That the Parliament notes the month-long global advocacy campaign by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to mark the 25th anniversary of the abduction of the then six-year-old Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family by Chinese authorities; further notes that the advocacy campaign will run from 25 April to 17 May 2020; understands that the CTA has repeatedly raised this issue with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; notes what it sees as the unsubstantiated claim by the Chinese Government that Gedhun is living a “healthy, normal life”; expresses concern that independent experts have not, it believes, been permitted to meet Gedhun and verify this information since his abduction in 1995, and calls on the UK Government to raise the wellbeing of Gedhun and his family through diplomatic means.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes the month-long global advocacy campaign by the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to mark the 25th anniversary of the abduction of the then six-year-old Panchen Lama Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and his family by Chinese authorities; further notes that the advocacy campaign will run from 25 April to 17 May 2020; understands that the CTA has repeatedly raised this issue with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child; notes what it sees as the unsubstantiated claim by the Chinese Government that Gedhun is living a “healthy, normal life”; expresses concern that independent experts have not, it believes, been permitted to meet Gedhun and verify this information since his abduction in 1995, and calls on the UK Government to raise the wellbeing of Gedhun and his family through diplomatic means.
Supported by: John Mason, David Torrance, Bill Kidd, Maureen Watt, Andy Wightman, John Finnie, Clare Adamson
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That the Parliament notes with concern the decision taken by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) not to furlough 16 café staff who are on zero-hour contracts; understands that these workers are students who have no access to universal credit and therefore rely on the income from their work at the café to support themselves through their studies; considers that the university’s offer of support through hardship funds is unacceptable and a wholly inadequate alternative to the safety net offered through the furlough scheme; understands that the Department for Work and Pensions has advised the students to request that the university place them on furlough, and demands that management at UWS reverse its decision immediately.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern the decision taken by the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) not to furlough 16 café staff who are on zero-hour contracts; understands that these workers are students who have no access to universal credit and therefore rely on the income from their work at the café to support themselves through their studies; considers that the university’s offer of support through hardship funds is unacceptable and a wholly inadequate alternative to the safety net offered through the furlough scheme; understands that the Department for Work and Pensions has advised the students to request that the university place them on furlough, and demands that management at UWS reverse its decision immediately.
Supported by: Richard Lyle, Mark Ruskell, Monica Lennon, Bill Kidd, Patrick Harvie, Neil Bibby, John Finnie, Neil Findlay
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That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a new resource to help children and young people use screens and social media in a healthy way, called "Mind Yer Time"; notes that this world-leading resource has been co-designed with children and young people by the Scottish Youth Parliament and Children’s Parliament, with support from the Scottish Government; welcomes the resource’s focus on getting the balance right between using screens and social media so that children and young people can stay connected to friends and family, while also supporting their wider wellbeing and mental health, and encourages partners across the country, and children and young people themselves, to use and distribute the resource widely.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the launch of a new resource to help children and young people use screens and social media in a healthy way, called "Mind Yer Time"; notes that this world-leading resource has been co-designed with children and young people by the Scottish Youth Parliament and Children’s Parliament, with support from the Scottish Government; welcomes the resource’s focus on getting the balance right between using screens and social media so that children and young people can stay connected to friends and family, while also supporting their wider wellbeing and mental health, and encourages partners across the country, and children and young people themselves, to use and distribute the resource widely.
Supported by: Kenneth Gibson, John Mason, Christine Grahame, Sandra White, Mark McDonald, Ruth Maguire, Patrick Harvie, Bill Kidd, Fulton MacGregor, Clare Adamson R, Iain Gray, John Finnie, Emma Harper, Alison Johnstone
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That the Parliament congratulates Bearsden Academy’s Design Technology Department on its production of protective masks for GPs and frontline healthcare professionals; understands that the school responded to a call to put 3D-printers to work by making the masks; encourages schools and other groups or people with 3D-printers to join in this effort, and recognises that provision of PPE to NHS and other key workers is a vital part of the efforts against COVID-19.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Bearsden Academy’s Design Technology Department on its production of protective masks for GPs and frontline healthcare professionals; understands that the school responded to a call to put 3D-printers to work by making the masks; encourages schools and other groups or people with 3D-printers to join in this effort, and recognises that provision of PPE to NHS and other key workers is a vital part of the efforts against COVID-19.
