That the Parliament welcomes what is considered the outstanding success of the exhibition at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon during the month of July 2010; celebrates the fact that over 140,000 people visited Kelvingrove during July to view the masterpiece and that it will also be on display in Dundee and Aberdeen during the summer; considers that displaying such masterpieces in venues across Scotland is an effective and imaginative way of widening access to the arts and ensuring that Scotland’s artistic treasures are enjoyed by as many people as possible, and encourages the National Galleries of Scotland to give serious consideration to participating in similar schemes involving other works in its collection.

That the Parliament welcomes Jail Guitar Doors to HMP Saughton; recognises that the initiative established and promoted by Billy Bragg aims to provide guitars to prisons that are using music as a means of rehabilitating prison inmates; considers that this is an innovative idea that has a legitimate and valid place in the rehabilitation process; believes that the initiative has helped prisoners elsewhere in the United Kingdom process problems in a non-confrontational way; further believes that new approaches to the rehabilitation of prisoners should be welcomed, and encourages other Scottish prisons to consider adopting the Jail Guitar Doors initiative.

That the Parliament acknowledges the 10th anniversary of the formation of Scotland's only dedicated anti-sectarianism charity, Nil by Mouth; recalls that the charity was set up in response to the senseless sectarian murder of Mark Scott in Glasgow in 1996; notes that over the last decade Nil by Mouth has encouraged and supported a range of community-led anti-sectarianism projects and events, delivered workshops to thousands of school children across Scotland and worked with government, football clubs, workplaces and community groups to promote greater religious tolerance and understanding; considers the progress made over the last decade in challenging sectarian attitudes and behaviour, including anti-sectarianism summits, new penalties for conviction, agreements on rules for parades, school twinning projects and the introduction of the first National Action Plan on Tackling Sectarianism in 2006 and commends the charity on the role that it has played in challenging sectarianism in Scotland, and applauds the commitment of the charity's trustees, volunteers and staff to tackling sectarian attitudes wherever they are found.

That the Parliament congratulates all the schools that took part in the 2010 Scottish School Magazine Competition and especially Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen on winning the gold award for its magazine, Electric, Boclair Academy in Bearsden on winning a silver award and the Best Design and Layout category for its magazine, Bac Talk, and considers that all the schools taking part have proved without doubt that the future of magazine publishing in Scotland is in safe hands.

That the Parliament considers the significant contribution that the see me campaign has made in tackling the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems; further notes that it is estimated that as many as one in four Scots will experience some form of mental health problem and that more than half of those with such conditions have experienced stigma or discrimination; recognises that the stigma associated with mental health problems can be more distressing and damaging than the symptoms of the condition itself; believes that it will take a generation to effect lasting change in society, and would welcome continued support for the see me campaign in Dumbarton and across the rest of Scotland.

That the Parliament is concerned that BT is demonstrating insensitivity to staff and customers in the rewards given to senior staff and directors; regrets the 79% increase in reward to the chief executive officer with a £850,000 per annum salary and an annual bonus of £1,206,000; believes that there is no justification for the amounts paid to board members, including Sir Michael Rake, £670,000, Hanif Lalani, £1,166,000, and Patricia Hewitt, £128,000, and further believes that the UK Government should investigate ways of restricting such corporate excesses.

That the Parliament notes the 5th anniversary of the G8 summit held at Gleneagles in 2005 and of the Make Poverty History demonstration that saw over 250,000 people take to the streets of Edinburgh on 2 July 2005 to demand justice for the poorest people in the world; applauds the commitments made in 2005, which pledged to boost aid for developing countries by $50 billion, cancel the debt of the 18 poorest nations and reduce tariffs and subsidies; welcomes the continuing commitment of the UK Government to keep the promises made in 2005; notes with concern that, after the recent G8 and G20 summits held at Miskoka and Toronto in Canada, the 2010 G8 communiqué does not mention the commitments made at Gleneagles, as was done in previous years, and implores the richest nations in the world to honour their promises to avoid the feared $18 billion shortfall in the overall $50 billion target and to make poverty history.

That the Parliament congratulates North Lanarkshire Schools’ Pipe Band on winning the Novice Juvenile Grade at the British Pipe Band Championships 2010 held in Annan on 26 June; commends Pipe Major Ross Cowan for his ongoing commitment to tutoring the band and for leading it to success in this competition; notes that the band wears its own tartan, the Spirit of North Lanarkshire, commissioned by North Lanarkshire Council; praises the council for its investment in its schools’ music programme; believes that music in schools is an important investment for government, and wishes the North Lanarkshire Schools’ Pipe Band success in future competitions.

That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow Women’s Library on its promotion to full status as an Accredited Museum by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA); notes that the MLA’s Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the United Kingdom and that this award testifies not only to the importance and value of the Glasgow Women’s Library but also to the hard work and dedication of its staff and members; further notes that the library is undergoing a new phase in its development as it plans to move to its new premises at the Mitchell Library in summer 2010; recognises the efforts of staff to raise the necessary £1.5 million for this move; congratulates them on their results to date, having accumulated nearly £500,000; urges Glasgow City Council to help support the project through its capital contributions and commends the Robertson Trust, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Scottish Arts Council, the Third Sector Enterprise Fund and the Women on the Shelf Scheme on their support of the project to date; wishes the library all the best in its future endeavours to achieve further accreditation as the national women’s library, and urges the Scottish Government to work to support such valuable facilities in the third sector that contribute substantially to the cultural and social fabric of Scottish life.

That the Parliament congratulates The Herald on winning Newspaper of the Year at the 2010 Scottish Press Awards; also congratulates its Chief Reporter, Lucy Adams, on winning Journalist of the Year and Reporter of the Year; also commends the other journalists in the Herald and Times Group who were recognised with awards at the event; considers that local newspapers like the Evening Times have a vital campaigning role to play in highlighting issues at the heart of their communities, and also congratulates all those across Scotland who won awards and recognises their contribution to their local areas.

That the Parliament congratulates all the winners at the Scottish Press Awards 2010, in particular the Aberdeen Evening Express on winning the Journalist Team award for its coverage of the North Sea helicopter tragedy on 1 April 2009; recognises the newspaper’s sensitive delivery of coverage of the event in which 16 people were tragically killed, and considers that regional and local newspapers play an important role in the north east and throughout Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s decision to go ahead with its modernisation plan; recognises the important role that the subway plays in Glasgow’s transport infrastructure and its significance to Scotland, carrying an estimated 14 million passengers annually; notes that this will be the first major investment project for the service since the 1970s, and hopes that the proposals receive the support that they need to go ahead and that the modernisation keeps Glasgow moving into the future.

That the Parliament congratulates members of the South Lanarkshire branch of UNISON on being awarded £60,728 from the Climate Challenge Fund for their Green Workers project; notes that the project will work with UNISON members across a variety of South Lanarkshire-based organisations with the aim to raise awareness of the carbon footprints of members, give advice on how to reduce emissions and empower members to raise ideas on how to make a difference not only at home but in their workplace; further notes that the project will specifically encourage reduced emissions through energy efficiency and greener travel options and that members will have the opportunity to borrow energy monitors to check their energy use at home, and believes that the project demonstrates the contribution that trade unions can make to tackling climate change in the workplace and that similar projects will have an important role to play to help Scotland meet its climate change targets.

That the Parliament welcomes the increased numbers of women surviving breast cancer in NHS Lothian but is concerned that many survivors are still at risk of developing lymphoedema; recognises the impact that lymphoedema has on quality of life in terms of movement, discomfort and appearance of the arm and other parts of the upper body; is further concerned that access to and provision of high-quality lymphoedema services varies across the country, and believes that a high quality and equitable service that meets the needs of people in Scotland with or at risk of lymphoedema is needed.

That the Parliament welcomes the second annual World Meningitis Day; applauds the work of the Meningitis Research Foundation in creating awareness about meningitis and septicaemia and funding research in order to prevent these diseases and improve survival rates and outcomes; notes that meningitis and septicaemia affected 139 people in Scotland in the last year, 64 of whom were under the age of five; further notes that these diseases cause up to seven deaths per week in the United Kingdom and Ireland; recognises that, although there are vaccines that provide excellent protection against certain strains of meningitis, there is no vaccine that can prevent all forms of the disease; notes that there are approximately 1.1 million cases of bacterial meningitis worldwide and 265,000 deaths due to the disease, and therefore welcomes the Meningitis Research Foundation’s work to ensure that the symptoms of meningitis are widely recognised in order to prevent further meningitis and septicaemia-related deaths.

That the Parliament notes that MS Awareness Week will take place from 26 April to 2 May 2010 with the theme of a right to a full life for those living with multiple sclerosis (MS); welcomes the launch earlier this year of neurological standards by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland that include MS-specific standards; notes that the MS Society Scotland, in conjunction with the Scottish Government, is to host a major international summit in Scotland on MS and vitamin D to be held during MS Awareness Week, and commends the society for the work that it does to raise awareness and provide support for people affected by the condition.

That the Parliament expresses deep sorrow following the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, Maria Kaczynska, and 94 others, including representatives of the country’s highest authorities, high-level military and civilian leaders, the official delegation and all the crew who lost their lives in a plane crash on 10 April 2010 near Smolensk, Russia, as they travelled to ceremonies commemerating the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre; offers sincere condolences to the family of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, the families of all victims of the tragedy and the entire Polish people; recognises that Tomasz Trafas, the Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Scotland, led tributes to President Lech Kaczynski at a meeting of the Cross-Party Group on Poland on 14 April 2010 before members of the group paid their respects to victims of the Smolensk tragedy by observing one minute’s silence; notes that members of the Cross-Party Group on Poland signed a book of condolence opened by the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland, and stands with all Polish nationals as they observe a period of national mourning from 10 to 17 April 2010.

That the Parliament notes the award of the 2009 Per Anger Prize to Brahim Dahane for his commitment to the cause of human rights and his leadership of the Association Sahraouie Des Victimes des Violations Graves des Droits de l’Homme Commises par l’Etat du Maroc; notes and endorses the call by Amnesty International for an end to the harassment and intimidation of Sahrawi activists and agrees with Amnesty that Ahmed Alansari, Brahim Dahane, Yahdih Ettarouzi, Rachid Sghir, Ali Salem Tamek, and Saleh Labihi are prisoners of conscience; expresses its concern for the health of those prisoners currently on hunger strike in Salé Prison, near Rabat, and calls on the United Nations to renew its efforts to find a solution in the Western Sahara that supports the right of the Saharawi people to decide their future.

That the Parliament is deeply concerned at evidence from the NHS Open Road project that men are now being trafficked into Scotland for sexual purposes; notes that staff from the Open Road project report having been called on to assist in two separate cases in the past year where men had been trafficked from Africa to Scotland and forced into the sex trade; is concerned that this is evidence of sex traffickers expanding their activities in Scotland; calls on the Scottish and UK governments to take account of this development in the next update of their joint Action Plan on Tackling Human Trafficking, and pledges support for efforts to bring an end to the forced trafficking of human beings worldwide.

That the Parliament notes the intended exhibition at Holyrood by the organisation, Scottish Friends of Israel, due to take place in the last week of April 2010, which will aim to promote Israel’s contribution to medicine, science and technology; recognises the deep feelings of anger that exist at the record of the Israeli Government’s treatment of Palestinians over decades and in particular the military action taken in recent years; is concerned that the planned exhibition could give the false impression that the Scottish Parliament as a body condones the record of the Israeli Government or wishes to promote the interests of that government; believes that the prolonged, brutal and unacceptable mistreatment of the Palestinians should be the central issue that the Parliament addresses in any events that relate to the Israel/Palestine situation, and invites those involved in organising the exhibition to reconsider their decision.

That the Parliament pays tribute to John Wheatley MP on the 80th anniversary of his death on 12 May 2010; notes that he emigrated with his family from County Waterford in Ireland to spend his formative years in Bargeddie, near Coatbridge; acknowledges the pioneering work that he undertook in attempting to alleviate poverty and social deprivation through his 1924 Housing Act, which contained a visionary 15-year plan based on rising central government subsidies to local government; recognises with concern, however, that, although Wheatley fully understood the link between housing and health, many of the inequalities that he endeavoured to abolish still exist today; believes that the fact that there are large discrepancies in life expectancy in modern day Scotland between the most affluent areas and those that suffer from inadequate housing and ill health is a national tragedy; would welcome an end to slum housing conditions, the introduction of rent controls and a massive building programme of new, modern, affordable council and social rented housing, and hopes that future housing legislation will be based on the premise that a house is a fundamental human right, not simply a commodity, and thus enshrine a right to rent.

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee College on winning five awards at this year’s Business to College Awards; notes that Dundee College was named College of the Year, won the Impact Award - Private Sector for its work with Print Matters of Brechin and also came top in the Business Start-Up Award category with Discovery Packaging & Design; further notes that Dundee College won the Sustained Relationship Award in partnership with McGill Electrical and also won the Workforce Development Award after being nominated by Servite Housing Association; recognises the importance of the awards, which offer the opportunity for businesses to acknowledge colleges that have supported business sustainability, and further congratulates all the staff at Dundee College for the positive impact that they are having on the business community.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Bank on Owen campaign, which aims to have Robert Owen of New Lanark commemorated on Scottish bank notes to mark the International Year of Cooperatives in 2012; recognises the contribution that Robert Owen made to Scottish society through his pioneering work at New Lanark where he championed co-operative principles and values; notes that the co-operative sector in Scotland is worth over £3 billion to the economy and that the co-operative business model has proven extremely resilient and reliable during the recent global economic upheaval, and would welcome widespread support for this proposal.

That the Parliament expresses its concern regarding the findings of the report by Shelter, The facts: bad housing and homelessness for children and young people in Scotland 2010; notes that the report reveals that 22,000 children in Scotland are made homeless each year and also highlights the fact that one in 10 children live in fuel poverty; considers that this is a glaring indictment of the housing and fuel poverty programmes of the Scottish Government, and calls on the Scottish Government to take strenuous measures to reverse these trends.

That the Parliament congratulates the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Environment Committee for taking decisive action to end the suffering to animals caused by snares; welcomes that the committee has voted to ban snares under the new Wildlife and Natural Environment Bill and considers that, in doing so, has taken a policy decision based on the clear evidence that snares cause suffering and the overwhelming public support for an end to the use of these cruel, indiscriminate traps, and therefore congratulates the League Against Cruel Sports for its efforts in raising awareness of the issue and presenting evidence of the cruelty of snaring to support this decision.

That the Parliament is seriously concerned about the inclusion of only one woman among the six Scots selected by the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) for committee room names; believes that this reflects a one-sided and distorted view of Scotland; welcomes the fact that a hundred exceptional Scottish women are recorded on panels near the entrance hall of the Parliament; notes that other names of Scottish women were put forward for consideration for committee room names, and calls on the SPCB to reconsider the matter in recognition of the very many great Scottish women whose contribution, like that of Scottish women in general, is every bit as important and distinguished as that of men.

That the Parliament joins with the European Network on Independent Living, Inclusion Scotland, Glasgow Disability Alliance and North Lanarkshire Disability Forum in celebrating International Women’s Day and in calling for an end to the continuing complacency that allows disabled women to be physically and sexually abused; understands that disabled women are twice as likely to experience abuse compared with other women and, in particular, that they are up to 10 times more likely to be abused if they are institutionalised, with the risk of abuse being highest for women with learning difficulties, intellectual impairments and those from the deaf community; recognises that all people have the right to live free from violence, abuse and dependency, and believes that disabled women do not want "care", dependency or institutionalising but instead wish to live independently with dignity, self-determination and control.

That the Parliament notes the ruling by the European Court of Justice that legislation in Austria, Ireland and France imposing a system of minimum retail selling prices for tobacco products may establish a competitive advantage for some manufacturers and importers and as such is not compatible with Article 9(1) of European Directive 95/59; considers that this is consistent with the comments in the Law Society of Scotland’s submission to the consultation on the Alcohol etc. (Scotland) Bill that there are issues of compatibility raised by the imposition of minimum pricing at EU level under various aspects of EU law including Directive 95/59; believes that, if the Scottish Government is confident that minimum unit pricing is fully consistent with EU law, it should share the substance of that legal advice with opposition parties; further believes that failure to do so will undermine the credibility of the Scottish Government’s position on minimum unit pricing, and calls on the Scottish Government to concentrate on measures that will fairly, effectively and legally tackle Scotland’s unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

That the Parliament commends the work of the Hearts&Minds’ Clowndoctors and Elderflowers programmes; understands that these programmes aim to enhance the lives of people in hospital, hospice or residential care through interaction, communication and laughter; further understands that the Clowndoctors and Elderflowers are specially trained to work with children or elderly people in a healthcare setting, using artistic expression to help vulnerable people cope with feelings associated with their illness; recognises how beneficial their visits can be to patients and their families; congratulates Hearts&Minds for its success and expansion in the last 10 years, and encourages the continued support for this charity.

Quarriers Condemned Campaign

That the Parliament congratulates the young people associated with the Quarriers charity on the launch of the Condemned campaign on 10 June 2009; supports the campaign’s aim to raise awareness of the multiple challenges faced by young homeless people; congratulates Quarriers on its work to support and encourage young people to start their adult lives in as positive and constructive a manner as possible and in particular welcomes the work of Quarriers in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, and calls on the Scottish Executive to ensure that all of Scotland’s young people have access to adequate housing and the appropriate support.

That the Parliament notes International Women’s Day on 8 March 2010; welcomes that this day will be marked in the Scottish Parliament chamber on Saturday 6 March as well as with 216 other events across the United Kingdom; believes that this day provides an opportunity to celebrate the central role of women in society, among many other things supporting their families and holding communities together in tough economic times; regrets that too many women in Scotland and across the world remain the victims of abuse, discrimination, violence and exploitation; considers that, despite progress on equality, women are still likely to be paid less than men, are underrepresented in positions of power and face discrimination in all aspects of their social and working lives, and believes that International Women’s Day provides an important opportunity to restate a commitment to securing equality for women and reaffirm the need to ensure that government at every level acts to improve the position of women and address all the barriers that prevent women from being safe and achieving their full potential.

