Seòmar agus comataidhean

That the Parliament notes the critical contribution made by education in eradicating child poverty, which is a national mission and the single greatest priority for the Scottish Government; notes recent analysis by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, which highlights that Scotland will see a reduction in child poverty levels in the years ahead due to Scotland-specific policies, such as the Scottish Child Payment; further notes that the Scottish Government has committed to making further progress, and agrees that there is a collective responsibility for every local authority, and educational organisation and body in Scotland, to work together with the Scottish Government to address child poverty; commends Scotland’s teachers and schools for their work to close the poverty-related attainment gap, and recognises that progress has been made, and that this programme will require more funding certainty over the longer term; welcomes the further investment in tackling child poverty through education in the draft Scottish Budget for 2025-26, including within schools through the expansion of free school meals, the uprating of the school clothing grant, continued funding for the Scottish Attainment Challenge and investment in Bright Start Breakfasts, as well as the around £1 billion investment in funded early learning and childcare and the £3.5 million investment in new skills pathways for colleges, and agrees that all MSPs across the Parliament have a responsibility to promote the interests of children and young people and to work together to share ideas and innovation to address child poverty through education.

That the Parliament acknowledges the reported concerns regarding rising rural crime and its impact on communities across Scotland, including in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency; notes that, according to NFU Mutual, the cost of rural crime in Scotland increased by 34.9% between 2022 and 2023, rising from £1.4 million to £1.8 million, contributing to a UK-wide cost of £58.8 million; recognises that 91% of those surveyed by NFU Mutual believe that rural crime is becoming more organised; notes that equipment and machinery theft, including agricultural machinery, construction equipment and power tools, has a significant financial and operational impact on farmers and businesses across urban and rural Scotland; acknowledges what it considers the effectiveness of technical preventative measures such as the CESAR scheme, tracking devices, immobilisers, PIN-protected GPS systems, and mechanical immobilisers, which it understands are more widely used in other parts of the UK; understands that the Equipment Theft (Prevention) Act 2023 was passed with cross-party support in the UK Parliament to address these issues; notes the belief that there is an opportunity to strengthen equipment and machinery crime prevention in Scotland, and further notes the calls on the Scottish Government to engage with industry experts, Police Scotland and victims to explore further action to tackle this type of crime.

That the Parliament welcomes the opening of the new play area on Bairds Avenue, Viewpark, in Uddingston; believes that this transformative project, led by the dedicated Community Partnership Team at North Lanarkshire Council in collaboration with local residents and children from Viewpark Family Centre, has revitalised the space into a vibrant hub for fun and community enjoyment; notes that the area was officially opened just before Christmas 2024 by Logan Thomson, from Viewpark Family Centre, whose creative talents won the "Design-a-Sign" competition, with his design now proudly welcoming visitors at the entrance; applauds the park's inclusive and exciting design, which features a variety of imaginative and accessible play facilities as well as new picnic benches and seating to create a welcoming space for all; understands that the play area was made possible through a significant funding grant of £99,578 from the Local Development Programme, managed by the Community Partnership Team; believes that this project demonstrates the power of effective community teamwork, and thanks everyone involved for their hard work in delivering a safe, dynamic and inclusive space that enhances social cohesion for the people of Viewpark.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the Royal Society of Chemistry report, Future Workforce and Educational Pathways; notes that, according to the report, chemistry-related jobs are expected to grow by 6.5% across the next decade, outpacing the wider economy by 30%; considers that fulfilling the ambitions of the sector will require a steady and diverse talent pipeline of chemistry graduates and apprentices capable of filling the abundance of roles at all career stages; believes that this includes ensuring that quality chemistry education and skills provision via a range of routes is accessible to all, as well as taking a life-long learning approach to enable people to join the sector at any stage; notes the 13 key recommendations within the report and how these should be taken forward, and recognises what it sees as the work of the Royal Society of Chemistry in championing the chemistry sector and ensuring that Scotland is at the heart of scientific innovation.