Supported by: Rona Mackay, Bill Kidd, David Torrance, Richard Lyle, Stewart Stevenson, Kenneth Gibson, Clare Adamson, Neil Findlay, Ruth Maguire
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As an amendment to motion S5M-21263 in the name of John Swinney (OECD Review of Curriculum for Excellence), after “structure” insert “; calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that the review also covers the impact of homework on teaching and learning and that appropriate measures are put in place to allow teachers to contribute freely and without repercussion”.
Current Status:
As an amendment to motion S5M-21263 in the name of John Swinney (OECD Review of Curriculum for Excellence), after “structure” insert “; calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that the review also covers the impact of homework on teaching and learning and that appropriate measures are put in place to allow teachers to contribute freely and without repercussion”.
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That the Parliament congratulates Annette Mackay on her retirement after 42 years of teaching, latterly as deputy head teacher at Bearsden Academy; commends Annette for the substantial and varied contribution she made to the school over 24 years, including, but not limited to, the teaching of maths, French and Latin as well as the coaching of football and debating teams; thanks the many thousands of teachers like Annette who go above and beyond their contracted roles to support and encourage pupils across Scotland, and wishes Annette well in her retirement.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Annette Mackay on her retirement after 42 years of teaching, latterly as deputy head teacher at Bearsden Academy; commends Annette for the substantial and varied contribution she made to the school over 24 years, including, but not limited to, the teaching of maths, French and Latin as well as the coaching of football and debating teams; thanks the many thousands of teachers like Annette who go above and beyond their contracted roles to support and encourage pupils across Scotland, and wishes Annette well in her retirement.
Supported by: Bill Kidd, Rona Mackay, Mark Ruskell, Gil Paterson, Tom Arthur, Ruth Maguire
Current Status: Fallen on 13/03/2020
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That the Parliament congratulates Harry Talbot from Bearsden Academy on making the final of the English-Speaking Union’s St Andrew’s Day Debate; notes that this is the latest in a string of impressive results for Harry and Bearsden Academy’s debating team, which was one of four schools from around Scotland to make the final debate in the Parliament chamber; understands that the topic debated was, This house believes that the government should prioritise relocating people away from areas at risk of climate change damage (e.g. coasts) over making these areas safe to live in, and that the final was chaired by the Parliament’s Deputy Presiding Officer, Christine Grahame; notes that this is the 13th time that the St Andrew’s Day Debate has been held in the Parliament; believes that debating and public speaking experiences should be available to all young people in Scotland during their education, and wishes Harry and the Bearsden Academy Debating Society all the best for the future.
Current Status:
That the Parliament congratulates Harry Talbot from Bearsden Academy on making the final of the English-Speaking Union’s St Andrew’s Day Debate; notes that this is the latest in a string of impressive results for Harry and Bearsden Academy’s debating team, which was one of four schools from around Scotland to make the final debate in the Parliament chamber; understands that the topic debated was, This house believes that the government should prioritise relocating people away from areas at risk of climate change damage (e.g. coasts) over making these areas safe to live in, and that the final was chaired by the Parliament’s Deputy Presiding Officer, Christine Grahame; notes that this is the 13th time that the St Andrew’s Day Debate has been held in the Parliament; believes that debating and public speaking experiences should be available to all young people in Scotland during their education, and wishes Harry and the Bearsden Academy Debating Society all the best for the future.
Supported by: Rona Mackay, Bill Kidd, Tom Arthur, Gail Ross, Clare Adamson
Current Status: Fallen on 13/03/2020
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That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of TSB to close its branches in Barrhead, Bishopbriggs, Clarkston, Dumbarton and Milngavie as part of a programme of 17 planned closures across Scotland and 82 across the UK; understands that losing these branches will leave TSB customers having a round trip of between three and seven miles to the next nearest branch; believes that bank branches are a vital part of the fabric of many communities, especially for those with limited mobility or no internet access, and that it is important they are recognised as an essential service and are protected; invites TSB to reconsider its decision to close these and the other affected branches and to engage with trade unions on any potential redundancies and changes to staff conditions, and expresses solidarity with those whose jobs are under threat due to these plans.
Current Status:
That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of TSB to close its branches in Barrhead, Bishopbriggs, Clarkston, Dumbarton and Milngavie as part of a programme of 17 planned closures across Scotland and 82 across the UK; understands that losing these branches will leave TSB customers having a round trip of between three and seven miles to the next nearest branch; believes that bank branches are a vital part of the fabric of many communities, especially for those with limited mobility or no internet access, and that it is important they are recognised as an essential service and are protected; invites TSB to reconsider its decision to close these and the other affected branches and to engage with trade unions on any potential redundancies and changes to staff conditions, and expresses solidarity with those whose jobs are under threat due to these plans.