That the Parliament applauds the contribution made by libraries and library staff, which it considers to be essential to the social, cultural and economic wellbeing of Scotland’s communities for the past 150 years, including those in the Highlands and Islands; understands that more people in Scotland visit libraries than football matches or cinemas; considers that, despite investment in the library service, more work needs to be done to keep libraries central to their communities; welcomes Unison’s Love Your Libraries campaign, which will assess the major contribution made by those working in the library service and library users and make recommendations on safeguarding the future of the library service, and believes that all options should be considered to ensure the long-term viability of this essential service.

That the Parliament notes the report by the Industrial Communities Alliance (ICA), The Impact of Recession on Unemployment in Industrial Britain; considers that the current recession has greatly affected Scotland's former industrial communities, including in Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley and the South of Scotland; welcomes the continued efforts of the ICA to influence policies, and would welcome detailed examination of the report and engagement with the ICA on the reports’ recommendations.

That the Parliament welcomes Stonewall Scotland’s FIT DVD, to be launched on Tuesday 9 March 2010, a new film produced to tackle homophobic bullying and gender stereotyping in schools, which will be delivered to every school in Scotland during March; applauds the presentation of information in a style that young people can relate to and talk about; notes that the DVD provides teacher guidance on meeting a wide range of Curriculum for Excellence outcomes; further notes that, according to Stonewall’s 2009 research, The Teachers' Report, 90% of secondary school teachers believes that lesbian and gay issues should be addressed through the curriculum and nine out of 10 secondary school teachers have witnessed young people experiencing homophobic bullying, name-calling or harassment in their schools; acknowledges the steps taken by the Scottish Government and its predecessor to combat homophobic bullying, and considers that local authorities have an important role in building the skills and confidence of Scotland’s teachers in dealing with the issues in the DVD.

As an amendment to motion S3M-5885 in the name of Christopher Harvie (Kinship Care Allowance Cuts), leave out from "notes" to end and insert "further considers, however, that the concordat commitment to ensure that all kinship carers of looked-after children in Scotland are paid the recommended allowance for foster carers within the lifetime of the Parliament has been dropped by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, despite the commitments given in the chamber by the First Minister on 27 September 2007 and the Minister for Children and Early Years on 11 December 2008; believes that, while broken promises have become the hallmark of the current SNP administration, this is particularly regrettable given that it concerns some of Scotland's most vulnerable children and their carers, many of whom are older people, and calls on government at every level to work together to secure the best outcome for children being looked after by kinship carers."

That the Parliament notes its concern at findings by Stonewall Scotland that indicate that two thirds of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender community in Edinburgh have been victims of verbal assault while one third have been physically attacked; is further concerned at recent news reports of homophobic bullying; welcomes the Stonewall Scotland campaign, Some people are gay. Get over it!, which has been taken up by the Edinburgh Community Safety Partnership in collaboration with Stonewall Scotland to stress that homophobic and transphobic hate crime will not be tolerated; encourages people who are the victims of homophobic hate crimes to report them to the police; further welcomes the Lothian and Borders Police Safer Communities Department’s commitment not to tolerate any sort of discrimination in Edinburgh and its stated pride in the city’s multicultural communities, and supports the view that all forms of bullying are unacceptable and have no place in Scottish society.

That the Parliament welcomes the UK Government’s action to boost the UK’s low-carbon supply chain by introducing its £230 million ultra-low-carbon vehicle incentive programme and in particular measures that offer UK consumers a discount of up to £5,000 off the cost of environmentally friendly vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid cars; further welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of a £30 million fund for a network of plugged-in places, a network of electric vehicle hubs, that will see battery charging infrastructure appearing in car parks, major supermarkets, leisure centres, retail centres and on streets; recognises the crucial role that more environmentally friendly vehicles could play in bringing down the UK’s carbon emissions and the importance of early market creation and adequate infrastructure provision for such vehicles, and applauds the hard work of organisations such as Europe’s largest independent lithium-ion battery systems supplier, Axeon, in pioneering research and development to significantly improve the commercial viability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

That the Parliament notes that the BBC’s first public purpose is to "represent the different nations, regions and communities to the rest of the UK"; believes that the BBC Asian Network plays an important role in fostering cross-community cohesion; further believes that BBC 6 Music plays an important role in the development of Scotland’s contemporary cultural output and provides a platform for new and innovative artists, and calls on the BBC Trust to review its proposals to close down the BBC Asian Network and BBC 6 Music.

That the Parliament notes that the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency will mark its 10th anniversary on 5 April 2010; considers that it has a unique role as a forum for the exchange of ideas and development of policy, bringing together parliamentarians and representatives from industry, academia, non-governmental organisations and civic society over the first 10 years of the Parliament; congratulates its 700-plus membership for their support for the efficient use of sustainable energy for the economic, environmental and social good of Scotland, and applauds Robin Harper’s role as the longest continuously serving convener of a cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament.

That the Parliament applauds the call by Tayside Police Chief Constable Justine Curran to extend co-operative working between forces to deal with complex offences such as e-crime and murder and issues such as human trafficking for the sex trade; notes that Tayside Police and two other forces already work together on firearms, and believes that shared units to deal with these complex crimes would help deal with more cases and build specialist expertise in our police forces.

That the Parliament endorses the Parkinson’s Disease Society’s Fair Care for Parkinson’s campaign, which aims to ensure that everyone affected by Parkinson’s receives the information, care and support that they need; recognises that there are about 10,000 people with Parkinson’s in Scotland; welcomes the publication of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland’s (NHS QIS) Clinical Standards - Neurological Health Services, which outlines the support that all NHS boards should provide for people with Parkinson’s and their carers, including diagnosis and review from a doctor specialising in Parkinson’s, ongoing access to a multidisciplinary team, including a Parkinson’s specialist nurse, and measures to make sure that people get their Parkinson’s medication on time every time; further welcomes the publication of Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline no. 113, Diagnosis and pharmacological management of Parkinson’s disease, and, in particular, its recommendation that everyone with suspected Parkinson’s should be referred untreated to a doctor specialising in Parkinson’s to reduce high rates of misdiagnosis, and believes that full implementation of the NHS QIS clinical standards and SIGN guideline is essential to improve NHS care for people with Parkinson’s wherever they live in Scotland.

That the Parliament congratulates those involved in bringing the £50 million Titian masterpiece, Diana and Actaeon, to Dundee; recognises that Diana and Actaeon has been seen by thousands of people in London and Edinburgh in the past year and that there has been a vigorous campaign to ensure that it receives the widest possible audience; notes that this announcement comes on the first anniversary of its acquisition by the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery in London and celebrates the partnership between these British cultural institutions; further notes that this prestigious national acquisition will be hosted in the newly restored McManus, Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, following its exhibition in Aberdeen and Glasgow, and believes that this positive message from the national galleries illustrates Dundee’s status as a growing centre of culture.

That the Parliament congratulates Tayside Police on the appointment of the first female Chief Constable in Tayside and second in Scotland; further congratulates Chief Constable Justine Curran, and is confident that this will mark yet another step towards the fair and equal representation of women in the leading positions in public services in Scotland.

Amendment proposed by Marlyn Glen

As an amendment to motion S3M-5489 in the name of Ken Macintosh (Why Must Our Children Pay?), insert at end "; further calls for support for the EIS march and rally, Against Budget Cuts in Education, on 6 March 2010 in Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow, and commends the EIS on its campaign activities on behalf of young people and schools".

That the Parliament notes with great sadness the passing of Michael Foot (1913-2010) at the age of 96; recognises his dedication to the Labour Party, the Labour movement, the cause of socialism and to British parliamentary democracy; acknowledges his lifelong and inspirational commitment to peace and justice, giving voice to those who opposed apartheid in South Africa, to those who fought injustice at home and across the world, and in championing British unilateral nuclear disarmament; considers that he made a huge contribution as a minister and as the leader of the Labour Party in fighting tirelessly during times of a global energy crisis and domestic economic breakdown to protect the most vulnerable; recognises that Michael Foot was a man deeply passionate about politics, literature and learning, devoted to the Labour Party and his beloved Plymouth Argyle FC, and considers that he fought tirelessly for his values and beliefs, was one of the most eloquent speakers to ever grace the House of Commons, that his legacy, in word and action, speaks to a life well lived in the service of others and that this finest of examples of a politician of honesty, decency, integrity, humanity and compassion will be sadly missed.

That the Parliament welcomes the UK Government’s action to boost the UK’s low-carbon supply chain by introducing its £230 million ultra-low-carbon vehicle incentive programme and in particular measures that offer UK consumers a discount of up to £5,000 off the cost of environmentally friendly vehicles, including electric and plug-in hybrid cars; further welcomes the UK Government’s announcement of a £30 million fund for a network of plugged-in places, a network of electric vehicle hubs, that will see battery charging infrastructure appearing in car parks, major supermarkets, leisure centres, retail centres and on streets; recognises the crucial role more environmentally friendly vehicles could play in bringing down the UK’s carbon emissions and the importance of early market creation and adequate infrastructure provision for such vehicles, and applauds the hard work of organisations such as Europe’s largest independent lithium-ion battery systems supplier, Axeon, in pioneering research and development to significantly improve the commercial viability of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

That the Parliament notes that the BBC’s first public purpose is to "represent the different nations, regions and communities to the rest of the UK"; believes that the BBC Asian Network plays an important role in fostering cross-community cohesion; further believes that BBC 6 Music plays an important role in the development of Scotland’s contemporary cultural output and provides a platform for new and innovative artists, and calls on the BBC Trust to review its proposals to close down the BBC Asian Network and BBC 6 Music.

That the Parliament notes that the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency will mark its 10th anniversary on 5 April 2010; considers that it has a unique role as a forum for the exchange of ideas and development of policy, bringing together parliamentarians and representatives from industry, academia, non-governmental organisations and civic society over the first 10 years of the Parliament; congratulates its 700-plus membership for their support for the efficient use of sustainable energy for the economic, environmental and social good of Scotland, and applauds Robin Harper’s role as the longest continuously-serving convener of a cross-party group in the Scottish Parliament.

That the Parliament supports the recent launch of the Give me a Chance, Be Fair to a Child in Care campaign, which is a call from the children themselves to members of the Scottish public asking them to improve their attitudes toward children in residential care; acknowledges the importance of such a campaign in helping to tackle the prejudices and reduce the stigma faced by Scotland’s most vulnerable young people; further acknowledges the efforts made by the charity behind this campaign in its efforts to raise awareness of this serious issue and to dispel many of the misconceptions that currently exist; believes that the success of this campaign is vital for the wellbeing and security of children currently dependent on residential care, and admires the children involved for actively working to make their lives and those of other children better.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Refugee Council on 25 years of providing practical help and moral support to people who have come to Scotland to escape persecution and human rights abuses in their own countries; notes that, since its inception in 1985, the Scottish Refugee Council has co-ordinated protection programmes for refugees from Vietnam, Chile, Bosnia and Kosovo and now assists independent asylum seekers from countries across the world; further notes that in 2008 almost 3,000 people were supported through the asylum process in Scotland; believes that in 2010 the work done by the Scottish Refugee Council to assist and support people seeking asylum, promote public understanding of refugee issues and promote dialogue and integration within and between Scotland’s diverse communities is more vital then ever, and fully supports the Scottish Refugee Council’s aim of securing for Scotland and the UK a humane asylum policy that respects and protects individual and collective social welfare and human rights.

That the Parliament congratulates the No Smoking Day charity on its 27th annual public health campaign, which will take place on 10 March 2010; notes that one in 10 smokers in Scotland made a quit attempt on No Smoking Day last year; further notes that smoking remains the number one cause of premature avoidable death in Scotland with 13,500 deaths due to smoking every year, and considers that there is a need for continued support of No Smoking Day.

That the Parliament welcomes Save the Children’s Museum of Poverty coming to the Parliament to highlight the impact of child poverty in Scotland and the steps that need to be taken to eradicate it once and for all; congratulates the young people and parents from Glasgow and Glasgow Shettleston who created the Museum of Poverty and who have themselves experienced poverty; welcomes them to the Parliament for a reception on Thursday 4 March 2010; recognises, during the 2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, the importance of such awareness-raising work in consigning poverty to history; notes with concern that 240,000 children still live in poverty in Scotland, 95,000 of whom live in severe poverty; and this means that children and parents are missing out on everyday essentials such as food and clothing and cannot afford things that most families take for granted, such as celebrating a birthday or having a short family holiday; believes that every child deserves a fair chance in life, all are born equal and none should be left behind and that it is not fair that any child grows up in poverty; acknowledges that child poverty remains a significant concern and further action is needed to tackle it, and calls on the Scottish Government, alongside other key stakeholders, to make child poverty history once and for all.

That the Parliament deplores the announcement by the so-called Scottish Defence League that it intends to march in Lockerbie on 27 March 2010; believes that this is an extremist group trying to use the Lockerbie tragedy of 1988 to spread its racist and anti-Islamic views; further believes that this event would be an affront to the people of Lockerbie, to the 270 people who lost their lives in the tragedy and to their families, and calls on the Scottish and English Defence Leagues to call off this march forthwith.

That the Parliament congratulates Vattenfall, one of Europe’s leading energy companies, on the opening of its new office in Edinburgh; welcomes the company’s commitment to Scotland and its development of a range of renewable technologies across the country; considers that a permanent base in Scotland will contribute to further development of renewable energy in Scotland, and further welcomes the company’s strong commitment to promoting low-carbon energy production and helping meet both climate change and renewable energy targets in the years ahead.

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Joint Industry Board for the Electrical Contracting Industry (SJIB) on celebrating its 40th anniversary; notes that the SJIB, founded in 1969, is a partnership between SELECT, formerly the Electrical Contractors’ Association of Scotland, and Unite the Union; welcomes the SJIB’s work on governance and the maintenance of the National Working Rules, the registration and licensing of apprentices and adult trainees, the grading and registration of employees, the resolution of disputes and the provision of welfare benefits; further welcomes the aim of the SJIB to improve industrial relations in the electrical contracting industry, and looks forward to the continued success of the SJIB in the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the Rape Awareness Campaign launched by Lothian and Borders Police in conjunction with Rape Crisis Scotland and the Edinburgh Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre; notes that the campaign involves police officers, police staff and special constables handing out specially designed postcards depicting women enjoying themselves socially with the direct message that "drinking is not a crime.... but rape is"; supports the decision by Lothian and Borders Police to focus a public safety campaign on the clear message that women are not to blame for rape just because they have been drinking; recognises awareness-raising work being done by police and voluntary sector organisations across Scotland, including the washroom campaign launched on 10 December 2009 by Glasgow Community and Safety Services, which involves posters from Rape Crisis Scotland’s This is not an invitation to rape me campaign being placed in bars and clubs across the city for one month, and wishes these campaigns every success in their efforts to challenge unacceptable attitudes towards rape.

That the Parliament endorses the ideals of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, which set off from New Zealand on UN International Day of Non-Violence on 2 October 2009 and ends in the Andes mountains on the 2 January 2010, that call for an end to war, the dismantling of nuclear weapons and an end to all forms of violence including physical, economic, racial, religious, cultural, sexual and psychological; notes that the Peace Torch, which has passed across continents and been greeted by thousands of supporters including Pope Benedict XVI, who offered his blessings to the delegation, will visit the Scottish Parliament on 17 November 2009, and would welcome support for this important endeavour from all those who share these ideals.

That the Parliament congratulates North Lanarkshire Parkinson’s Self Help Group on its recent 20th anniversary; notes that the group provides a one-stop shop in North Lanarkshire for people with Parkinson’s disease and their carers in North Lanarkshire, offering drop-in facilities five days a week, respite for both sufferers and carers and access to therapies, support and an extensive programme of social activities; recognises that the group provides an invaluable opportunity for all people affected by Parkinson’s and similar neurological conditions to make contact and obtain support and advice from people who understand their situation, and wishes North Lanarkshire Parkinson’s Self Help Group continued success in the future.

That the Parliament recognises the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on Thursday, 19 November 2009; notes Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child that requires States Parties to take all appropriate legislative, administrative, educational and social measures to protect children from any form of abuse and neglect; supports CHILDREN 1^st’s ongoing campaign for more abuse recovery services, and urges the Scottish Government to ensure that services are available in all areas for children who have been abused.

That the Parliament acknowledges that 14 November 2009 is World Diabetes Day, an official United Nations Day, which marks the birthday of Frederick Banting who, along with Charles Best, first conceived the idea that led to the discovery of insulin in 1922; notes that the campaign for 2009 is Understand Diabetes and Take Control, which aims to raise awareness of the disease and the lifelong demands imposed on the 285 million people living with diabetes; further notes with concern that the International Diabetes Federation estimates that over 344 million people worldwide are at risk of type 2 diabetes and believes that this can be easily prevented in many cases by helping and encouraging those at risk to maintain a healthy body weight and take moderate physical activity; further notes that the most recent Scottish Diabetes Survey shows that there were 219,963 people with a diagnosis in Scotland at the end of 2008 and believes that many cases of diabetes remain undiagnosed; urges the Scottish Executive to raise awareness of the symptoms of diabetes to ensure early diagnosis and treatment, and looks forward to the publication of the updated Diabetes Action Plan, which will provide strategic priorities for diabetic services in 2010 and beyond.

That the Parliament notes with concern the fears expressed by the management of Glencraft that Aberdeen City Council may not support its modified business plan, which could result in the Glencraft factory that provides employment for blind and other disabled employees closing; recognises that the organisation has transformed the lives of its employees and has received funding from successive councils for decades; notes with concern that this is the second time in two years that the current administration has threatened to close the factory; notes with regret the current uncertainty faced by employees of Glencraft who are yet again left facing the prospect of closure; notes the efforts of the trade union, Community, which resulted in the factory being saved from closure, and welcomes its determination to do so again; notes that the issue was raised by Anne Begg MP at Prime Minister’s Questions on 4 November 2009 during which the Prime Minister affirmed his support for Glencraft and highlighted the importance of helping those most in need of support; notes that an emergency meeting of Glencraft’s board of governors has been arranged for 6 November 2009, and urges Aberdeen City Council to work cooperatively with the board or management of Glencraft and Community to secure a sustainable future for Glencraft.

That the Parliament expresses its disgust at the intolerant and discriminatory remarks expressed by BNP leader Nick Griffin on BBC’s Question Time on 22 October 2009; reasserts its commitment to the key principle in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, and, in the run up to International Human Rights Day on 10 December 2009, reaffirms its commitment to tackling all forms of racism and discrimination in Scottish society, including that still perpetrated against women, ethnic minorities, Gypsy/Travellers and LGBT communities, among others.

