Chamber and committees

That the Parliament agrees that the Coronavirus (Scotland) (No. 2) Bill be passed. 

That the Parliament congratulates The Mainstreet Trading Company in St Boswells on being featured in The Times list of 10 of the Best Independent Bookshops in Scotland for 2026; understands that the business has become a celebrated destination for book lovers from across Scotland and beyond; notes that it was founded in 2008 by Rosamund and Bill de la Hey in a former auction house in the heart of St Boswells; recognises its unique combination of independent bookshop, café and deli, which contributes significantly to the economy and visitor experience in the Scottish Borders; acknowledges its particularly strong reputation for children's books and its commitment to encouraging reading among young people; recognises what it sees as the important role that independent bookshops play in supporting authors, fostering a love of literature and serving as cultural hubs in their communities, and wishes everyone associated with The Mainstreet Trading Company continued success in the future.

That the Parliament recognises the tercentenary of the birth of James Hutton, who was born on 3 June 1726; notes that Hutton is widely regarded as the father of modern geology, whose pioneering observations and scientific thinking transformed understanding of the Earth's history and natural processes; acknowledges the lasting significance of his work, including the development of the theory of deep time and the foundations of modern earth sciences; notes what it sees as the continuing relevance of Hutton's insights to contemporary challenges relating to climate change, sustainable agriculture, land use, environmental stewardship and natural resource management; recognises Scotland's proud contribution to scientific discovery and innovation, and celebrates James Hutton's enduring legacy as one of the most influential figures in Scotland's intellectual and scientific history.

As an amendment to motion S7M-00290 in the name of Stephen Flynn (Growing Scotland’s Economy), leave out from “recognises” to end and insert “acknowledges Scotland’s economic potential, including its strengths in sectors such as oil and gas, energy, food and drink, financial services and space; recognises the vital contribution of the oil and gas industry to jobs, investment and energy security; regrets the Scottish National Party administration’s increases to Scottish Income Tax and failure to reform business rates, which have harmed Scotland’s competitiveness; endorses a continued focus on economic growth to build a more resilient and prosperous Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to support continued investment in the North Sea, reform business rates and reduce the tax burden on hard-working people in Scotland over the next five years.”

That the Parliament commends all those who took part in the 100km walk along St Cuthbert's Way from 15 to 19 April 2026 in memory of Jamie Tweedie and in support of brain tumour research; recognises that participants walked from Melrose to Holy Island to raise awareness and funding for the Scottish Brain Tumour Research Centre of Excellence following Jamie’s death from a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma in May 2025; pays tribute to Jamie as a much loved husband, father, son, brother and friend, as well as a farmer and veteran of The King's Own Scottish Borderers, who was known for his kindness and generosity, and applauds everyone involved for what it sees as a moving and fitting tribute to his life and legacy.

That the Parliament recognises National Fishing Remembrance Day 2026, which took place on 10 May 2026; understands that the day serves as an opportunity to remember and honour those who have lost their lives in the UK fishing industry; recognises the importance of the fishing sector to many coastal and rural communities across Scotland and the wider UK; believes that commercial fishing remains one of the most dangerous professions in the country, with around 11,000 people working in often challenging and unpredictable conditions at sea; acknowledges the lasting impact that tragedies within the fishing industry have on families, friends and local communities; recognises the work of organisations such as The Fishermen’s Mission in supporting current and former fishermen and their families, and believes that National Fishing Remembrance Day also provides an important opportunity to continue raising awareness of safety at sea, improved working practices and support for those employed within the industry.

That the Parliament congratulates NHS Borders staff members Michelle Brownlee and Karen Bacon on their recognition at the RCN Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards 2026; notes that Michelle Brownlee, who is a healthcare support worker in the intensive therapy unit at Borders General Hospital, was named runner up in the Nursing Support Worker of the Year category in recognition of her 19 years of dedication to patient care, staff support and improving outcomes for patients with complex needs; further notes that Karen Bacon, who is an ITU clinical nurse educator, was highly commended in the Learning in Practice category for her work developing education and training programmes for nursing staff across NHS Borders; recognises the important contribution both make to patient care, staff wellbeing and recruitment within intensive care services in the Scottish Borders, and thanks all NHS Borders nursing staff and healthcare workers for the care and professionalism they show to patients every day.

That the Parliament welcomes the first Arthritis Awareness Month, which takes place in May 2026 in Scotland and across the UK; acknowledges that arthritis and other musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect over 1.7 million people in Scotland, can strike at any age, including during childhood, and can impact all aspects of life; expresses its commitment to improving the MSK health of Scotland through prevention, early diagnosis, supported self-management and timely access to multidisciplinary services and treatment; recognises that reducing long waiting times for orthopaedic surgery is a priority, and applauds what it sees as the excellent work of Arthritis UK in Scotland to raise awareness of arthritis and change lives through world-class research, campaigning and service delivery.

That the Parliament recognises Doddie’s Triple Crown 2026, an endurance cycling challenge taking place from 10 to 13 March 2026 in support of the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation; understands that the challenge, organised by Rob Wainwright and Mark Beaumont, will begin at The Greenyards in the Scottish Borders, honouring the legacy of rugby legend Doddie Weir OBE; notes that the cyclists will cover around 800 miles over four days, travelling from Melrose to Dublin ahead of Scotland’s Six Nations Championship match against Ireland; acknowledges the success of previous fundraising challenges, including Doddie’s Grand Tour 2025, which raised over £1 million for motor neurone disease (MND) research; notes Doddie Weir’s ambition to find a cure for motor neurone disease, and that the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation has now committed over £19.5 million to MND research; commends all those taking part for raising awareness and funds to support research into the disease, and encourages people across Scotland to support the challenge and the ongoing work of the foundation.

That the Parliament notes with sadness the death of Allan Massie at the age of 87; places on record its appreciation of his long and distinguished contribution to Scotland’s literary and public life; notes that he was born in colonial Singapore and educated at Glenalmond and Cambridge; recognises that he brought a distinctive voice to Scottish letters, choosing to write in the realist tradition and, most successfully, in historical fiction, consciously following in the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott; notes that, while contemporaries such as Alasdair Gray, James Kelman and William McIlvanney defined a different strand of the late twentieth-century renaissance, Allan charted his own course with both independence and conviction; further notes his parallel career as a journalist and critic, reviewing thousands of books over five decades for The Scotsman and writing with equal ease on politics, history and rugby; acknowledges his robust but thoughtful contribution to Scotland’s constitutional debate and his clear unionist stance, and believes that, in his wit, range and willingness to stand apart from consensus, Allan Massie represented a rare and valuable presence in Scotland’s cultural life, whose passing will be widely felt.