Supported by: Elaine Smith, John Mason, Rona Mackay, Bill Kidd, Sandra White, Fulton MacGregor, Gil Paterson, Jackie Baillie, Tom Arthur, Ruth Maguire, Gail Ross, Clare Adamson
Current Status: Fallen on 13/03/2020
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That the Parliament welcomes the recent withdrawal of a planning application by Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise for a large tourist development on the shores of Loch Lomond at Balloch; understands that this application had a Scottish record of over 57,000 objections, had been opposed by West Dunbartonshire Council, the Woodland Trust, Ramblers Scotland and many other organisations, and had been recommended for refusal by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park planning officers; congratulates the community’s Save Loch Lomond campaign on its success; considers that, while it understands that the developers are considering resubmitting an application and have an exclusivity agreement until December 2020, there is a clear appetite locally for a community buyout and to explore alternative visions for the area, and further considers that the future of the site would be best determined by the local community.
Current Status:
That the Parliament welcomes the recent withdrawal of a planning application by Flamingo Land and Scottish Enterprise for a large tourist development on the shores of Loch Lomond at Balloch; understands that this application had a Scottish record of over 57,000 objections, had been opposed by West Dunbartonshire Council, the Woodland Trust, Ramblers Scotland and many other organisations, and had been recommended for refusal by Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park planning officers; congratulates the community’s Save Loch Lomond campaign on its success; considers that, while it understands that the developers are considering resubmitting an application and have an exclusivity agreement until December 2020, there is a clear appetite locally for a community buyout and to explore alternative visions for the area, and further considers that the future of the site would be best determined by the local community.
Supported by: Patrick Harvie, Mark Ruskell, Jackie Baillie, Maurice Corry, Lewis Macdonald, Daniel Johnson, Sarah Boyack, Monica Lennon, Rhoda Grant, John Finnie, Rona Mackay, Jenny Marra, Andy Wightman
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 05/11/2019
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That the Parliament condemns the reported decision of the United States to withdraw military support from its Kurdish allies in Northern Syria; understands that the United States had, in recent days, compelled the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to demolish defensive fortifications along the Turkish border, as part of its security mechanism framework, on the understanding that no troop withdrawal was imminent; considers that the decision to have the fortifications dismantled only then for the United States to withdraw military forces from the area after reaching an agreement with Turkey is a gross act of betrayal to the Kurdish-led forces that lost over 11,000 men and women at the forefront of the fight against the ISIS "caliphate" and leaves the one region of Syria that is under stable, democratic control at imminent risk of invasion, destruction and ethnic cleansing at the hands of Turkish forces; recalls that Turkey launched an offensive into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in North Western Syria in early 2018, which, it understands, led to extensive destruction, thousands of deaths and the ethnic cleansing and deliberate displacement of much of the existing population; considers that the United States' decision will destabilise the region and risk a resurgence of ISIS, and calls on the United States, and other coalition governments, to reaffirm their support for the SDF and take measures to prevent Turkey from launching what it sees as its long-threatened invasion of Northern Syria.
Current Status:
That the Parliament condemns the reported decision of the United States to withdraw military support from its Kurdish allies in Northern Syria; understands that the United States had, in recent days, compelled the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) to demolish defensive fortifications along the Turkish border, as part of its security mechanism framework, on the understanding that no troop withdrawal was imminent; considers that the decision to have the fortifications dismantled only then for the United States to withdraw military forces from the area after reaching an agreement with Turkey is a gross act of betrayal to the Kurdish-led forces that lost over 11,000 men and women at the forefront of the fight against the ISIS "caliphate" and leaves the one region of Syria that is under stable, democratic control at imminent risk of invasion, destruction and ethnic cleansing at the hands of Turkish forces; recalls that Turkey launched an offensive into the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in North Western Syria in early 2018, which, it understands, led to extensive destruction, thousands of deaths and the ethnic cleansing and deliberate displacement of much of the existing population; considers that the United States' decision will destabilise the region and risk a resurgence of ISIS, and calls on the United States, and other coalition governments, to reaffirm their support for the SDF and take measures to prevent Turkey from launching what it sees as its long-threatened invasion of Northern Syria.
Supported by: Bob Doris, Patrick Harvie, Kenneth Gibson, Gil Paterson, John Finnie, Neil Findlay, Maureen Watt
Current Status: Fallen on 23/01/2020
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