That the Parliament is united in sadness at the death of Sir John Crofton and considers that Scotland has lost one of its most inspirational health pioneers; further notes his many achievements, such as the development of a new and effective way of treating tuberculosis (TB) in the 1950s that reduced TB in Edinburgh to almost zero in six years; commends his contribution to raising awareness about the harm caused to public health by tobacco, arguing for policies to control smoking and tobacco and calling for smoke-free legislation long before it became law in Scotland, knowing the important contribution that it would make to future public health; recognises the pivotal role that Sir John and his wife, Dr Eileen Crofton, also played in founding ASH Scotland in 1973 and believes that the ban on smoking in public places implemented by the previous Scottish Executive is a fitting tribute to his lifetime work, and welcomes the launch, earlier this year, of the Crofton Award by the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland in partnership with ASH Scotland to recognise the achievements of young people in reducing tobacco and smoking-related harm in Scotland and in honour of Sir John and Lady Eileen Crofton’s tireless work over the decades on tobacco control.

That the Parliament welcomes the work of members of the Association of Mutual Insurers in developing a UK-wide initiative entitled Fun to Save that encourages four to seven-year-old children to become more financially capable; celebrates the recent launch of the Fun to Save website: www.funtosave.org, which is the first UK-wide free resource designed to help children learn about the importance of savings and develop healthy attitudes towards money in everyday life; recognises that this is the only website that takes a holistic approach to savings by utilising learning games, by supporting activities for parents and by supporting lesson plans for teachers; notes the involvement of HM Treasury, the UK Government’s Department for Children, Families and Schools, the Financial Services Authority and the Personal Financial Education Group in the development of this initiative, and encourages parents and teachers to engage with the Fun to Save website, where learning about the core principles of money and the benefits of saving is both accessible and fun.

That the Parliament notes that 4 November 2009 is National Stress Awareness Day; considers stress to be a contributing factor to mental ill health among students in Scotland; considers that around 160,000 students in Scotland currently at college or university will experience mental ill health; believes that great effort should be taken to improve mental health among students in Scotland, and congratulates NUS Scotland’s Think Positive project for its work in raising awareness of student mental ill health among students, university and college staff and the general public.

That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow City Council on the success of the Glasgow Living Wage campaign; notes that already more than 100 companies have followed the lead of Scotland's largest local authority and signed up to a policy guaranteeing all employees a wage of at least £7 per hour, and urges all local authorities to consider launching living wage campaigns.

That the Parliament notes that 1 to 7 November 2009 is International Brain Tumour Awareness Week; recognises the work in Scotland in developing the managed care network; congratulates the record number of 176 brain tumour and cancer-related organisations that have supported the International Brain Tumour Alliance’s week and walk this year, and also notes that, with dozens of events planned and a combined total of 150,598 walking kilometres achieved to date, they are in sight of the World Walk target of 200,000 kilometres, equivalent to going round the world at the equator five times.

That the Parliament welcomes the new research findings by Citizens Advice Scotland that set out the barriers and problems faced by vulnerable groups such as lone parents, older people, young people and sick and disabled people in Scotland in relation to debt as well as creditor behaviour; notes that the findings show that four in 10 clients have gone without essentials in order to try to cope with their debt, while one in four clients has borrowed further credit to pay existing debt; notes that two fifths of debt clients reported being pressurised or harassed by their creditors; further notes that two thirds of debt clients said that they would consider going bankrupt in order to manage their debt; believes that schemes such as the Low Income Low Asset (LILA) scheme and the Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) should be made fully accessible to debtors who are stuck in a cycle of debt and that the £100 fee for accessing the LILA route into bankruptcy should be abolished as only one in five clients said they could unconditionally afford it; further believes that more affordable mainstream credit should be made available to low-income groups; commends the work of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Dumbarton and bureaux across Scotland in providing free, impartial and confidential frontline advice to all who need it, and would welcome the provision of sustained funding for agencies such as Citizens Advice in order to address the growing demand for such advice.

That the Parliament warmly welcomes the firefighters from Nablus who are in Scotland for three weeks to receive fire service training at the Scottish Fire Services College in Gullane, East Lothian; congratulates the Fire Brigades Union, the Scottish Government and the college for organising and supporting the project that exemplifies the fire service as a fraternity that exists across international boundaries, and believes that this type of collaboration with Palestinian public service workers is important in keeping skills up to date and will benefit ordinary citizens living in the occupied Palestinian territories.

That the Parliament notes that 16 to 31 October 2009 marks Show Racism the Red Card’s annual Fortnight of Action; welcomes the fact that all 42 clubs playing at the professional level in Scotland were involved in a weekend of action on 24 and 25 October through on-pitch activities and that £10,000 in grants has been distributed to help 22 community-based initiatives organise a variety of events to promote tolerance; believes that Scottish football, both at club and international level, has benefited hugely from the participation of players born outside of Scotland; abhors the treatment of players who have been racially abused at grounds across Scotland, and unequivocally affirms that racism has no place in Scottish society.

October 2009

That the Parliament regrets the decision by Procurement Scotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government, to remove business from Royal Mail; believes that this decision will cause further difficulties for Royal Mail in trying to sustain a public delivery service in every part of Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to review this decision to ensure that all such decisions taken are compatible with support for public delivery services in every community in Scotland.

That the Parliament recognises the importance of the national Bookstart programme; understands that the programme encourages all parents and carers to enjoy books with their children from as early an age as possible; notes that Bookstart aims to give free books to all Scottish children at around eight weeks, 18 months and three years old; further notes that the programme aims to promote reading as a fun activity as well as being educational; congratulates West Dunbartonshire Council on its activities to promote reading from an early age, and welcomes the recent National Bookstart Day on 9 October 2009 as a vital component in combating illiteracy in Scotland.

That the Parliament notes the outcome of the ballot on industrial action announced by the Communication Workers Union (CWU); recognises the service that Royal Mail staff provide in communities throughout Scotland; welcomes the willingness of the CWU to go to arbitration; believes that the potential disruption to the public and businesses warrants the intervention of ACAS; calls on the major stakeholder in Royal Mail to use its influence to bring both sides together at ACAS, and further calls on Royal Mail to agree to such intervention to allow urgent and meaningful negotiations to help prevent damaging and disruptive action.

That the Parliament regrets the proposal in the SNP government’s draft budget, published on 17 September 2009, to drop the Glasgow Airport Rail Link (GARL) project; considers that the proposed cut is short-sighted, given that a new airport rail link would provide Glasgow with a direct connection to three international airports and would contribute in a positive fashion to the economic development of Glasgow and west central Scotland, especially at this difficult time; believes that the rail link is an indispensable component of a modern 21st century transport infrastructure for the whole of Scotland; considers that GARL will boost public transport and reduce the number of car journeys to the airport; further considers that the promise to have GARL in place was a vital consideration in the awarding of the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, and hopes that, in the course of the budget process, wiser counsel prevails.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a pilot of a UK-wide emergency SMS text service; further welcomes the work of the UK Government, telecommunications companies and RNID in developing this system, which will allow the 758,000 people who are deaf or hard of hearing in Scotland to send an SMS text message to the emergency services from a mobile phone; considers that this development represents a milestone in the safety, care and protection of people who are deaf or hard of hearing and who find it difficult or are unable to use the 999 telephone service to call for help; believes that this new development will help save more lives, and, following the pilot, looks forward to a full service being rolled out in 2010.

That the Parliament supports the Scotland-Malawi Partnership project; commends Adam Smith College for taking the lead in the Scotland’s Colleges International consortium in hosting the recent study tour of 12 Malawian college principals to Scotland as part of the partnership between the vocational colleges in the two countries; recognises that the aim of the study tour was to provide the Malawian principals with a greater insight into the Scottish approach to vocational educational training development and delivery; acknowledges that experienced practitioners from Scotland’s Colleges have actively engaged in sharing their experience and expertise with Malawian staff while undertaking essential learning for their own professional development; congratulates Adam Smith College for hosting events throughout the study tour to raise funds to assist young people in Malawi to attend their local vocational college, to gain skills that will equip them for employment and to help support themselves, their families and their local communities, and looks forward to further supportive links with Malawi such as through the Kofi Annan Adam Smith Scholarship Fund.

That the Parliament congratulates Coatbridge on being named the nation’s Best Small City at the Beautiful Scotland Awards 2009; notes the judges’ positive view of the town following a wide-ranging tour taking in Drumpellier Country Park, Dunbeth park and Sikeside; further notes the judges’ praise of tourist attractions Sumerlee and the Time Capsule; believes that the people of Coatbridge have much to be proud of, not only in their industrial heritage but also in the ongoing commitment of local residents to improve the town’s natural and urban heritage; believes that the whole community played a part in winning the award, and commends North Lanarkshire Council for the continuing investment to enhance the town and its facilities.

That the Parliament notes with regret the sad death of Bill Speirs, former General Secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and one of the architects of devolution; celebrates his distinguished career throughout which Mr Speirs always put the interests of Scotland before narrow party or sectoral interests; acknowledges that his role in the campaign for a Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Constitutional Convention was invaluable; believes that he was a committed internationalist and a successful campaigner through connecting culture and politics; salutes his leadership and vision as an inspiration to a generation of Scots while he made a significant personal contribution to Scotland's national life, including representing trade union members in difficult years, and sends condolences to his family at this sad time.

That the Parliament notes the annual apprentice awards ceremony being held by Rok Group in Dunkeld on 21 September 2009; congratulates the 160 apprentices attending the ceremony who have completed their apprenticeships with the company; welcomes the commitment that has been shown to supporting and developing the apprentices to achieve their full potential and learn a diverse range of trades that are vital to the future of the building and maintenance sector in Scotland; is pleased that high profile companies such as Rok are recognising the importance of continuing to train apprentices and take on redundant apprentices to develop the skilled workforce of the future, and wishes all the successful apprentices well for their future careers.

That the Parliament welcomes Macmillan Cancer Support’s annual World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event, which will be held at venues across the United Kingdom on and around 25 September 2009; notes that Macmillan is expecting over 4,000 coffee mornings to be held across Scotland, raising around £880,000, with every penny going towards helping people affected by cancer; further notes that every day 822 people in the United Kingdom are told that they have cancer and that charities such as Macmillan provide practical, medical, emotional and financial support while pushing for better cancer care, and urges people to visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee to find the nearest coffee morning that they can attend.

That the Parliament welcomes the UN Global Campaign on Climate Change’s Seal the Deal campaign and Global Climate Week from 19 to 25 September 2009; notes that synchronised activities will take place in more than 100 cities across the world, including tree planting, a Green Day promoting action on climate change and a Go Carbon Neutral Day, and recognises the significance of concerted global action to promote the need for an effective global climate deal at Copenhagen in December.

That the Parliament notes the findings of an official UN report that accuses Israel of deliberately using disproportionate force in the three-week operation in December 2008 and January 2009; further notes that the report, led by South African judge Richard Goldstone, found evidence "indicating serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law were committed by Israel during the Gaza conflict"; notes the report’s finding that that there is evidence that both Israeli and Palestinian forces committed war crimes in the conflict and that it accuses Israel of imposing "a blockade which amounted to collective punishment" in the lead-up to the conflict; also notes Mr Goldstone’s recommendation that the UN Security Council seek reports within six months about its own investigations into the alleged crimes, including the potential involvement of the International Criminal Court if these reports are deemed unsatisfactory, and calls on the international community to respond to the call by President Obama earlier this year to urgently lift the siege in Gaza in tandem with a Middle East peace process.

That the Parliament notes that Burmese democracy campaigner Min Ko Naing faces up to 20 years in prison for leading a peaceful protest against the policies of that country’s government and has been adopted as a prisoner of conscience by Amnesty International; understands that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to take part in the government of one’s country are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR); believes that the opportunity for citizens to engage with and influence their government provides an important feedback mechanism as well as a necessary check and balance on government action, and expresses its hope that the people of Burma/Myanmar will one day be able to fully enjoy all of their human rights as set out in the UDHR.

That the Parliament notes with concern the announcement by Diageo that it is intent on closing its plants at Port Dundas and Kilmarnock; regrets that this decision was made in spite of widespread support for the campaign to save jobs at both sites and the loyalty and commitment of its workforce; believes that Diageo must recognise its continuing responsibility to the workers at both plants, and asks the Scottish Government to indicate what it will do to ensure that Diageo recognises and honours that commitment.

That the Parliament notes the current landslip at the Rest and Be Thankful that has resulted in the closure of the A83; acknowledges that this is the second occasion in recent times that a similar problem has caused this road to be closed; further notes that a diversion of some 60 miles is in place for motorists; believes that the road closure will have a detrimental impact on those residents and businesses that rely on this route; recognises the vulnerability of trunk road links to the West Highlands, including the A82, and believes that the case for investment has been well made, and therefore calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that the A83 is reopened quickly and that investment is provided without further delay to ensure that, where possible, there is no repetition of the problems on the A83 and that the A82 is upgraded.

That the Parliament welcomes Meningitis Research Foundation’s Meningitis in Babies Awareness Campaign; notes that meningitis and septicaemia are diseases that affect over 97 babies a year in Scotland under the age of 12 months, of whom around one in ten will die and about a quarter are left with life-altering effects that can be as severe as brain damage, deafness, cerebral palsy and multiple amputations; further notes that babies in Scotland under 12 months are 40 times more likely to develop meningitis than children over one and adults and that more young lives can be saved through raising awareness among clinical practitioners and the public of the early warning signs and symptoms, and welcomes a new research project funded by Meningitis Research Foundation to investigate healthcare delivery and look for ways to improve management of meningitis in newborn babies.

That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Government to discontinue funding for the Thistle Travel Card that was previously available to people who require help with public transport due to age, a learning or physical disability or other condition affecting their confidence or competence in knowing what bus or train to get on and where to get off, being able to count out the correct fare or understand timetables and travel announcements, all of which create barriers to such people being able to use public transport; notes that the scheme was supported by the Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS), which advises ministers on the transport needs of disabled people, and by the Confederation of Passenger Transport; regrets that the demise of the Thistle Travel Card will seriously impact on the mobility and quality of life of an estimated 120,000 people with learning disabilities and other communication difficulties, and notes that this is the same group of people who get only the lower rate mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, which means that they do not qualify as eligible under the Scotland Wide Free Bus Travel Scheme for Older and Disabled Persons because of the decision made by the Scottish Government not to extend eligibility after its recent review of the scheme.

That the Parliament condemns the reported kidnapping of 21 international humanitarian activists, including Theresa McDermott from Scotland, and hijacking by the Israeli Defence Force of the peace ship the Spirit of Humanity and its aid cargo in international waters as it travelled to bring some relief to the besieged people of Gaza; believes that this unprovoked attack is in direct contravention of international maritime law and is contrary to all international moral standards of behaviour for a civilised state, and, *notwithstanding the negative activities of Hamas,* believes that the international community, European Union and President Obama should condemn the actions of Israel and bring to bear such pressure on the state of Israel as is necessary to relieve the three-year long suffering of the innocent civilian population of Gaza.

That the Parliament notes with extreme concern the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) report, which states that, six months after Israel launched its three-week military operation in Gaza on 27 December 2008, Gazans still cannot rebuild their lives, seriously ill patients face difficulty obtaining the treatment that they need, many children suffer from deep psychological problems and civilians whose homes and belongings were destroyed during the conflict are unable to recover, and supports the recommendations of the ICRC, which call for import restrictions to be eased to allow vital infrastructure to be rebuilt, access to essential medical supplies and for action to be taken to rebuild the shattered economy that has led to the alarming level of poverty within Gaza.

That the Parliament notes Remember, I’m still me, a joint report by the Care Commission and the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland on the provision of care in residential homes for people with dementia; notes that the report found that 70% of people living in the care homes visited had dementia; is concerned that the report found that some care homes fell seriously short of best practice and that people with dementia were not always getting the best possible care to meet their needs; is appalled that the report found that there was often no regular review of medication, even though 75% of people in homes were taking one or more psychoactive medicines, that the majority of care staff were generally unaware of best-practice guidance and that some felt that they did not have enough time to give the care that they wanted and that there was sometimes little activity, with activity coordinators not always trained or supervised, and calls on the Scottish Government to develop a National Dementia Strategy and work with NHS boards, local authorities and others to address urgently the shortcomings detailed in the report.

That the Parliament congratulates the Cornerstone Forensic Service in Aberdeen on winning the Best Social Service Team in Scotland award at the Scottish Social Services Council Care Accolades award ceremony in Dundee on 7 June 2009; welcomes the team’s structured approach and emphasis on inclusion; notes that the forensic service provides support to adults with learning disabilities and mental health issues who have a history of offending or are at risk of offending without appropriate levels of support; notes that the project aims to protect the community and prevent individuals from reoffending by introducing structured support, employment opportunities and activities that bring stability to their lives, and considers that, since the service started in August 2004, it has been a huge success with none of the individuals supported by the service going on to reoffend but instead going on to integrate successfully back into the local community and with several of the residents now in part-time employment and attending college.

That the Parliament notes the Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Youth Conference, which will be held in Dundee on 27 and 28 June 2009, and its theme, Unions Work for Young People’s Wellbeing; recognises that young people are at greater risk of being injured and made ill by their work and are far more likely to suffer mental health illness when either or both parents have a history of long-term unemployment, and believes that the STUC Youth Committee should be congratulated for highlighting the role that improved health and wellbeing in young workers can have in pulling the economy out of recession and for its efforts in engaging with organisations such as the Samaritans, Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health, see me, respectme and Working Health Service Lothian to promote the need for improved health and wellbeing in Scottish workplaces.

That the Parliament welcomes Learning Disability Week, from 22 to 29 June 2009; notes that the theme of the week will be to highlight the need for accessible toilets in every local authority area of Scotland; recognises that around 3,500 people in Scotland with profound and multiple learning disabilities, as well as many thousands of other disabled people, cannot use standard accessible toilets and require public toilets with enough space for disabled people and their carers along with the right equipment, including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist; supports the Changing Places campaign, which is calling for more of these toilets to be installed in public places to enable disabled people and their carers to be active citizens; further notes that British Standard 8300 recommends that a Changing Places toilet should be provided in larger buildings and complexes, and calls on the Scottish Government to reinforce this by calling on all local authorities and other public bodies to provide a fully accessible toilet in their area.