That the Parliament notes with grave concern the reported crackdown on protesters in Islamabad following demonstrations organised by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on 26 and 27 November 2024, following the arrest and ongoing detention of the former Prime Minister and PTI leader, Imran Khan; understands that 12 civilian deaths have been confirmed so far with hundreds more either missing, feared dead or unidentified; deplores the reported level of violence used against civilian protesters by Pakistani security forces, and supports the calls for their actions to be investigated.

That the Parliament congratulates 10-year-old Ava Morrison on her achievement of being awarded the role of Clara in the Scottish Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker; understands that in Gillian Whyte's Dans-Scene Company’s 25th anniversary year, Ava and one other pupil have achieved roles within this production, which will be performed across Scotland and in parts of Newcastle; commends them for their consistent hard work and practice, which has given them this opportunity, and recognises the hard work that the dance studio has undertaken, which has been shown in its widespread successes.

That the Parliament congratulates City Building's apprentice painters and decorators, who renovated the interiors of FAREPlay Stepford, the home to Easterhouse Football Academy in Glasgow; notes that the academy, which has more than 400 registered players, provides a pathway into football for boys and girls from the age of four; understands that the apprentices repainted key areas of the facility, including the changing rooms, bathrooms, internal corridors, reception and communal areas; considers that their work has created a fresh and welcoming environment for players and staff alike and ensures that children of all backgrounds can enjoy football in a setting that fosters inclusion and positivity; recognises that the initiative was part of a project to help the apprentices grow their skills and contribute to communities, and believes that City Building’s apprenticeship programme is the largest of its kind in Scotland, employing more than 250 apprentices across various trades.

That the Parliament congratulates Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus (SBH) on raising £96,000 at its annual event, A Question of Burns Supper, which saw 400 guests gather at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel on 23 January 2025 to celebrate the life and work of Scotland's Bard; understands that, since the launch of SBH Scotland's Burns suppers in 1981, the events have raised more than £1 million, which has been used to provide personalised support to thousands of children, young people and adults across Scotland affected by spina bifida and hydrocephalus, and understands that, as Scotland's only charity providing support to people of all ages with these conditions, SBH Scotland relies heavily on fundraising activities to deliver its services.

That the Parliament recognises what it sees as the hard work over a period of more than 15 years by Realgrassroots and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland in seeking to ensure the safety and protection of young footballers while contracted to senior football clubs; commends the Public Petitions Committee on its report, PE1319: Improving youth football in Scotland, which was published in June 2020 and was based on more than a decade of hearing evidence from a wide range of stakeholders throughout Scottish football; reiterates its support for the committee's recommendations, in particular on registration and compensation; notes the committee's reported criticisms of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Professional Football League (SPFL) regarding what it sees as their apparent unwillingness to address some issues within Scottish football in a timely and effective manner; is disappointed that the committee's recommendations have, it believes, still not been fully accepted or implemented by the SFA and SPFL; notes with concern reports that the rules of the SFA and SPFL may breach competition law and that complaints have been filed with the Competition and Markets Authority; urges both the SFA and SPFL to comply fully with the committee's recommendations, and with the calls made by Realgrassroots and the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland to ensure the protection of Scotland's young players from any unfair or unlawful practices, and calls on the Scottish Government to pause any further funding for the SFA until it is satisfied that the committee’s recommendations have been implemented and any anti-competitive practices have ended.

That the Parliament congratulates the customers of Tesco Wishaw for their outstanding generosity in donating 155 brand new toys to Women’s Aid, thus ensuring that many children experienced a brighter Christmas Day; recognises what it sees as the overwhelming response from the local community to this appeal, which has brought much-needed joy to those in difficult circumstances, and commends the efforts of all those involved in this heartwarming initiative, which highlights the importance of community spirit, kindness, and support for those in need, especially during the festive season.