higher education sector.

As an amendment to motion S6M-20654 in the name of Craig Hoy (Opposing the Scottish Government's Proposed Council Tax Rises), leave out from first “notes” to end and insert "is concerned for the future of local services, in light of nearly two decades of underfunding of local government by the Scottish National Party administration; regrets the failure of the Scottish Government to build a consensus for much-needed reform of local government taxation, and calls on the next Scottish administration to take leadership and create a sustainable, long-term funding solution for local government."

That the Parliament welcomes the news of a transformative £1.5 million funding boost from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for Aberdeen’s Belmont cinema, which has been closed since 2022; commends the work of chief executive Matt Buchanan, fundraisers Gemma Cruickshank and Sarah Dingwall, community development manager Michelle Soto, chair of the board of trustees Jacob Campbell, and all trustees and volunteers at the Belmont Community Cinema on securing this funding; recognises the role of local cinemas in the cultural and economic regeneration of city centres, and celebrates the news that Belmont Cinema is on track to reopen in 2027, when it will encourage Aberdeen audiences to fall in love with cinema again.

That the Parliament notes the publication of Level Up Scotland: A National Action Plan for the Scottish Games Sector, by the Scottish Games Network; recognises what it considers is the growing importance of the games sector to Scotland’s economy, international reputation and high-skilled employment; notes the action plan’s ambition to scale the sector to £1 billion gross value added (GVA) by 2030, and the reported productivity of the sector, including an estimated £151,382 GVA per head; further notes what it sees as Dundee’s longstanding reputation as Scotland’s games capital and the contribution of its studios, talent pipeline and creative ecosystem; notes the view that there should be a parliamentary debate about the action plan and the steps required to support sustainable growth in the sector, and further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to set out how it will engage with the recommendations in the plan, including on skills, investment and support for innovation, to help secure jobs and economic growth across Scotland.

That the Parliament acknowledges the passing of former councillor, Peter Murphy; understands that Peter was an elected member of Angus Council from 1999 until 2012, rising to the position of Depute Provost during this time; notes that Peter was previously headteacher at various schools in the northeast including Whitfield High and Logie Secondary; recognises that Murphy Place in Greenlaw Park in Carnoustie is named in his honour; understands that, while Peter lived with Alzheimer’s disease in later life, his granddaughter, Jenan, raised thousands of pounds for Arbroath Connection, a charity that supports people living with the condition; thanks Peter’s family for his years of dedication to the Scottish Labour Party, his community work and outstanding public service, and sends condolences to Peter’s family and his many friends.

That the Parliament recognises the transformative impact that accessible technology and inclusive practices can have in opening up live sport to people with visual impairments; welcomes recent developments that have enabled visually impaired football supporters to experience matches visually for the first time, including through the use of specialist vision-enhancing headsets; notes the experience of lifelong Dundee United supporter, Jon Attenborough, who, after almost two decades of attending matches, was able to see his team, players and United's ground, Tannadice Park, for the first time through assistive technology; recognises the work of GiveVison; commends football clubs, innovators and fundraisers working to remove barriers to participation, and calls for continued efforts to ensure that live sport is inclusive and accessible for all.

As an amendment to motion S6M-20294 in the name of Craig Hoy (Lowering Bills for Scotland’s Workers), leave out from "calls" to end and insert "understands that the Scottish Government’s incompetent approach to the public finances and failure to grow Scotland’s economy are leading to heightened budgetary pressures; further understands that income tax should not be used as a substitute for economic growth and believes that, given the pressure on household finances, income tax rates should not increase in the course of the next parliamentary session; welcomes the UK Labour administration’s Budget, which tackles the cost of living for households across Scotland by cutting costs on energy bills, lifting thousands of children out of poverty, and increasing wages for hard-working people in Scotland, and believes that the Scottish Labour Party’s plan to establish a Scottish treasury with strategic oversight for spending in all Scottish Government departments is essential in order to put an end to waste and ensure that taxpayers’ money is treated with respect."