That the Parliament expresses its support for the Stand Up Now for Social Work campaign, which recognises the vital contribution of social workers to a fair and caring society, calls on government, employers and the media to promote respect for the profession and asks for balanced coverage of social work issues, including the reporting of positive images of the care provided to some of Scotland’s most vulnerable individuals, and agrees that the vast majority of social workers are to be applauded for their efforts in difficult and challenging circumstances.

That the Parliament deplores and deeply regrets the short-sighted decision of the management of Hewlett-Packard to dismiss 843 employees at their Erskine site in order to outsource their jobs to plants in the Czech Republic; is well aware of the company’s profits of £5.2 billion in 2008 and of the substantial public funds given to the company based on assurances offered by company representatives in the past; views with scepticism the claim made by management that the remaining jobs at the Renfrewshire plant are comparatively safe; believes that the interests of shareholders will always swamp the needs and expectations of loyal and hard-working employees, and hopes that the dreadful consequences of this decision can be avoided.

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) for organising Wildlife Week, 6 to 14 June 2009; notes that there are over 230 events and activities taking place throughout Scotland, including the celebration of peatlands, woodlands and marine environments in Dumfries and Galloway, and appreciates the efforts by SWT, its sister charities and non-governmental organisations in Scotland in raising public awareness of the richness of Scotland’s natural environment and the need to preserve and enhance habitats to conserve Scotland’s wildlife and ensure that future generations can also enjoy its diversity.

That the Parliament is aware of the infamous activity of loan sharks in today’s difficult economic circumstances; deplores their squalid and parasitical focusing on those without work and other citizens on low incomes; believes that measures must be taken to defeat these parasites; is convinced that an expanding credit-union movement, with the appropriate local and national support, is the most effective antidote to this obnoxious practice, especially in communities characterised by deprivation and disadvantage; praises the fine work performed in such areas by Port Glasgow Credit Union and Renfrewshire Credit Union, and believes that all of those organisations and agencies that have the wherewithal could constructively support our credit unions.

That the Parliament commends the four Glasgow-based students who set off on their incredible 4,000 mile journey from Glasgow’s George Square to Gaza on 27 May 2009 in order to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP); notes that the journey will take 40 days, passing through at least 14 countries; further notes that the cyclists’ Pathways to Palestine (P2P) idea stemmed from the continuing blockade of Gaza; congratulates the P2P team members on their innovative use of phlogging, which will allow their sponsors and supporters to follow their progress via their website and by email, and commends MAP’s continued work, which, following the recent conflict, is concentrated on providing support to young mothers and victims with burn injuries.

That the Parliament acknowledges and welcomes the campaign for a post bank led by the Communication Workers Union and Unite the Union; notes the confidence and trust that the public has in the Post Office compared with the banks, and believes that a post bank, a people’s bank, built on the post office network could make a significant contribution to social inclusion and financial stability as well as consolidate the future of publicly funded post offices in our communities.

That the Parliament notes that the first World MS Day, established by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation and its member MS societies, will be held on Wednesday 27 May 2009; welcomes the contribution that the day can make to raising awareness of MS, national MS societies and the global MS movement; commends the MS Society Scotland for the work that it does to raise awareness and provide support for people affected by the condition, and looks forward to welcoming Ryan McLaughlin, a 14-year-old young man from Glasgow, on 16 June 2009 when he will present a petition calling for increased public awareness of the benefits of vitamin D in relation to MS, with particular regard to young children and pregnant women, as part of his Shine on Scotland campaign.

That the Parliament congratulates His Excellency President Dr Bingu wa Mutharika and Hon Joyce Banda on their inauguration as President and Vice President of the Republic of Malawi following the general election held on 19 May 2009; notes that the interim report by the Commonwealth Observer group that the elections, only the fourth multi-party elections in Malawi’s history, were peaceful and well-managed; wishes all new and returning members of parliament every success for the next parliamentary term, and looks forward to Scotland and Malawi continuing to work together to support Malawi’s development.

That the Parliament is concerned that the University of Edinburgh has announced its intention to cut its budget for the teaching of languages and that one in five secondary schools is not presenting candidates for examination in modern languages and so calls on the Scottish Government, as a matter of urgency, to explore with the university ways of maintaining and developing modern language teaching to ensure the future supply of teachers of language as Scotland fights to maintain a presence in foreign business markets.

That the Parliament congratulates the midwifery team at the Vale of Leven Hospital on the recent recognition of its gold standard service for all its mums and babies; notes that the specialised team at the Community Maternity Unit scored almost 100% in every category of the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative; further notes that this award, which will be delivered later this year, recognises top level care provided to pregnant women and new mums, and applauds all the continued hard work and high standards of everyone involved with the midwifery team at the hospital.

That the Parliament commends the significant achievement of ProjectScotland volunteers, mentors and staff in facilitating over 2.2 million hours of volunteering in communities since May 2005 through a programme of structured placements with over 300 non-profit organisations across the country; notes the positive role that ProjectScotland has played in changing young people’s perceptions of volunteering and, indeed, themselves; acknowledges that, during 2008-09, 40% of ProjectScotland volunteers came from the 20% most deprived areas of Scotland; regrets that the Scottish Government decided to withdraw its financial support to the charity as of 1 April 2009; recognises the serious implications that this decision has for the charity, its partner organisations and the hundreds of young people who have been in touch in recent months about placements; contrasts the decision with the bold and ambitious Serve America Act in the United States of America, recently signed into law by President Obama, which will quadruple the number of AmeriCorps volunteers to 250,000, and encourages the Scottish Government to revisit its decision and do all in its power to ensure that ProjectScotland can continue to change lives and communities across our country.

That the Parliament congratulates Co-operative Development Scotland on raising awareness of the practice of social accounting following a flagship pilot project with the Social Audit Network to introduce social accounting to six co-operative and social enterprises in Scotland; commends the contribution to the project played by Highland Home Carers, Highland Wholefoods, Loch Fyne Oysters, Scotwest Credit Union, West Whitlawburn Housing Co-operative and the Wise Group, and believes that organisations that can demonstrate their wider social impact beyond financial performance will gain a competitive edge and ensure that co-operatives, social enterprises and voluntary organisations thriving in Scotland contribute to economic growth.

That the Parliament notes that, as at 7 April 2009, there were some 2,227 paintings in the National Galleries of Scotland’s collection not on public display; further notes that, of those paintings on display, there were only some nine paintings out on loan in the west of Scotland, and calls for a permanent display of paintings in Glasgow, as Scotland’s largest city, to benefit the west of Scotland with a fairer share and to benefit the whole of Scotland and visitors to Scotland by allowing a fuller public display of Scotland’s collection of paintings.

European Resolution on Depleted Uranium

That the Parliament acknowledges the European Parliament’s resolution on "Depleted uranium weapons and their effect on human health and the environment - towards a global ban on the use of such weapons"; recognises the serious health concerns about the use of depleted uranium weapons on both military personnel and civilians, concerns that are widely acknowledged by many including the UN General Assembly; further recognises the serious environmental hazards posed by depleted uranium such as the contamination of soil and groundwater, and strongly urges the Scottish Government to offer its moral and, where appropriate, practical support for a global ban on the use of depleted uranium weapons.

Industrial Dispute at Ayr College

That the Parliament is concerned at the failure to achieve a negotiated settlement of the industrial action at Ayr College; notes that the college board has imposed a pay settlement without the agreement of the EIS; is further concerned about the impact of ongoing industrial action at Ayr College on students whose exams are imminent, and calls on the Scottish Government to take action to bring all parties to the table to ensure that the situation is resolved as quickly as possible.

Declining Bee Numbers

That the Parliament notes with concern reports of the continuing decline in bee numbers and in the number of other key pollinators; notes the importance of bees for the production of honey and, along with other species, their vital importance in food production and in support of biodiversity; supports measures to research and understand better what may be causing the reported declines as a basis for appropriate further actions; further notes that in some areas, such as Colonsay, the varroa mite, which is known to be responsible for some of the decline in bee numbers, is not present, and considers that every effort should be made to maintain that position and sustain bee and other key pollinator numbers.

Restoration of Falls of Clyde Mural

That the Parliament congratulates artist and writer Alasdair Gray on completing the restoration of his Falls of Clyde mural in the Riverside Bar near New Lanark; notes that the mural, over 25ft in length, was originally painted over 40 years ago when the bar was known as the Kirkfieldbank Tavern; further congratulates bar owner Andy Boyle on his decision to commission Alasdair Gray to undertake the restoration, and hopes that the mural will encourage many more people from across Scotland to visit rural South Lanarkshire, including the Falls of Clyde, the New Lanark World Heritage Site and local establishments such as the Riverside Bar.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum shortlisted for the UK’s Largest Art Prize

That the Parliament congratulates the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which last week welcomed its six millionth visitor since it reopened less than three years ago, for being shortlisted for the £100,000 Art Fund Prize, the United Kingdom’s largest art prize; notes that it is the second time in three years that the museum has been in the running for the prize, this time for its educational work through its Centre of New Enlightenment, which uses new technology to help young people navigate the museum; further notes that the judges stated that the programme of educational tasks and challenges was original and infectious and commended the way that it gave young people the independence to explore the building in an active way, and offers the Kelvingrove, as Scotland’s sole representative on the shortlist, its best wishes ahead of the winner being announced on 18 June 2009 at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London.

Supporting the Living Wage

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Scottish Living Wage Employer Awards being held in Dalmarnock; regrets the fact that there are around 700,000 workers in Scotland, the majority of them women, earning less than the Scottish living wage of £7.00 per hour; is aware that low pay can lock people into poverty and can be damaging for individuals, families, businesses, communities and the wider economy, and recognises the importance of encouraging employers in the public, private and voluntary sectors to ensure that all low-paid workers are paid no less than the Scottish living wage of £7.00 per hour.

First Woman Poet Laureate in 341 years

That the Parliament warmly welcomes Glasgow-born Carol Ann Duffy as the first woman to hold the post of poet laureate in 341 years; recognises her contribution to poetry, and commends her decision to donate her salary as laureate to the Poetry Society.

National Epilepsy Week 2009

That the Parliament recognises the contribution made by Epilepsy Scotland and fellow Scottish members of the Joint Epilepsy Council of the UK and Ireland to raise awareness and combat the social stigma associated with epilepsy; supports these organisations in marking National Epilepsy Week, 17 to 23 May 2009, and in challenging discrimination and informing public attitudes; acknowledges that epilepsy should be higher on the Scottish Government’s and NHS boards’ agendas so that more epilepsy specialist nurses and doctors can be trained and patient care can be improved; acknowledges Epilepsy Scotland’s campaign for more nurses and a corresponding increase in specialist posts; calls on the Scottish Government and the NHS to ensure that sufficient epilepsy nurses work in each NHS board and to help them provide local transition arrangements for young people with epilepsy moving to adult epilepsy services; welcomes the Cross Party Group on Epilepsy’s current review of social work section 23 assessments of need for families with epilepsy; congratulates the Scottish Parliament for winning Epilepsy Scotland’s Employer of the Year Award, which recognises epilepsy best practice, and praises the ongoing awareness training provided for the Scottish Parliament’s own staff so that epilepsy is no longer hidden and misunderstood.

Breastfeeding : Every Day Makes a Difference to Your Baby

That the Parliament notes that National Breastfeeding Awareness Week takes place from 10 to 16 May 2009, with this year’s theme being "Breastfeeding: every day makes a difference to your baby"; recognises the positive impact of breastfeeding on the health of both mother and child; understands that mums who receive help and support, whether it be from a friend or family member, a healthcare professional or volunteer breastfeeding supporter, are likely to breastfeed for longer, giving them and their child important health benefits; believes that the Breastfeeding etc. (Scotland) Act 2005 is an excellent method of protecting the child’s right to be breastfed in public places, free from harassment, and thus acts as a positive incentive for choosing breastfeeding; is concerned, however, that anecdotal evidence suggests that attempts are still being made to stop mothers and babies from breastfeeding in public places despite this being a criminal offence; regrets the apparent lack of knowledge of the law on breastfeeding in society as a whole but specifically within the police forces of Scotland; considers that knowledge within the Scottish Police Service could be improved if the Act were to feature as part of the syllabus taught to probationer constables; expects that, where evidence exists to show that the law has been broken, such cases will be referred to the procurator fiscal, and believes that the Scottish Government should take urgent action to ensure that this law is understood by employers, law enforcers and the general public as part of an awareness raising campaign to assist in meeting its target of 37.5% of babies being exclusively breastfed by 2010-11.

Epilepsy Scotland’s Employer of the Year

That the Parliament congratulates the winners of Epilepsy Scotland’s employer of the year awards, Russell Hamilton Business Systems Limited and the Scottish Parliament itself; notes the excellent example that these and the other short-listed employers have shown in catering for staff with epilepsy, and encourages more businesses and organisations across Scotland to support both current and potential employees and work towards achieving a Best Practice Certificate from Epilepsy Scotland.

Adult Learners’ Week 2009

That the Parliament welcomes Adult Learners’ Week 2009, running from 9 to 15 May, and notes that National Learning at Work Day, the biggest annual celebration of workplace learning, will take place on Thursday 14 May; believes that lifelong learning should be available and accessible to all; endorses the work of trade unions in making lifelong learning a reality for workers; notes the importance of partnership in delivering successful workplace learning projects and, in particular, the excellent work of the Lowlands and Uplands Scotland trade union education projects in providing flexible shift-friendly courses to union members in a familiar and relaxed environment; commends all those involved in delivering the projects for their hard work and commitment in making adult learning accessible in companies across Scotland; notes that from April 2008 to March 2009 there were Lowlands and Uplands Scotland courses involving 566 students in a diverse range of workplaces across Scotland, including Rolls Royce plants at Inchinnan, Dalgety Bay and East Kilbride, Remploy plants at Clydebank, Stirling and Cowdenbeath, NHS Tayside, Dounreay Power Station and Yoker and Ayr railway stations; further notes that, in the last quarter alone, the projects have provided personal advice and guidance on learning to 926 individuals; celebrates the learning achievements of all those involved, and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that workplace learning receives the sustainable funding it needs to ensure that lifelong learning is accessible to every Scottish worker.

Wake Up Call for the Scottish Government

That the Parliament notes the open letter on student hardship sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning and signed by Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat MSPs, further and higher education spokespeople, Gurjit Singh, NUS president, and 25 other student leaders at colleges and universities across Scotland; highlights that the letter criticises the Scottish Government for its focus on reducing graduate debt to date and ignoring the growing student hardship crisis in Scottish colleges and universities; further highlights that the letter calls for the Scottish Government to take a new direction by focussing the existing resources for student support on reducing student hardship; considers that student support levels in Scotland have fallen far behind the rest of the United Kingdom, with a maximum of £4,510 for most Scottish students compared with a maximum of £6,200 for students from England; believes that the Scottish Government should use the open letter as a wake-up call to come forward with new priorities for the £30 million allocated to the student support budget next year to tackle student hardship, based on the principles of reaching a minimum income of £7,000 for the poorest students, increasing student loans and bursaries to address students’ continuing reliance on commercial credit and providing additional funds for hardship and childcare funds, and calls on the SNP to rethink its priorities, to begin finally to listen to students and to work with opposition parties and NUS and student leaders to bring forward new policies, using existing resources, to begin to tackle student hardship in Scotland.

Family Fund

That the Parliament commends the work of the Family Fund, the United Kingdom’s largest provider of charitable grants to disabled children; notes that last year the Family Fund gave over £29 million in grants to 48,000 families across the United Kingdom for goods and services to improve the quality of their lives; further notes the recent launch of Family Fund extra, the Family Fund’s new online shopping service, which allows any family with a disabled child a discount of up to 25% from several major retailers; also notes that anyone shopping online can help disabled children, at no extra cost to themselves, by buying through Family Fund extra from nearly 100 different retailers, and encourages people to use this excellent new service to support the Family Fund’s valuable contribution in helping disabled children and their families.

Local Newspaper Week 2009

That the Parliament notes that 11 to 17 May 2009 is Local Newspaper Week, which has the theme of building stronger communities, highlighting the important roles played by the 120-plus weekly, bi-weekly, paid-for and free newspapers that serve local people and businesses throughout Scotland's cities, towns and villages; acknowledges the local press as Scotland's most socially inclusive local mass communication medium; applauds the significant investment made by publishers to deliver to an increasingly digital agenda and increase their digital audience; notes that members of the Scottish Newspaper Publishers Association are facing the most severe crisis in revenue generation and profitability in living memory, attributable to the long-term decline in paid-for newspaper circulations, the emergence of advertising-dependent internet services and the loss of recruitment advertising and licensing revenue to initiatives such as myjobscotland, developed under the auspices of the Scottish Government's Local Government National Shared Services Board and led by COSLA, and is extremely concerned about the collateral damage to the democratic process and to the local newspaper industry that would result from the proposed introduction of a publicly funded web portal for the publication of public information notices.

Dementia Awareness Week

That the Parliament acknowledges that Dementia Awareness Week 2009 takes place from 31 May to 7 June; is aware that Alzheimer Scotland estimates that in 2009 there are 67,000 people with dementia in Scotland, including 1,640 people under the age of 65; notes that this number is expected to rise to 114,000 by 2031; acknowledges that it is disappointing to note that Dementia Awareness Week follows a year in which a number of highly critical reports have highlighted the inefficiencies and failures in the quality of care of people with dementia in the community, in care homes and in long-term hospital care; notes the recent Care Commission report, Better care, every step of the way, which reflects the findings of 1,036 inspections and three investigations that found that 43% of homes did not realise that they were to deliver palliative and end-of-life care for people with life-limiting illnesses such as dementia; further notes the recent Care Commission report, Gradings So Far, which has shown significant variations in the quality of care received by elderly people in care homes when compared to other groups; considers that the poor quality of care at home services revealed in a recent Panorama investigation is simply unacceptable and particularly harmful to those people with dementia who may not be able to speak out for themselves; therefore supports the work of the Cross Party Group on Alzheimer’s, which calls for a Charter of Rights for people with dementia; further welcomes the decision by Alzheimer Scotland, in supporting this initiative, to host a series of roadshows across Scotland in June 2009, starting in Irvine on Friday 5 June, to consult people with dementia, their carers and other stakeholders on the content of a Charter of Rights; notes that the Charter of Rights seeks to ensure that individuals and their families have a clear set of rights from diagnosis through to end of life, and therefore considers that a fundamental culture change in care services would help ensure the highest quality of service provision to people with dementia.

Welcome to Age Concern and Help The Aged in Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the merger of Age Concern Scotland and Help the Aged in Scotland; congratulates both organisations on joining forces to support older people by providing services and campaigning on the issues that impact on the lives of older people, and recognises the contribution that the merged organisation will make in supporting older people to meet the challenges of combating fuel poverty and securing high quality services, including appropriate personal care, transport and housing.

Remember the Dead, Fight for the Living

That the Parliament supports International Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April 2009, which has the theme, good occupational health for all workers; notes that International Workers’ Memorial Day commemorates the two million workers who die from accidents and diseases at work, the 1.2 million who are injured and the 160 million who fall ill each year due to unsafe, unhealthy or unsustainable work and workplaces; notes that such deaths greatly exceed the number of deaths caused by war and that many such deaths are preventable by improved health and safety; calls for this day to be widely observed in Scotland through action to improve safety and provide a healthier working environment, and believes that the Scottish Government and others should formally recognise International Workers’ Memorial Day as an annual event when they take stock and advance plans for health and safety improvements and seek to provide a healthier working environment in the year to come.

Careers Across Scotland

That the Parliament congratulates all who took part in the carers’ rally at the Parliament on Wednesday 22 April 2009, particularly those from Carers of West Lothian who have done so much to support carers and their needs, and offers all carers support for their campaign to have fair and equitable respite services provided for them and their families right across Scotland.

University of Edinburgh Teaching Awards

That the Parliament notes the success of Edinburgh University Students’ Association’s Teaching Awards, which recognise the outstanding contribution of staff at the university; highlights that over 2,700 students nominated staff for being exceptional teachers and that over 620 staff were nominated; believes that the scheme is a positive way for students to push for high standards of teaching, especially in research-intensive institutions; congratulates other schemes being run at universities across Scotland, and further highlights the teaching awards as best practice in recognising the hard work of staff at the University of Edinburgh and encouraging excellence in teaching, as well as in research.

Jack Jones - Socialist and Trade Unionist

That the Parliament mourns the passing of Jack Jones, former general secretary of the Transport and General Workers’ Union, International Brigader, Liverpool city councillor and president of the National Pensioners’ Convention; applauds his lifetime commitment to improving the lives of working people; recognises that he fought fascism, poverty and inequality with his heart and soul, and extends its deepest sympathies to his family, friends and many comrades around the world.

Congratulations to James Lillis, Weinner of the 4^th. STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning

That the Parliament congratulates James Lillis of Unite the Union on winning the prestigious Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning in recognition of his tireless work in supporting and encouraging others to participate in learning; notes in particular his immense contribution to supporting a learning culture in his own workplace at First Glasgow; celebrates his commitment to integration in the workplace and his key role in helping migrant workers integrate into the broader community; appreciates his efforts in partnership with Unite the Union, First Glasgow, Renfrewshire Buddies, Adam Smith College and the learners themselves in making his workplace learning centre a success; salutes James Lillis as an inspiration in making possible for his fellow workers the reality of learning and community involvement, and congratulates the STUC and trade unionists across Scotland on the priority that they give to learning in the workplace.

National Osteoporosis Society Manifesto for Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the National Osteoporosis Society’s manifesto for Scotland; is concerned that osteoporosis is a long-term condition that is currently putting around 250,000 people in Scotland at risk of painful fractures, which are costly for the NHS to treat; notes that much can be done to prevent these fractures through the proper identification, treatment and care of people who have osteoporosis; considers that a fracture liaison service linked to every hospital that receives fragility fractures would ensure that every fragility fracture patient gets the treatment and care that they need; calls for coherent clinical guidance on the prevention, diagnosis and care of falls, fragility fractures and osteoporosis; also calls for the quality and systems of care for people at risk of falls, fragility fractures and osteoporosis to be measured on a regular basis to stimulate best practice; further calls for healthcare professionals working in primary care to be offered meaningful financial incentives to identify and treat people at a high risk of fragility fractures, and finally calls for measures to improve understanding of bone health among individuals of all ages and especially among children in primary and secondary school settings.

Mental Health Action Week 2009

That the Parliament supports Mental Health Action Week 2009, run by the Mental Health Foundation from 12 to 18 April; notes that this year’s campaign is raising awareness about the impact that fear and anxiety can have on our lives; expresses concern that up to one in 10 people in Scotland experience a problem with anxiety and that one in four will experience a serious problem with mental wellbeing at some point in life; welcomes the availability of the free campaign action pack from the Mental Health Foundation, and calls on the Scottish Government to support community mental health facilities to ensure that throughout Scotland everyone has access to adequate support facilities and resources at times when fear and anxiety is having a debilitating impact on lives.

RNID Hearing Matters campaign

That the Parliament welcomes RNID Scotland’s campaign, Hearing Matters; notes that there are 758,000 deaf and hard of hearing people in Scotland, the majority of whom are aged over 55; further notes that it takes people on average 10 to 15 years to address hearing loss and that there are around 350,000 people in Scotland who could benefit from a hearing aid but are not currently using one; considers that some GPs in the NHS Ayrshire and Arran area are screening adults for their hearing in the community rather than making a straight referral to audiology or ENT, and believes that hearing loss should be identified and treated at the earliest opportunity and the introduction of hearing screening on the NHS for those aged 55 and over considered.

Resource needed for the Cairo Programme

That the Parliament notes the assessment made by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) that a total investment of $64.7 billion is needed for the delivery of the global programme of sexual and reproductive health and family planning, as adopted by the 179 countries represented at the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development; agrees with the UNFPA that the implementation of this programme is crucial for the eradication of extreme poverty; recognises that this is the first time in 15 years that the Cairo Programme of Action’s cost estimates have been reviewed; further notes that only one third of the $64.7 billion has been pledged from the aid budgets of donor countries; considers that there is a dire need to increase the financial resources for the implementation of the Cairo Programme and that, if the governments of the rich world are serious about the Millennium Development Goals, they should not leave the poorest countries on Earth to find the bulk of the investment themselves; recognises the commitment that both the Scottish and UK governments have shown in the field of international development, and urges them to consider what further action can be taken in light of this reassessment of the resources needed.

MS Awareness Week

That the Parliament notes that MS Awareness Week will take place from 27 April to 3 May 2009 with the theme of misconceptions about multiple sclerosis (MS) and the impact that these can have on the lives of people living with the condition; believes that, as around one in 500 Scots have MS, it is crucial that service providers and the general public have a greater understanding and awareness of MS and how it affects individuals and families, and commends the MS Society Scotland for the work that it does to raise awareness and provide support for people affected by the condition.

UN fact-finding mission to the Gaza Strip

That the Parliament welcomes the appointment by the United Nations of the South African judge and former war crimes prosecutor, Richard Goldstone, to lead a fact-finding mission to the Gaza Strip; notes that Mr Goldstone will investigate all alleged violations of international humanitarian law, including the use of white phosphorus, before, during and after the recent Israeli military campaign in Gaza; further notes that Martin Uhomoibhi, president of the UN Human Rights Council, has stated that the mission will be independent and impartial, and calls on the international community actively to encourage full Israeli cooperation with the mission.

Grampian Police Knife Amnesty

That the Parliament notes the success of the recent knife amnesty held by Grampian Police over the last nine months, during which more than 1,000 knives and other weapons were anonymously handed in to police; congratulates Grampian Police for its proactive approach and success in taking knives off the streets of Aberdeen; believes that the number of knives handed in during a knife amnesty is likely to represent only a fraction of those that are being carried; agrees that these figures are a stark reminder that knife carrying is not just a west coast or a central belt problem but a problem that affects every part of Scotland; believes that one knife on the streets of Scotland is one knife too many; notes that the last Scotland-wide knife amnesty was held under the previous administration, between May and June 2006, during which a total of 12,642 knives were taken off the streets, and calls on the Scottish Government to hold a properly resourced high-profile Scotland-wide knife amnesty to help rid the streets of knives.

UK nuclear submarines involved in 14 collisions and over 200 fires

That the Parliament expresses serious concern over the admission that UK nuclear submarines have been involved in 14 collisions since 1979 and that over 200 fires have occurred on board nuclear submarines since 1987; considers that a number of these fires occurred when the nuclear submarines were at base resulting in the need for external help to contain the situations, and believes that the real possibility of a nuclear disaster, which could potentially cause untold suffering to the people of Scotland, demonstrates why it is time to remove these weapons of mass destruction from Scottish waters and for the UK Government to abandon its plans to renew Trident.

The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama

That the Parliament welcomes the announcement from the Scottish Funding Council that drama courses at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama will be funded at conservatoire level; believes that pitching the funding at an appropriate level ensures that the academy’s funding is in line with institutions such as the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama; considers that this announcement confirms that the academy is at the forefront of drama education internationally, demonstrated by its recent Research Assessment Exercise result; notes that this decision follows a concerted campaign by members of opposition parties calling on the Scottish Government to ensure that drama courses are funded at the appropriate level, and congratulates the academy on its continued status as Scotland’s internationally renowned conservatoire of music and drama.

Worrying Rise in Racist Incidents in Glasgow

As an amendment to motion S3M-3861 in the name of Anne McLaughlin (Worrying Rise in Racist Incidents in Glasgow), leave out from "is also concerned" to end and insert "believes that there should be no complacency at any level of government about this rise and that continued support should be given to the work of community integration; is concerned that Audit Scotland has concluded that "while councils have developed policies on race equality...the [race equality] duty has not yet had a significant impact on the delivery of services or on people from minority ethnic communities"; is also concerned that the Scottish Government has not issued guidance on equality impact assessments for single outcome agreements, and calls on the Scottish Government to produce an action plan on race equality and to take responsibility for achieving the targets set out in that plan."

Developing Telehealth in Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the developing role of the Aberdeen-based Scottish Centre for Telehealth and the contribution that it can make to developing telehealth across Scotland; in particular considers that there has been significant investment in angiography facilities for coronary heart disease across Scotland, and considers that a national system of decision support for healthcare professionals would optimise coronary reperfusion for patients suffering an acute heart attack.

The Legacy of the International Brigades

That the Parliament notes that 1 April 2009 marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the Spanish Civil War; salutes the heroic contribution of the hundreds of Scots who joined the international brigades to defend the democratically elected Government of the Spanish Republic against fascism; acknowledges that the remains of several Scots who died during the war are still unaccounted for; encourages people to take part in the series of events being held across Scotland to honour the memory of those who gave their lives in the defence of democracy, and vows to uphold the brigaders’ legacy by continuing to oppose fascism in all its forms.

Extension of Concessionary Accompanied Travel

That the Parliament commends the Scottish Blind Persons’ Travel Card scheme, which gives free travel on all bus, coach, rail and ferry services throughout Scotland, and the fact that the card can cover a companion for those people who can use public transport only with assistance; notes that there are others who similarly can travel only if accompanied but that their provision for a companion is limited to bus travel, and considers that all those who need to be accompanied should be covered by the travel scheme, on all bus, coach, rail and ferry services throughout Scotland.

Sweet 16? One year On - Is life Any Sweeter ?

That the Parliament welcomes the publication by the Commissioner for Children and Young People in Scotland (SCCYP) of Sweet 16? One Year On - Is life any sweeter?, a follow-up report to the SCCYP's 2008 report, Sweet 16? The Age of Leaving Care in Scotland; recognises the Scottish Government’s interest and willingness to consider the issues raised in the Sweet 16 report but expresses concern that significant further action is still required by central and local government to implement fully the original report’s 23 recommendations; fully supports the establishment of a system of care that ensures that young people can successfully make the difficult transition from care to independent living; supports the report’s recommendations that the Scottish Government should set a timetable for prohibiting the use of bed and breakfast accommodation for care leavers, consider adding registered social landlords to the list of those required to cooperate with local authorities in discharging their responsibilities towards children and young people, introduce a system of classification for hostels for the homeless that indicates their suitability for care leavers, consider seeking a power to order local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties and continue to monitor implementation and provide appropriate challenge to local authorities; shares the SCCYP’s belief that, in times of financial distress, we need to make sure that children and young people are the first to receive support and that this issue must remain high on the political agenda, and therefore urges the Scottish Government and local authorities to continue to ensure that the original Sweet 16 recommendations are fully implemented as quickly as possible to ensure that all young people in care in Scotland receive the best possible information, guidance, advice and support.

Protecting Tenant Deposits in Scotland

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of the research, Review of the Private Rented Sector; notes that the size of the private rented sector includes approximately 233,000 households with 74% of these households paying a tenancy deposit of, on average, £433; further notes that tenancy deposits therefore amount to over £70 million and that the research found that 13% of these deposits are withheld; highlights that the research estimates that up to 19,000 tenants in Scotland believe that they have had a deposit withheld unfairly, with these withheld deposits totalling up to £6 million; believes that tenancy deposits in Scotland are currently inadequately regulated; considers that there is a successful tenancy deposit protection scheme operating in England and Wales; recognises that there are powers provided by statute as part of the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to introduce a tenancy deposit protection scheme; considers that there is support among the National Union of Students, Shelter and many other organisations for such a tenancy deposit protection scheme, and calls on the Scottish Government to introduce at the earliest opportunity a tenancy deposit protection scheme to protect tenants and good landlords alike from rogue private landlords.

The Glasgow School of Art Launches International Competition

That the Parliament welcomes the Glasgow School of Art launching an international competition to design a new campus building opposite its iconic Mackintosh building in the heart of Garnethill; notes that the successful architect-led team will design and deliver the first phase of a two-phase project to create an urban campus, and believes that the project will result in a building that is as inspirational to current and future generations of staff and students as the renowned Mackintosh building, demonstrated by the many thousands of tourists who visit the Mackintosh building every year, will ensure world-class facilities for teaching and research and will enhance the school’s international reputation.

Post Bank

That the Parliament welcomes the proposal for a new post bank to be run as part of the post office network that was launched on Tuesday 17 March 2009 by a coalition of trade unions, businesses, pensioner and pressure groups and charities; notes that the proposed model would strengthen the role of the post office network, making it more viable, creating new job opportunities and securing its role for the future; further notes that it would mark a return to the form of relationship banking abandoned by our biggest banks and ensure a stable source of finance in the heart of communities that could provide financial services to three million people still not using banks, including the most disadvantaged people, pensioners, people who live in very remote rural areas and the many small businesses that are looking for alternative sources of finance, of which two out of five would consider banking with a post bank; recognises that the post office network is a unique national resource on which communities, businesses and individuals depend, and believes that setting up a post bank provides a unique opportunity to answer both concerns around secure and equitable finance and the future of the post office network.

Cuban Women on Tour

Glasgow City Council announces £7 Minimum Wage

That the Parliament welcomes the decision by Glasgow City Council, Scotland’s largest local authority, to pay its staff a new minimum wage of £7 per hour; notes that this move will boost the wages of the lowest paid staff by more than £1,100 a year; further notes that up to 80,000 workers in Glasgow earn less than £7 per hour and that this move has the potential to improve the lives of thousands of families across the city; acknowledges that the decision follows a similar successful scheme in London, and recognises that the national minimum wage was introduced by the UK Labour government without the support of other parties.

Red Cross Holyrood Update

That the Parliament welcomes the British Red Cross’s most recent edition of Holyrood Update; notes that the Red Cross has responded to recent international emergencies in Zimbabwe and Gaza with an appeal to help thousands of people affected by cholera and food shortages in Zimbabwe, raising £280,300 so far, and an appeal in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza that had raised £77,800 by 22 January 2009 when the organisation joined an appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee, and congratulates the Global Glasgow Youth Project for its work with vulnerable young people in South Africa and for its overall group award at the British Red Cross Humanitarian Citizen Awards.

BSL Recognition Day 18^th. March 2009

That the Parliament recognises 18 March 2009 as British Sign Language (BSL) Recognition Day; commends Donaldson’s school in Linlithgow for its role as Scotland’s national school for children who are deaf or have severe speech and language difficulties; recognises the dedication of the staff in teaching BSL, which helps pupils transition into the community; encourages all local authorities to consider the range and quality of resources that Donaldson’s offers and how they could be used to benefit children and young people from their areas, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue to support the school in its vital role in Scotland.

Credit Unions, Pioneering Roles in the Community

That the Parliament notes the important role of credit unions within the Glasgow Pollok constituency, across Glasgow and throughout Scotland; in particular, congratulates Pollok Credit Union on its unique and pioneering decision to set up an enterprise trust to take over the running of Pollok Post Office, manage a daycare nursery and offer a budgeting service to those with multiple debt problems, thereby securing jobs and services in the local community and beyond; recognises the real opportunity that these partnerships can provide in offering financial services and money advice to communities feeling the impact of economic recession, and considers that all possible ways by which further such enterprises can be encouraged should be explored.

25^th. Anniversary of the Miners’ Strike

That the Parliament notes that 8 March 2009 is the 25th anniversary of the National Union of Mineworkers National Executive Committee granting special permission to members to take strike action in defence of jobs; recalls that Polmaise in Stirlingshire was one of the first proposed pit closures that prompted the national industrial action; remembers those who died while on picket lines; further remembers the pivotal role of women’s groups in supporting families and mining communities during the strike; recognises the devastating impact that the pit closures and dispute had on communities across Scotland; understands the importance that the miners’ strike plays in the history of trade union relations in the United Kingdom, and welcomes the positive and constructive role that trade unions continue to play in the modern workplace and their vital involvement in areas such as health and safety, equalities and trade union learning.

Campaign for the release of Binavak Sen

That the Parliament welcomes the visit to Scotland of Indian human rights campaigner Illina Sen on Monday 9 March 2009; notes that her husband, Binayak Sen, has been jailed in India since May 2007; recognises that Amnesty International considers his jail sentence to be unacceptable and politically motivated; notes that Binayak Sen is a medical doctor who has devoted decades of his life to working with poor people in central India, and welcomes the work done by the Free Binayak Sen Campaign to condemn attempts to silence peaceful campaigns for justice and equality.

Snaring in Scotland

That the Parliament notes with concern that it is now a full year since the previous Minister for Environment announced his intention not to ban snares but to create further regulations to govern their use; recognises that the proposed regulations have not yet appeared; considers that, even with regulation, the continued use of snaring will subject thousands of Scotland’s animals every year to distress and suffering, including disembowelment, mutilation and death by slow strangulation, which is unacceptable and could not legally be inflicted on domestic animals; also considers that indiscriminate trapping methods such as snares exact a heavy toll on non-target animals, including wildlife, pets and farmed animals; is concerned that snares are still used to catch protected mountain hares; recognises that the Scottish Executive consultation on the future of snaring in 2006 elicited a more than two-to-one majority in favour of an outright ban on snares and that a poll commissioned in October 2008 showed that 79% of the Scottish public thought that snares should be banned, and therefore fully supports the campaign by Advocates for Animals, the League Against Cruel Sports and other wildlife organisations in calling for urgent action including a complete ban on snares in Scotland.

Women’s Environmental Network

That the Parliament notes that the Women’s Environmental Network aims to empower women to make positive environmental change, increase awareness of women’s perspectives on environmental issues and influence decision-making to achieve environmental justice for women; further notes the publication of Gender and Environmental Chemicals, a scoping study to identify key gender-related issues for international policy-making on chemicals management and safety, commissioned by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which recommends how best to have a gender perspective and input to environmental policy and processes; recognises that the biological, physiological and sociological differences between men and women need to be taken into account when considering how exposure to chemicals in the environment may affect them; considers that a gender equality approach needs to be taken to protect women’s health and help women participate more in environmental decisions about policies, processes and forums; believes that it is essential that women are brought into the mainstream of environmental decision-making processes, whether community-based or those initiated by governments; is concerned that new research shows that environmental and occupational exposures to toxins are contributing, or suspected of contributing, to a range of serious health problems in humans, as well as in many other species, and in particular notes the evidence of problems arising from early exposures, pre-natally and in infancy; notes that, in view of the strength of evidence for the hormone-disrupting actions of BisphenolA (BPA), several US States, Canada and several commercial firms have voluntarily withdrawn products containing BPA; believes that, as a precautionary measure, polycarbonate plastic baby-feeding bottles and other drinks bottles should be removed from sale, and further believes that a toxic use reduction programme should be considered.

That the Parliament considers that authenticated footage, filmed on Tuesday 24 February 2009 and published by Advocates for Animals, showing a young badger caught in a legal snare has demonstrated that these traps are cruel, distressing and indiscriminate; notes that disturbance of the surrounding area and the fact that the badger had almost chewed through the steel cable of the snare, injuring its mouth in the process, indicated that it had been struggling desperately for many hours before its discovery; believes that had this badger, a protected species, not been found, it might have died a lingering and agonising death; believes that this incident is not isolated but is proof that regulating snares will not work, and therefore urges the Scottish Government to legislate to ban snares without delay.

Fairtrade Universities

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Edinburgh on its fifth year as a leading Fairtrade University; notes that Dundee, Aberdeen, Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh Napier and St Andrews universities are all running events promoting Fairtrade Fortnight on their campuses; recognises the very positive impact that fair trade has on producers in developing countries, and urges all higher education institutions in Scotland to take steps to back the Fair Trade Nation campaign.

The Post Office, A People’s Bank

That the Parliament notes the confidence that the public has in the Post Office, particularly in this period of financial uncertainty; further notes the value of post offices in communities across Scotland; believes that, in providing a further range of financial services, the Post Office could assist many of those whom the banks do not serve, and further believes that, by becoming a people’s bank, the Post Office could make a significant contribution to social inclusion and financial stability in Scotland.

One World Action’s More Women More Power campaign

That the Parliament notes that 8 March 2009 is International Women’s Day; is proud, but not complacent, that women represent a third of all members of the Scottish Parliament; is determined that recent progress in Scotland will not mean that the issue of women’s political representation falls off the agenda; considers that this issue is a matter of justice and democracy and is essential to tackling poverty and inequality; encourages MSPs to support One World Action’s More Women More Power campaign for greater political representation globally and in the United Kingdom, and calls for urgent action to implement Article 7 of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women on ending discrimination in political and public life.

Cultural and Social Enterprise

That the Parliament considers that social enterprises have an important role in the promotion of social cohesion and sustainable development within our communities, generating substantial social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits; notes the emergence of cultural social enterprises throughout Scotland, building on the long history of cultural organisations using entrepreneurial talent to deliver social benefits and creating a bridge between the artistic and business communities; considers that the social enterprise model delivers high quality businesses that use their more-than-profit ethos to meet social needs and are capable of delivering sustainable growth despite economic recession, in circumstances where traditional commercial organisations would struggle to survive; notes, however, that support for social enterprise is currently provided through many diverse routes and believes that it would greatly benefit the sector if there were greater clarity and a more coordinated approach between funding bodies; congratulates the Scottish Social Enterprise Coalition for its membership-led championing of the cause of the diverse range of cultural and other social enterprises, and wishes the coalition and the sector every success for the future.

Keep the Post Public

This Parliament notes that the Royal Mail Group third-quarter results show revenue of £2.6 billion, up from £2.5 billion last year, with all four businesses in profit, year-to-date profit of £255 million compared to £162 million for the whole of 2007-08 and full-year profits expected nearly to double; considers that profits would be higher were it not for the uncompetitive conditions under which the Royal Mail delivers mail for rival companies; notes opposition from businesses and the public towards privatisation, with opinion polls showing public support for privatisation as low as 3%; notes the importance of the universal service obligation to the social and economic wellbeing of Scotland; endorses the call for a new relationship between management and postal unions and welcomes the commitment of the Communication Workers Union to negotiate an agreement that would support the modernisation of the industry; observes that in 2007 the UK Government agreed to a £1.2 billion loan facility on commercial terms to modernise Royal Mail operations but that two years later only half of this money has been spent; welcomes the recommendations in the Hooper Report that the UK Government should take responsibility for the pensions deficit that followed an extended contributions holiday; recognises that the global financial situation has exacerbated the pension fund problems, but believes that, if these can be addressed to facilitate partial privatisation, then they can be addressed to facilitate keeping the otherwise profitable Royal Mail publicly owned, and further believes that the best way to protect the universal service obligation, including six days a week delivery, is to keep the post public.

Scottish Government should set Fairtrade Example

That the Parliament welcomes Fairtrade Fortnight; notes that the Scottish Government spends almost £100 million on food for schools, hospitals and workplaces every year and calls on it to set a positive example by ensuring that at least 10% of this expenditure is spent on fairtrade products, thereby making Edinburgh the fairtrade capital of Europe, and recognises that this target would set a great example to supermarkets, businesses and consumers and that the fairtrade movement has made a real difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people by ensuring that farmers and workers get a fair price from the trade of their products and making a vital contribution to combating poverty.

Firefighter Deaths in the Line of Duty

The tragic loss of three firefighters while carrying out their duties in Scotland in 2007-08, the highest death toll in over 30 years; calls on the Scottish Government to take note of the concerns highlighted in the Fire Brigades Union report, In the Line of Duty; notes the concern expressed in the report that records are not kept systematically and may not accurately reflect the actual number of deaths and at the absence of a common definition of reportable deaths; calls on the Scottish Government to consider the need for a properly resourced central body with responsibility for recording and investigating firefighter deaths and other serious incidents and for the development of safety-critical operational guidance arising from those investigations, and calls on the Scottish Government to work constructively with other devolved administrations and UK Government departments on these issues.

ParentLine Scotland

That the Parliament congratulates ParentLine Scotland, the national free and confidential helpline for parents and carers, on celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 and on receiving more than 85,000 calls since its inception; commends the helpline’s support for parents and carers through highly trained volunteers listening and offering information, support and advice so that parents are better able to cope with issues such as family relationships, child ill-health, bullying and behaviour issues; notes that a significant proportion of calls to ParentLine Scotland are from parents of teenagers, and recognises the particular importance of ParentLine Scotland as a source of easily accessible support for these parents.

Fairtrade Fortnight

That the Parliament notes that Fairtrade Fortnight runs from 23 February until 8 March 2009; applauds the efforts over the last decade of charities, church groups and individuals in promoting the benefits of fair trade in Scotland; considers that the fairtrade movement has already made a significant difference to the lives of many thousands of workers, their families and communities across the globe; recognises that the fairtrade concept is based on traditional cooperative principles of community ownership, democratic membership control and concern for communities; notes that sales of fairtrade products currently total an estimated £700 million across the United Kingdom, and encourages the Scottish Government to work with schools, local authorities, further and higher education establishments and businesses to ensure that as many of them as possible achieve fairtrade status.

Apprenticeships Week for Scotland

That the Parliament notes that the second annual Apprenticeships Week in England takes place from 23 to 27 February 2009; recognises the opportunities that this week will provide to highlight the vital role that apprenticeships play in developing a skilled workforce; further recognises that many successful individuals and business leaders began their careers as apprentices; believes that many businesses understand the importance of training workers in order to remain competitive in the current economic climate and beyond; further notes the recent agreement by the Scottish Government, following the Scottish Budget, to hold an apprenticeship summit, create 7,800 new apprenticeship starts in the next year and provide support for apprentices facing redundancy, and calls on the Scottish Government to consider establishing an apprenticeships week for Scotland.

Student Movement Supports Gaza

That the Parliament welcomes the day of fundraising at the University of Glasgow for all those affected by the recent conflict in Gaza; notes that the day of fundraising, which will be held on Friday 20 February 2009 and is being organised by the Students’ Representative Council, will offer staff and students the opportunity to contribute to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Gaza Crisis appeal as well as to funds being collected for Save a Child’s Heart, an Israeli-based charity that supports children from developing nations who suffer from heart disease, with half of the beneficiaries of that charity being Palestinian children; further notes that the day of fundraising follows on from students at Edinburgh, Glasgow, Strathclyde and St Andrews universities taking a stance on the situation in the occupied territories and the Gaza Strip, and congratulates the student community for engaging with this issue and pressing the international community to work together to bring about justice for Palestinians and a peaceful two-state solution.

International Women’s Day

That the Parliament welcomes the many events being organised throughout the world to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March 2009; notes the role that this day plays in recognising, promoting and celebrating women’s issues worldwide; considers that there are still many aspects of women’s rights, representation and welfare that need to be addressed through a gendered policy approach, including the gender pay gap, the under-representation of women in senior positions within the public and private sectors and as elected representatives, and with regard to the provision of violence-against-women support services; recognises the requirement under the Gender Equality Duty for the Scottish Government, local authorities and other public bodies to undertake needs analyses and equality impact assessments, and believes that these are central to single outcome and other agreements.

No Place for Chauvinism in 21^st. Century Scotland

That the Parliament calls for Dr Louise Richardson, the new principal of St Andrews University, to be offered honorary membership of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews as were her male predecessors; believes that discrimination on the basis of gender has no place in 21st century Scotland; considers that the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews is the home of golf and sets an example for the game to millions of players across the world and millions of visitors to Scotland; believes that the Year of Homecoming 2009 provides an opportunity for the club to drop such an outdated and discriminatory policy, and calls on politicians from across the political spectrum, starting with the First Minister, to support calls for the principal to be offered membership regardless of gender and for the club to drop its policy against allowing women members.

Professor Sir Philip Cohen

That the Parliament congratulates Professor Sir Philip Cohen of the University of Dundee for his recent recognition in the award of Leading Individual Contribution to Life Sciences in the Scottish Enterprise Life Sciences Awards 2009; recognises his vast contribution to the field as the most cited bioscientist in Europe; welcomes the Scottish Government’s investment of £10 million in the new Scottish Institute for Cell Signalling under his direction, and acknowledges the importance of the life sciences sector to the economy of both Dundee and Scotland as a whole.

Aviation and Scotland’s Climate Change Bill

That the Parliament acknowledges the recent report from the World Development Movement, which found that airport expansion in Scotland could create 20,000 climate refugees worldwide by 2050 due to the damage caused by increased climate change emissions; welcomes the plea from some 21,000 people that Scotland’s share of international aviation emissions should be counted in a Climate Change (Scotland) Bill from the start; notes that campaigners will bring this message to the Parliament on Thursday 5 February 2009 in order to highlight the case for the Climate Change (Scotland) Bill to explicitly commit to action on international aviation emissions from the outset; further notes the views of those campaigners that MSPs must not allow the second National Planning Framework for Scotland to support aviation expansion without full and proper public and environmental scrutiny, and believes that aviation expansion remains economically unjustified, especially given that the majority of businesses in the United Kingdom plan to reduce their flying in the next 10 years.

10^th. anniversary of Chavez Presidency

That the Parliament offers its congratulations to Hugo Chávez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, on a decade of his presidency and notes the wide-ranging and sweeping social reforms that have been implemented in Venezuela in this period and which have widened access to health and education, reduced the proportion of those living in poverty, and markedly so in relation to extreme poverty, which is reported to have been reduced from 42% to 9.5%, and propelled Venezuela up the United Nation’s Human Development Index.

Bicentenary of Louis Braille

That the Parliament celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, inventor of the unique communication system for blind people that has been instrumental in unlocking knowledge and potential, creating opportunities and supporting independent action from the time of its invention to the present day; notes the importance of providing braille and other forms of accessible information to people with visual impairments across all sectors and in all areas of activity to create a fair and inclusive society; also notes the potential of modern technology to give full effect to Louise Braille’s vision of effective communication for blind and visually impaired people, and considers that the Scottish Government has an important role as an exemplar of best practice in relation to the accessibility to visually impaired people of public services and information provision across Scotland.

World Cancer Day 2009

That the Parliament notes that Wednesday 4 February is World Cancer Day 2009; acknowledges that the World Health Organisation predicts that 84 million people will die from cancer worldwide between 2005 and 2015; is aware that one of the deadliest cancers is lung cancer; recognises that the overwhelming majority of lung cancer deaths are smoking related; believes that the best way to reduce lung cancer mortality over the long term is to reduce the number of young people who become addicted to tobacco, and congratulates the work of ASH Scotland, a leading Scottish charity campaigning for effective tobacco control, and the work of many other charities and organisations working to prevent, treat and research cancer and those that provide palliative care and support both for sufferers and their families.

Support for Unpaid Carers

That the Parliament recognises the vital role played by unpaid carers across Scotland in providing essential care and support to people whose lives are seriously affected by illness or disability and the work done to support carers by the Voice of Carers Across Lothian (VOCAL) in Edinburgh and the Coalition of Carers in Scotland; notes that the estimated replacement cost for unpaid carers in Edinburgh has increased by £98.3 million to £554.5 million; is concerned that one in five carers has given up work to provide care, the same proportion suffer poor health, only 40% have had a break from their responsibilities of more than two days and 73% live in fuel poverty, and therefore considers that the contribution made by unpaid carers to the Scottish economy should be recognised by improving the sharing of best practice in the provision of support with other European countries and local authorities across the United Kingdom and by improving the quality of support available for respite care, training, support services and young carers in Scotland.

Celebration of Dundee Astronomer - That the Parliament celebrates, in this, the International Year of Astronomy, the outstanding contribution made to the study of astronomy by Williamina Fleming, born in Dundee in 1857; notes her remarkable work in cataloguing over 10,000 stars and discovering 59 gaseous nebulae, over 310 variable stars and 10 novae, and further notes with great pleasure that the Fleming crater on the Moon was named jointly after her and Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, in recognition of their respective achievements.

Welcome to the Conference on Trident and International Law - That the Parliament welcomes Christopher Weeramantry, former vice-president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to Scotland for his address on the legality of nuclear weapons at the conference, Trident and International Law: Scotland’s Obligations, which expands on the United Kingdom's and Scotland’s responsibilities arising from the 8 July 1996 ICJ advisory opinion that "the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law", and welcomes the conference’s review of the application of international law with regard to the renewal of Trident by the UK Government.

Map of Gaps— That the Parliament welcomes the Map of Gaps 2 report and website www.mapofgaps.org from the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the End Violence Against Women coalition; notes with alarm that three million women across the United Kingdom experience violence each year; further notes that over a quarter of local authority areas across Britain have no specialised violence against women support services, such as rape crisis centres, refuges, domestic violence outreach projects and services for black and minority ethnic women; recognises the need for local authorities and other public bodies to undertake needs assessments under their gender equality schemes and to ensure both sufficiency and diversity of provision; welcomes that, as with the previous report from December 2007, Scotland leads the way in provision and that this, in part, is due to Scotland being the only part of the UK to take an explicitly gendered policy approach to violence against women; is concerned however that the removal of ring-fenced funding for local services may be leading to a dilution of focus and support, and calls on the Scottish Government and local authorities to ensure that rigorous needs analysis and equality impact assessment, as required by the Gender Equality Duty (GED), are central to future single outcome agreements.

Protecting the Independence of the Mental Welfare Commission—That the Parliament notes with particular concern the proposal by the Scottish Government to merge the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland with NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and some of the functions of the Care Commission; recognises that the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is an organisation that is focused on the rights of individuals within the context of mental health legislation while NHS Quality Improvement Scotland is a broader body seeking to raise standards within the NHS in Scotland; agrees that the strength of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is in its ability to monitor, visit and assist people with mental health problems independently of government and the NHS and that, as such, the findings contained within its reports are highly valued by experts in the field; acknowledges that the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland is not solely concerned with matters pertaining to health and can become involved in issues relating to care in prison, welfare benefits and how the criminal justice system deals with victims with mental disorders, and therefore believes that it is crucial for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland to be wholly independent and continue to operate with a full remit.

Hospital Car Parking Charges—That the Parliament is concerned that proposals by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to limit free car parking to four hours could result in financial penalties being imposed on staff and the public; notes that alternative facilities are often not available; believes that staff having to leave work to move cars after four hours will be disruptive to both staff and patients; also notes that members of the public can require to attend hospital for more that four hours; further believes that these proposals are not consistent with the pledge made by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, and calls for clarification of policy by the cabinet secretary and a commitment by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde to revise its policy to avoid financial penalties being imposed on staff or those requiring to attend hospital for longer than four hours.

Monthly Bin Collections in Fife—That the Parliament notes plans by Fife Council to pilot monthly bin collections; is concerned that these proposals are the latest in a series of cuts by the local authority, such as the increase in care charges, that are impacting on Fife residents; understands that efforts to reduce waste are important for a sustainable future but is concerned that four-weekly collections of residual waste will lead to an increase in overflowing bins and on-street litter; believes that efforts to increase recycling and the green disposal of food waste should be encouraged but not at the expense of local communities’ quality of life, and calls on Fife Council to reconsider its proposals.

Beating Bowel Cancer’s 2009 Be Loud! Be Clear! Campaign—That the Parliament supports Beating Bowel Cancer’s Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign, formerly the Loud Tie campaign, on the charity’s 10th anniversary; notes that the campaign aims to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms, dispelling the embarrassment so often associated with the disease; also notes that bowel cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths in Scotland, with around 1,600 people dying from the illness and over 3,500 new cases being diagnosed each year; further notes with concern that 75% of those under the age of 35 recently polled by YouGov were not aware that bowel cancer was the United Kingdom’s second biggest killer cancer; recognises that early clinical detection and intervention could save the lives of 90% of those diagnosed if detected early enough; welcomes the continuing roll-out of the national screening programme in Scotland to people aged 50 to 74; urges people to take part in the national screening programme by returning their self-test kits; notes that while the risk of bowel cancer increases with age it also affects a significant number of younger people; supports further improvements in bowel cancer services in Scotland that build on increased patient involvement and public awareness delivered through managed clinical networks, and encourages MSPs to support the Be Loud! Be Clear! campaign between 26 January and 1 February 2009 on behalf of Beating Bowel Cancer.

BBC Refusal to Broadcast the Emergency Appeal for Gaza—That the Parliament condemns the decision by the BBC not to broadcast the Disasters Emergency Committee appeal for Gaza and the fact that this decision may have influenced the decision of other broadcasters; notes the statement by Douglas Alexander MP, the Secretary of State for International Development, in which he expresses his disappointment that the appeal will not be broadcast; believes that this decision will severely affect the ability of the aid agencies to respond to the extreme needs of the people in Gaza and will add to their immense suffering, and further believes that the BBC should reverse this decision immediately.

Combating Human Trafficking—That the Parliament recognises the need to develop appropriate strategies to combat the evil practice of trafficking people into Scotland; commends the important and continuing work of the International Justice Mission (IJM) to combat sex trafficking; notes that, in the 12 years since the organisation’s founding, the IJM’s investigations have resulted in freedom for hundreds of girls and women held by force in the commercial sex trade; also recognises that the IJM’s founding principle is the defence and protection of individual human rights for all people by bringing the law to bear on their behalf and by prosecuting perpetrators who violate local and international laws; also notes the important contribution of local groups such as Cupar Justice and Peace Group on this issue, and further recognises the international and interdependent characteristics of human trafficking and the need for an internationally coordinated approach to bring about the end of such crimes here in Scotland and across the world.

That the Parliament notes with concern the announcement by the Vion Food Group that 150 people are to be made redundant at the Grampian Country Foods factory in Cambuslang; recognises that this announcement has resulted from a reduction in orders from Marks and Spencer, and calls on the Scottish Executive and all other public agencies to work together to ensure that every assistance is being offered to the company, trade unions and the workforce at this difficult time.

That the Parliament expresses concern at the UK Government’s continued commitment to renewing the aging Trident system at a cost of £20 billion and notes that the former head of the armed forces, Field Marshal Lord Bramall, argued in a letter to The Times on 16 January 2009, also signed by General Lord Ramsbotham and General Sir Hugh Beach, that nuclear weapons have shown themselves to be completely useless as a deterrent to the threats and scale of violence we currently face, or are likely to face, particularly international terrorism.

That the Parliament notes the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning on Monday 12 January 2009 of the appointment of Councillor Graham Houston as chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA); also notes that Councillor Houston also holds a high profile political position in a local authority and that in this role he will be called on to participate in national and local meetings where matters relating to national qualifications will be discussed; further notes that as chair of the SQA he will be called on to make decisions relating to individual schools and local authorities, including on charging policies and performance-related issues; expresses concern about the direct conflict of interest that occurs should one individual hold these two positions, this conflict arising regardless of the abilities, experience and party affiliation of the individual and which would be particularly inappropriate in the context of the management and delivery of examinations and qualifications, which should be independent of party politics, and calls on the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning to recognise this direct conflict of interest and to review the appointment as a matter of urgency.

First Minister Must Set The Record Straight

That the Parliament notes the answers given by the First Minister to Tavish Scott MSP on Thursday 8 January 2009 in the Chamber (Official Report, c. 13822) regarding funding for the Scottish Inter Faith Council (SIFC); notes that the First Minister stated that funding was "resolved"; notes that the convenor of the SIFC has indicated that the matter was not resolved at the time of the First Minister’s statements; believes that the First Minister therefore misled the Parliament and that he should make a statement clarifying and apologising for this position; believes that the precedent has been set in previous sessions of the Parliament that the correct action for a minister who has, even inadvertently, misled the Parliament is to return to the Parliament as soon as possible to correct the inaccuracy and apologise, and that the Presiding Officer should play a constructive and appropriate role in ensuring that this happens.

A Scottish Tenancy Deposit Scheme

That the Parliament notes that the next meeting of the Working Group on Safeguarding Tenancy Deposits is at the start of February 2009; further notes the completion of research looking at the issue of unfair deductions and withholding of tenancy deposits in Scotland; looks forward to the findings of the research being the basis for development of a tenancy deposit scheme in Scotland; acknowledges the successful working of schemes in the rest of the United Kingdom, and calls on the Scottish Government to use powers in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to create a Scottish tenancy deposit scheme that offers the same protection to tenants and responsible landlords in Scotland as is afforded to the rest of the United Kingdom.

Diabetes UK 75^th. Anniversary

That the Parliament congratulates Diabetes UK on its 75th anniversary, which it celebrates in 2009; notes, in this year of Homecoming, the particular contribution of Scotland and Scots to the work of Diabetes UK and to diabetes research, including RD Lawrence who founded the organisation with HG Wells in 1934, JR McLeod who shared the Nobel Prize in Medicine for the discovery of insulin and John Ireland who co-designed and developed the insulin pen; recognises that diabetes continues to be a major public health issue in Scotland, with 209,706 people registered with diabetes and a projected increase to 350,000 by 2025; commends the improvements in diabetes services over the past seven years arising from the Scottish Diabetes Framework and Action Plan; notes that the action plan concludes this year, and looks forward to renewed commitment to action on diabetes in Scotland to take us in to 2010 and onwards.

Congratulations to Scottish Universities on their Performance in the UK Research Assessment Exercise

That the Parliament commends the performance of Scottish universities in the 2008 UK Research Assessment Exercise (RAE); notes Research Fortnight’s analysis of the results; congratulates the University of Edinburgh and the University of Glasgow for appearing in the top 20 of UK institutions, at number five and number 14 respectively; further congratulates the University of Aberdeen, the University of Strathclyde, the University of St Andrews, the University of Dundee and Heriot-Watt University on securing places in the top 50 of UK institutions; believes that this success is down to the hard work of university staff, combined with the significant investment provided by government since the last RAE, in 2001; notes that the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning previously pledged to provide "something for something" regarding funding for universities; believes that Scottish universities have clearly kept their end of the bargain, and strongly urges the Scottish Government to provide the significant resources that universities in Scotland need to maintain their research performance and to remain generally competitive within the United Kingdom and across the world.

Situation in Gaza—That the Parliament is gravely concerned at the tragic events that began in the Gaza Strip on 27 December 2008 and the subsequent ground invasion of Gaza by Israeli troops; believes that this response is disproportionate and is extremely concerned at the huge loss of life and the many thousands injured in the air attacks; condemns all acts of violence and aggression against civilians; believes that there should be an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli troops as a first step in a process towards peace to bring about a lasting settlement for Palestinians and a secure Israel, and further believes that in the event of a ceasefire all crossings should be open to ensure the availability of humanitarian aid.

The Future of the Arts in Scotland—That the Parliament notes the letter circulated on 5 January 2008, with 440 signatories, expressing apprehension about the formation of Creative Scotland and the effects on artists’ welfare and practice, including the view that the situation regarding Creative Scotland has now reached crisis point; notes that the letter highlights a perceived lack of concern for artists’ needs and UNESCO declarations on culture and freedom, a lack of meaningful consultation with the arts communities during the transition process, an inadequacy of funding and an impact on artistic independence of proposals that include an exploitation of intellectual property rights and an introduction of loans coupled with a cut in grant aid; recognises that this is the latest in a series of criticisms of the Creative Scotland proposals and believes that this lack of confidence in the formation of Creative Scotland is shared by many others; considers that the proposals for Creative Scotland have failed to convince many people that they offer any significant improvement on the current provision of support for artists and the development of, and entitlement to, culture in Scotland and moreover that many consider that they will have a negative impact on our arts and culture, and believes that the Scottish Government should take on board these criticisms and not proceed further without reviewing its plans, consulting widely and seeking consensus on a positive and constructive way forward for the funding and development of arts and culture in Scotland.

Helen Suzman—That the Parliament pays tribute to the life of Helen Suzman and her long fight against apartheid and for liberal values in South Africa during her parliamentary career from 1953 to 1989 and beyond, particularly as the only parliamentarian in the South African Parliament publicly and actively opposed to apartheid from 1961 to 1971 as representative of the Progressive Party and later as a leading member of the Progressive Reform Party and the Progressive Federal Party; remembers Helen Suzman’s work for the South African Institute of Race Relations, her opposition to the 90-day detention law in 1963 and to the arbitrary powers of the South African justice minister and her long support for Nelson Mandela despite threats against her from the National government; remembers also her work as a member of the Independent Electoral Commission that oversaw the first democratic election in 1994 and as a member of the South African Human Rights Commission; recalls that she was declared an enemy of the state by President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in 2001; notes that she was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and won the United Nations Human Rights award in 1978; mourns the death of this undaunted champion of freedom, but believes that her work will live on in the new South Africa and in the Helen Suzman

Woodland Trust Scotland’s Christmas Card Recycling Scheme—That the Parliament supports the Woodland Trust Scotland’s Christmas card recycling scheme being operated in conjunction with Waste Aware Scotland from 2 to 31 January 2009; encourages people to recycle their Christmas cards by taking them to special recycling bins placed in participating WH Smith, Tesco and TK Maxx stores; encourages people who do not traditionally recycle their cards to participate in the scheme and help to make recycling part of their daily lives, and notes that funds raised from the scheme will help to plant new trees in Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes the introduction of a degree course in patient safety at the University of Aberdeen; notes that there is currently no formal training for clinicians in the human and system causes of error and adverse events; recognises research by academics at the University of Aberdeen that suggests that errors by medical professionals affect up to 50,000 patients in Scotland each year, contributing to about 5,000 deaths; congratulates the University of Aberdeen for identifying the obvious need for such a course, and supports efforts to minimise risk to patients by providing sufficient training for health professionals to diminish the risk of medical errors and to improve the quality of Scotland’s health care as a whole.

Scottish Water Dispute

That the Parliament expresses its concern that Scottish Water has breached six years of constructive partnership with staff by imposing a 15-month pay rise of 3%, which equates to an annual offer of 2.4%, far short of the current rate of inflation, and as a result of this imposition staff have voted in favour of industrial action; notes that, by stark contrast, the remuneration of Scottish Water’s executive directors has risen from an average of £108,000 in 2002-03 to £172,000 in 2007-08; commends the hard work and commitment of Scottish Water staff and the world-class public service that they provide and fully understands that their decision to strike has not been taken lightly; recognises that Scottish Water is publicly owned and accountable to Scottish ministers who are also responsible for setting the pay remit and approving any pay deal, and believes that the Scottish Government should engage directly and as quickly as possible with both trade unions and Scottish Water to resolve this dispute and ensure that public servants are awarded a fair and negotiated pay settlement.

Shelter 40 Years On

That the Parliament welcomes the publication by Shelter Scotland of the 40 Years On booklet, which marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of Shelter Scotland on 3 October 1968; notes that throughout its existence Shelter Scotland has consistently spoken out on behalf of those who are homeless or in poor-quality housing; further notes that Shelter Scotland has been at the cutting edge of developing services, including the opening of housing aid centres, the rural housing initiative, care and repair schemes for older people, the launch of the Housing Law Service, the returning home initiative and the Rough Sleepers Initiative, and was instrumental in the establishment of housing associations in Scotland such as Castle Rock Housing Association, now Castle Rock Edinvar Housing Association; further notes that Shelter Scotland is today the largest provider of online housing advice in the country; recognises that Shelter played a key role in the development of the Homelessness Task Force, which for the first time led to the establishment of a legal commitment to give all homeless people the right to a home by 2012, and welcomes the ongoing contribution which Shelter Scotland makes in the challenge of providing good-quality housing for all in Scotland.

2008 Homeless World Cup Sponsorship

That the Parliament recognises the generosity of Cumbernauld-based firms Moviecom.tv and Xltec in their financial support of Scotland’s homeless football team; notes that the Homeless World Cup is an annual international football tournament uniting homeless and excluded people from around the world; looks forward to watching the online TV channel produced by Moviecom.tv for the tournament kicking off in Melbourne, Australia, on 1 December 2008, and wishes Scotland a successful repeat of its 2007 victory in the final.

Scotland’s Tribute to One of the Most Influential Scientists of All Time

That the Parliament welcomes the James Clerk Maxwell statue, produced by Alexander Stoddart and to be unveiled on 25 November 2008 in George Street, Edinburgh, by the Presiding Officer of the Parliament; recognises that Clerk Maxwell is one of the most influential scientists of all time with his work laying the foundations for the modern technological society that we live in today; congratulates the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the many donors who made the monument possible; believes that it is right that there should be public recognition of the achievements of Clerk Maxwell in the city of his birth, and hopes that wider appreciation of the works of great Scottish scientists and engineers will inspire new generations to seek to follow in their footsteps.

Dundee Top City for Business Growth

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee on being named as the top city for business growth in Scotland in a Royal Mail business survey; notes that between March and August 2008 Dundee achieved a growth rate of 1.89%, placing it third overall in the United Kingdom and up 23 places from last year; welcomes the 118 new businesses that started in Dundee over the six-month period of the survey, and recognises the support that the Scottish Government has provided to businesses in Dundee with the abolition of tolls on the Tay Bridge and the introduction of the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

Improving Access

That the Parliament believes that no person should be left stranded or isolated as a consequence of an inability to board a bus; calls on bus operators in West Dunbartonshire and across Scotland to accelerate their programmes for replacing old vehicles, particularly on principle routes, to ensure that more low-floor accessible buses are available; notes that many disabled people, elderly people and parents with prams are unable to access transport to vital services, and recognises the efforts made to date by some bus operators but strongly believes that the current stock of low-floor buses is insufficient to meet need and that bus operators should introduce accessible buses on key routes.

Disappointment at Decision

That the Parliament expresses disappointment at the Scottish Government’s decision not to push ahead with a ban on electric shock training devices until the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs research is completed in 2010; notes that the Welsh Assembly has already announced a ban on their use in Wales and is currently drafting legislation; further notes that a wide range of organisations, including the Kennel Club, veterinary surgeons, respected dog trainers and behaviour experts, call for the sale and use of electric shock collars to be prohibited in Scotland, and urges the Scottish Government to review its decision.

Dignity for Palestinians

That the Parliament welcomes the passage of the boat, Dignity, which travelled from Cyprus to Gaza with 11 European parliamentarians including three members of the Scottish Parliament on board; recognises that this is the third boat to challenge the siege of Gaza, which has become a permanent blockade and which has affected every aspect of Palestinian life to the point where they are now in receipt of the largest food aid programme in the world; is concerned about the impact of the blockade on ordinary Palestinians, denying them basic health care rights as there is a shortage of medicine, proper medical equipment and severe restrictions on leaving Gaza for referral treatment, which has resulted in many deaths as recorded by the World Health Organisation; supports the efforts of Edinburgh Direct Aid to send aid to Gaza, and recognises that action by the international community, to secure an end to the siege of Gaza and implement international law, is key to encouraging long-term peace in the Middle East.

Successful Mercy Mission to Gaza

That the Parliament congratulates the success of the European Campaign to End the Siege on Gaza and the Free Gaza Movement on their successful mission to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver much needed medical supplies and equipment to the people of Gaza; notes that alongside politicians from around Europe, such as Claire Short MP and Lord Nazir Ahmed, the successful delegation included Sandra White MSP, Pauline McNeill MSP and Hugh O'Donnell MSP; further notes that, after the refusal of the Egyptian authorities to provide safe passage, the group successfully sailed from Cyprus to Gaza despite the close attention of the Israeli navy; hopes that these actions will give hope to the many Palestinians throughout the world, including Glasgow, that the blockade will be ended, and believes that only by all parties working together can we resolve this issue, which is causing untold suffering to the ordinary people of Gaza.

Back to a Life Stroke Campaign

That the Parliament welcomes the Back to a Life survey of stroke survivors report; calls on the Scottish Government to listen to the views of the large number of people in Scotland with communication difficulties following a stroke and who responded to the survey; recognises the impact, following a stroke, of communication difficulties on people’s lives; supports the development of more, improved and better integrated communication support services in hospitals and in communities; further supports the development of accessible public communication services throughout communities and the establishment of accurate data collection processes to better evaluate and inform local communications service planning, and calls on the Scottish Government to make a firm commitment to act on these issues in Scotland’s refreshed Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Strategy.

People’s Postcode Lottery

That the Parliament congratulates the People’s Postcode Lottery in raising over £1 million for charities in Scotland in its first year in existence; welcomes the fact that funding is unrestricted so that its charity partners, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Children 1st and Maggie’s Cancer Care Centres, can spend the money with complete independence; notes that the money raised so far equates to funding a Maggie’s Centre for one year, supporting the Children 1st Parent Line service for 12 months and maintaining the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s network of over 120 reserves across Scotland; further welcomes the fact that all funds raised in Scotland stay in Scotland, and supports the future growth of the lottery so that other charities can benefit from this invaluable source of funding.

Mindroom

That the Parliament notes that Scottish learning difficulties charity Mindroom has launched a major campaign aimed at securing more integrated support for children and adults with learning difficulties; notes the research indicating that more than one-in-six children has a recognised learning difficulty and calls for greater medical and statistical research in this area; strongly supports Mindroom’s focus on integrating support for people with learning difficulties under three pillars, namely, assessment and diagnosis, research and development, and education and training; believes that the creation of centres combining these facilities under one roof represents a potentially revolutionary way of supporting people with learning difficulties and their families, and would welcome creation of the world’s first such Mindroom in Scotland, allowing Scotland to take a global lead in promoting integrated support for those with learning difficulties.

2014 Communities Lottery Fund

That the Parliament congratulates the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland and warmly welcomes the launch of 2014 Communities, a new and dedicated fund aimed at securing a legacy from the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games; notes that this is the first such fund in Scotland or the United Kingdom to provide dedicated funding to help create and support a legacy for communities across Scotland arising from the 2014 Games; further notes that through 2014 Communities the Big Lottery Fund will offer small grants to fund and support grassroots involvement in sport and physical activity, focusing on increasing the number of people participating in or volunteering for such activity, and believes that, by opening this new fund now, to run right up to the 2014 games, people across Scotland will have an early opportunity to benefit.

Winning through Unity

That the Parliament warmly congratulates Barack Obama on his election as 44th President of the United States of America; believes that his election represents, in the words of the Prime Minister, "a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written" and is a watershed event in the history of the USA, parts of which experienced racial segregation within living memory; admires President-elect Obama’s campaign, which placed emphasis on unity over division, and believes that his election is testament not only to himself as an individual, his party and all those who have supported him in his campaign, but also to the achievements of a non-violent civil rights movement, which has inspired other struggles against injustice and helped to transcend divisions in countries around the globe; further believes that President-elect Obama shares the values of progressive politics in Scotland and the United Kingdom, and looks forward to engaging constructively with his administration for the betterment of our respective countries and the wider world.

Congratulations to Edinburgh University for Being Awarded The Carbon Trust Standard

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Edinburgh on becoming the first Scottish educational institution to be awarded the Carbon Trust Standard; believes that the awards are a positive contribution to encourage reduction in carbon emissions; notes the current and future importance of technology such as energy efficiency measures, micro-renewables and combined heat and power systems in helping not only businesses, public authorities and educational institutions but also households to reduce their carbon emissions, and calls on the Scottish Government to look at all options, including local fiscal levers such as council tax, to develop better financial incentives encouraging the use of small-scale and householder renewables across Scotland.

Carers’ Rights Day

That the Parliament supports Carers’ Rights Day 2008, a campaign run by Carers Scotland; recognises that nearly three quarters of carers in Scotland are financially worse off as a result of caring and supporting family, friends or neighbours, with many falling into poverty and debt while they save the country an estimated £7.6 billion each year, and seeks to increase the uptake of benefits by carers, raise awareness of carers’ rights and the support for which they are eligible.

Further Education Colleges’ Pay and Conditions of Service

That the Parliament considers that there is confusion and extensive disparity in pay and conditions of service for support, management and teaching staff in further education colleges in Scotland, and calls on the Scottish Government to establish an independent commission to consider pay and conditions in those further education colleges.

World Diabetes Day

That the Parliament welcomes the United Nation’s declaration of November 14 as World Diabetes Day; further welcomes the arrival in the Scottish Parliament of Diabetes UK Scotland’s exhibition, which aims to raise awareness of the impact that the condition has on children and young adolescents in Scotland; recognises that Scotland has one of the highest rates in the world for Type 1 diabetes and that more than 90% of young people with diabetes in Scotland are at risk of serious health complications because they lack the information and support to manage their condition properly; congratulates Diabetes UK Scotland on the publication of the Making Connections toolkit, which aims to give young people an improved transition from paediatric to adult services in hospitals and gives them advice on living with diabetes as young adults, and calls on the Scottish Government to support fully children and young people with diabetes.

Scottish Safety Anaomaly

That the Parliament notes with concern that Health and Safety Executive statistics published on 29 October 2008 show that in 2007-08 there were 32 fatal injuries and 2,721 major injuries to workers in Scotland, compared to 229 and 27,976 in the United Kingdom as a whole, and that the rate of fatal and major injuries in Scottish was 115.1 per hundred thousand, compared to 105.8 for the UK as a whole; further notes that only 52% of related prosecutions were successful in Scotland, compared to 89% in the rest of the UK; believes that, despite improvements across the UK, there is a persistent anomaly in the figures for Scotland that needs to be addressed, and further believes that serious consideration should be given to steps that can be taken within devolved powers to address this anomaly.

Mental Health in the Workplace

That the Parliament congratulates the Scottish Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Development Centre for Mental Health and the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives on establishing a pilot project to raise awareness of the overall benefits of healthy inclusive workplaces in relation to mental health and improving support for workers with mental health issues and hopes that the knowledge gained from this pilot will lead to a further reduction in stigma and contribute to a healthier working environment.

Success as Edinburgh’s Nightclubs "Unight" to Tackle Violent Crime

That the Parliament welcomes the success of Unight, an innovative new safety initiative set up a year ago in a partnership between 21 of Edinburgh’s top nightclubs aiming to improve communication between bars and nightclubs to make the city’s nightlife safer; congratulates all 21 nightclubs for their involvement in the scheme and commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour, drugs and violent crime; welcomes the collaborative approach of participating nightclubs in sharing CCTV footage of antisocial and drug-carrying customers; supports moves to ban troublemakers from all city establishments; believes a zero tolerance policy against drugs, assaults and weapons is the right approach in tackling violent crime and antisocial behaviour; notes the full support of Lothian and Borders Police and the positive feedback received from customers; welcomes recent figures from Lothian and Borders Police that show a 21% reduction in overall crime at Unight venues since the scheme was introduced, with the decline in criminal activity reaching as much as 70% in some venues; supports calls to roll out schemes such as Unight that enable higher standards of supervision and safety to become reality in towns and cities across Scotland, and supports proposals to make such schemes a national standard throughout the club and bar industry in Scotland.

Glasgow Rangers and UNICEF

That the Parliament congratulates Glasgow Rangers on establishing a partnership with UNICEF that will see the Rangers Charity Foundation raising £300,000 by 2011 to fund a UNICEF education programme in India called Reducing the Gender Gap: Quality Education for Girls, which will focus on improving the quality of children’s education and working to ensure that all children, especially girls and those from disadvantaged or socially excluded backgrounds, have access to schools in the Indian states of Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajastan, Gujurat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Girlguiding UK - Girls Plus Action Equals Change

That the Parliament congratulates Girlguiding UK on its Changing the World project; notes that 18 charities have teamed up with Girlguiding UK to offer members of the organisation support and suggestions to raise awareness, money or take direct action to make the world a better place; further notes that, as guiding nears its centenary in 2010, over 4,000 girls in Scotland and 50,000 across the United Kingdom are on waiting lists to join this great organisation and that, without the commitment of its leaders and volunteers, many girls and young women would not have the opportunity to enjoy guiding by making new friends, having fun, being challenged by new experiences, thinking for themselves and working as part of a team, and wishes the 3,460 members in Glasgow all success in making a difference in society today.

Energy Saving Week Campaign 2008

That the Parliament congratulates the Energy Saving Trust for organising its 12th annual Energy Saving Week from 20 to 26 October 2008; recognises that energy efficiency is the cleanest, safest and cheapest way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions; notes that energy efficiency can play a key role in tackling fuel poverty but acknowledges that the Energy Saving Trust’s independent research shows that people believe that a lack of time is a barrier to them taking energy saving measures; further notes that many actions, such as installing low energy lightbulbs or boiling only the amount of water that you need for a hot drink, actually take very little time; urges all MSPs to show leadership in their constituencies and regions by supporting Energy Saving Week and encouraging constituents to contact their local Energy Saving Scotland advice centre on 0800 512 012 for free, independent, home energy efficiency advice, and notes that since the Energy Saving Trust was established it has funded or influenced measures giving lifetime savings of over 100 million tonnes of CO2.

Death of Eddie Thompson

That the Parliament notes with sadness the death of Eddie Thompson, who passed away on 15 October 2008 after a long battle with cancer; remembers his dedication to Dundee United FC as chairman and his work in the Scottish retail industry; notes his many achievements with Dundee United, which included reaching the Scottish League Cup Final in 2008 and bringing FC Barcelona to play at Tannadice; expresses its condolences to the family and friends of Eddie Thompson, and hopes that the good work that he carried out at Dundee United will inspire those at the club for many years to come.

This is Not an Invitation to Rape Me

That the Parliament welcomes Rape Crisis Scotland’s new campaign, This is Not an Invitation to Rape Me, which aims to tackle women-blaming attitudes towards rape in a nationwide advertising campaign; notes that many Scots still believe that women are in some way responsible for being raped if they are dressed in revealing clothing, are drunk, are flirting, or are known to have had many sexual partners; further notes that although rape within marriage was made a crime in Scotland from 1989, the myth persists that women are only raped by strangers and not their partners; believes that social attitudes continue to play a significant role in limiting justice for women who have experienced rape, with a Scottish conviction rate of only 2.9%, and in central Scotland as low as one conviction from seven prosecutions and 45 allegations, with an estimated 40% of rapes unreported, and congratulates the campaign for its use of distinctive images featuring women in everyday settings, challenging people’s attitudes towards rape and tackling the myths and prejudices that undermine women’s right to say no.

Show Racism the Red Card’s Fortnight of Action

That the Parliament supports Show Racism the Red Card’s (SRTRC) 5th annual Fortnight of Action, which takes place from 16 to 30 October 2008 and will see a number of high profile events aimed at tackling racism and celebrating cultural diversity at football matches across the country; notes that, since it inception in Scotland, SRTRC has proved consistently successful in using football as a tool to challenge racism, ignorance, intolerance and bigotry in both sport and wider society; recognises the quality of SRTRC educational resources and programmes, which are rolled out across schools in Scotland; welcomes the development of SRTRC’s Islamophobia package, which seeks to challenge many of the myths that have become attached to the subject of Islam, and wishes the Scottish Parliament’s football team the best of luck with its contribution to the campaign when it plays against the SRTRC team at Tynecastle on

Science and the Parliament 2008, Educating our Scientists of Tomorrow—That the Parliament welcomes the 2008 Science and the Parliament event on 5 November 2008 on the theme of educating our scientists of tomorrow; recognises the role of the Royal Society of Chemistry in organising this annual event with the involvement and support of a range of organisations from the scientific and engineering communities in Scotland; believes that the focus on science education is important and timely given the consideration currently being given to education at all levels, and acknowledges that ensuring that our education system gives a good grounding in scientific knowledge and methods to future specialists and to the whole population would greatly enhance the opportunities for Scotland in the future.

Congratulations on Scottish University World Rankings—That the Parliament notes the publication of the 2008 Times Higher Education QS World University Rankings; congratulates the University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow and University of St Andrews for being ranked in the top 100; further congratulates the University of Aberdeen for being ranked in the top 200 universities in the world; recognises that Scottish universities make up four of the 29 UK universities in the top 200; notes the improved ranking of the University of Glasgow and the drop in ranking for the University of St Andrews and University of Aberdeen; notes the drop in ranking of the University of Dundee out of the top 200 world universities; further notes the delay in publishing the final report of the Joint Future Thinking Taskforce on Universities; highlights the serious financial concerns expressed by many leaders across the university sector in Scotland over the last few weeks, and calls on the Scottish Government to come forward with concrete and substantive proposals to ensure Scotland’s universities maintain and build on their current international position over the coming years.

Regret for Continuing Complacency on Reducing Clostridium Difficile Hospital Infections—That the Parliament notes the most recent Health Protection Scotland (HPS) statistics on healthcare associated infections; while recognising the continuing improvement in MRSA, notes that the number of cases of Clostridium difficile in the most recent quarter (April to June 2008) showed an increase from the same quarter in 2007 of 150 cases or around 9%; regrets that HPS, having tried to explain the increases over the previous two quarters (October 2007 to March 2008) as "probable seasonal variation", now suggests that the small reduction from the two winter quarters represents a real reduction rather than a continuing year-on-year increase; further notes that, unlike England, Scotland still reports on the basis of NHS boards and not individual hospitals, thus preventing the public from having any information about their local hospitals; considers that the continued rise in antibiotic resistance reflects the continuation of a failure to implement effective antibiotic policies; calls on the Scottish Executive to urgently review hand hygiene policies, practice and reporting to ensure that alcohol wipes and hand washing are not conflated in hand hygiene reports and ensure that the denominator of observations is standardised for each hospital and also that inspection is rigorous and independent for each hospital, thus ending self reporting, and further calls on the Scottish Executive to set tough targets for a reduction in Clostridium difficile cases by 2011 to match or exceed the 30% target set in England.

Plight of Wives of Miami Five—That the Parliament welcomes the visit by Olga Salanueva and Adriana Pérez, the wives of two Cuban nationals, René González and Gerardo Hernández, who are here as part of a UK-wide trip to highlight their own and their husbands’ plight; recognises that their husbands, members of a group of men known as the Miami Five, are currently serving long prison sentences in the United States of America since being arrested while trying to gather information on Miami-based groups allegedly responsible for terrorist attacks against the Cuban people; is concerned that the wives have been denied US visas, meaning that they cannot visit their husbands and have not seen them for over eight years; agrees with Amnesty International that this action is "contrary to standards for humane treatment of prisoners and to states’ obligations to protect family life"; further considers that it is inhumane, unjust and cruel, and believes that the US authorities should grant visas to enable the women to visit their husbands.

Homage to Caledonia and the International Brigade Memorial Trust—That the Parliament welcomes the International Brigade Memorial Trust (IBMT) to Scotland on the occasion of its annual general meeting (AGM), which will be held in Dundee from 10 to 12 October 2008; notes that during the course of the AGM there will be a wide range of events, exhibitions and screenings across the city including the rededication of the International Brigade Memorial; encourages people to visit the Dundee and the Spanish Civil War exhibition being held during October at the Wellgate Library; notes that 17 out of the 70 Dundonians who defended democratic freedom in the Spanish Civil War died in the war; recognises Allan Craig as the 17th Dundonian name to be added to the supplementary plaque; commends the IBMT on its work in preserving the memory and values of the brigade; salutes the courage and heroic contribution of the hundreds of Scots who fought valiantly on the side of the democratically-elected government of Spain against fascism during the course of the war, and wishes the IBMT continued success in the years to come

Save Scottish Sharks—That the Parliament notes that 11 to 19 October 2008 is European Shark Week; is concerned at the dramatic decline in European shark numbers; is further concerned that most Scottish shark species are classed as critically endangered but that none is currently afforded any protection; regrets the Scottish Government’s refusal to offer the tope the same protection as it has in England, resulting in the landing of tope being legal on the Scottish side of the Solway but not on the English side; looks forward to the publication of the Scottish Government Marine Directorate’s policy on sharks, and considers that action to protect these endangered species is urgently required.

Alcohol Awareness Week—That the Parliament welcomes Scotland’s Alcohol Awareness Week; notes the work done by the alcohol industry, health professionals, the voluntary sector and police forces across the country; further notes the success of initiatives such as the Designated Place at Albyn House in Aberdeen in helping those who are drunk and incapable as well as easing the burden on hard-pressed hospitals and the pressure on police cells, and calls on local and national partners to put in place long-term funding for projects such as Albyn House without further delay.

School Meals—That the Parliament recognises the need to examine the current school meals crisis in Edinburgh and across the country as a result of severely cash-strapped local authorities; questions the SNP government’s success in fulfilling its ambitions, set out in the historic concordat and single outcome agreements, to tackle childhood obesity and promote healthy eating at a time when school kitchens are closing and hot healthy school meals are being replaced with imported, pre-packed, often processed food; feels that these actions undermine the good reputation that the Parliament has achieved in securing free healthy school meals and promoting healthy living through initiatives like Hungry for Success, and further recognises the need to give every child the best possible start in life.

Working Together on Child Poverty and the Minimum Wage—As an amendment to motion (S3M-2659) in the name of Bob Doris, leave out from "Labour MSP Mary Mulligan" to end and insert "when the Conservative Party used filibustering in an attempt to talk out the National Minimum Wage Bill during its crucial final stage in the House of Commons, not one SNP MP stayed to vote to help ensure its passage or even register support despite the party’s rhetoric before and since on this issue; considers that the personalised criticism that the intention in submitting amendment S3M-2621.1 was to seek to "engage in party politics on the issue of child poverty" and break unity on the issue of the national minimum wage to be laughable, given not only the partisan and self-congratulatory motion which it alters, but also the tone, tenor and standard of SNP motions in this Parliament more generally, including on the subject of child poverty and the national minimum wage."

A Fare Deal - That the Parliament notes the Fare Deal campaign, which is asking that demand-responsive community transport schemes, such as Dial-a-Bus or Ring ‘n’ Ride, where elderly and disabled people can book a place on a bus that will pick them up and take them to their destination, be included in the national concessionary travel scheme; commends Help the Aged in Scotland, Capability Scotland, Community Transport Association Scotland, Age Concern Scotland, Leonard Cheshire Disability, Guide Dogs, RNID Scotland, Scottish Disability Equality Forum, Glasgow Disability Alliance, Include Scotland, RNIB Scotland and the WRVS for their work in launching the campaign, and urges the Scottish Government to extend the national concessionary travel scheme to include demand-responsive community transport as an effective means of making transport more accessible to disabled people.

Growing Older Together : Older people and Debt - That the Parliament notes the publication of Growing Old Together - Older People and Debt by Citizens Advice Scotland; is concerned that the average debt level for older people seeking advice from their local citizens advice bureau is £17,767, a 25% increase since 2003; further notes the finding that levels of debt increased as levels of income decreased, with clients in the survey who had a net income of less than £6,000 having debt levels on average 42% higher than those with an income higher than £10,000; recognises the excellent work of citizens advice bureaux in Glasgow and across Scotland in advising older debt clients; supports the need for early and effective benefits take up and debt advice to be available for all older people, and considers that measures to deal with debt, such as debt arrangement schemes and the low income low asset regulations, should be accessible and beneficial for older clients.

Memory Matters Show - That the Parliament welcomes the Memory Matters roadshow, which will visit Dundee and Glasgow from 30 September to 3 October 2008 to offer educational information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and practical advice on the local support services available to both patients and carers; notes that one in 14 people over the age of 65 will have some form of dementia, with over 56,000 sufferers in Scotland; further welcomes the availability of dementia-specialist nurses at the roadshows; further notes that early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s and dementia is vital, and applauds the work of Alzheimer Scotland in raising awareness of these diseases and providing a support network for patients, their relatives and carers.