Motions

Motion S6M-16993

That the Parliament commends Tony Pearson for his tireless efforts in raising awareness and funds for early diagnosis and treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA); notes that his campaign follows the SMA diagnosis of his two-year-old daughter and highlights what it sees as the urgent need for newborn screening as part of the routine blood spot test at birth; understands that SMA is a leading genetic cause of infant mortality, with effective treatments that can significantly improve outcomes if given early; acknowledges Tony’s upcoming 43-mile fundraising walk from Glasgow to Edinburgh, which he aims to complete in a single day, with approximately 15 hours of non-stop walking, on 1 April 2025, which also marks the 40th anniversary of Spinal Muscular Atrophy UK; believes that Tony’s efforts to raise awareness of the need for SMA screening for newborn babies is an important part of the campaign to secure such screening as soon as possible, and wishes Tony every success in his fundraising and campaigning efforts.

Motion S6M-16796

That the Parliament congratulates Maryhill Burgh Halls on the opening of a new exhibition celebrating the life of the Scottish suffragette, Jessie Stephen; notes that the exhibition, which opened on 11 March 2025, brings to the public attention the achievements of a remarkable working class activist; acknowledges that Jessie, who was born in 1893 in Maryhill, dedicated her life to women’s suffrage as well as championing workers’ rights and social justice; recognises her significant contributions as a trade unionist, councillor and advocate for equality; appreciates the efforts of women’s history enthusiast, Anabel Marsh, in curating this exhibition; commends Sheana Stephen, Jessie’s great-niece, for providing personal items for the display, including a banner made in 2018; encourages the public to visit the exhibition, which runs until 13 June 2025, to learn more about what it believes was Jessie’s inspirational life and contributions to society, and considers that this exhibition will ensure that Jessie’s contributions are never forgotten.

Motion S6M-16622

That the Parliament welcomes a £40,000 grant secured by YoMo (Young Movers) from the National Lottery Community Fund to support a food pantry run from The Base, a community resource in the Gilshochill area of Maryhill, Glasgow; understands that the food pantry provides affordable and dignified access to good quality food, which can support both those on low incomes and reduce food waste; acknowledges the efforts of the staff and volunteers who support access to the food pantry every Tuesday and Thursday; pays tribute to the wider range of activities on offer at The Base, including various youth initiatives offered by YoMo, as well as health and wellbeing classes, a toddler and parent group and a free monthly community breakfast; believes that The Base is an important community space that makes a valuable contribution to the community, and wishes all involved with YoMo and The Base the very best for the future.

Motion S6M-16483

That the Parliament congratulates Summerston Netball Club on winning the Glasgow Lord Provost Award 2024 at the Glasgow Sports Awards; considers that the accolade is a huge achievement made all the more remarkable given that the club was only established just over a year ago by Head Coach and Founder Stef Szula; understands that the club provides a valuable opportunity for girls in Summerston and beyond to get actively involved in what is a skilled and rewarding team sport, and that its weekly sessions on Tuesday evenings in John Paul Academy are hugely popular; acknowledges the hard work of everyone involved at the club, including coaches, volunteers and all the players in establishing and growing the club; believes that such sporting opportunities for young women are of great importance, and wishes Summerston Netball Club all the best for the future.

Motion S6M-16337

That the Parliament commends the work of students and staff at Cadder Primary School for organising and celebrating Spanish Week 2025, which ran from 27 January 2025 and culminated in students hosting a highly successful Fun Fiesta on 31 January 2025 for families and invited guests; understands that the Fun Fiesta delivered a highly enjoyable Spanish entertainment showcase for guests, including film, song and dance, as well as a wonderful paella and tapas meal provided by Malaga Tapas; believes that involving all year groups across the whole school in such an engaging and enjoyable initiative to learn about Spanish language and culture is both inclusive and enriching; wishes P7 students, who will be visiting Valencia in May 2025 as part of a twinning arrangement with a local Valencian school, Colegio Soroll, and funded in part by £27,000 from the Turing Scheme, a wonderful visit, and looks forward to such innovative educational weeks and exchange visits being a regular feature of the Cadder Primary School calendar for years to come.

S6M-16094

That the Parliament congratulates the community of Summerston, in the Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn constituency, on reaching the significant milestone of having been established for 50 years; understands that the first residents settled in the area from late 1974; believes that, in the years that followed, they witnessed a strong, close knit and civically-minded community develop; commends the Summerston Community and Environmental Group (SCEG) on its efforts to both improve the area's environment and celebrate the five decades of Summerston as a community; acknowledges the work of SCEG in, it believes, it being "hands on" in its efforts to enhance the local area; notes that a community action plan was developed by SCEG following a major community consultation to help further improve the area; believes that a successful, piper-led, winter lantern parade, supported by Summerston schoolchildren and the wider community took place on the 27 November 2024 to mark the 50th anniversary, which kickstarted a number of events planned over the next 12 months; considers that constructive community activism and participation is a key component in helping communities such as Summerston prosper; supports the coming year’s activities, and wishes the people of Summerston every success on the area continuing to thrive for the next 50 years and beyond.

S6M-14956

That the Parliament welcomes the Parliamentary elections to the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 20 October 2024; understands that the elections are reported to have been postponed on five occasions as a consequence of political differences over the electoral system, and that elections originally scheduled by the end of 2022 failed to transpire with the Kurdish Parliament then suspended in May 2023; acknowledges the ongoing concerns that the government of the semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Authority must demonstrate greater transparency and tackle corruption within the region; further acknowledges the concerns of many within the Kurdish Region of Iraq that the Iraqi Government has precipitated a long-running financial crisis by withholding vital Kurdish revenues from the Baghdad government, allegedly to undermine the Kurdish Regional Authority and its pursuit of Independence, that consequently many public sector workers within the Kurdish Region have went unpaid or have had wages delayed; recognises that there are many Kurdish diaspora living in Scotland who care deeply about the future of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, such as the Glasgow-based Kurdish Development Association, led by Mr Shakha Sattar and a team of volunteers, who have been encouraging the Kurdish diaspora with family and friends that remain within the region, along with the entire 2.9 million electorate, to exercise their democratic right to vote in these elections, and believes that, whatever the results, it must deliver for all those living in the Kurdish Region of Iraq a prosperous and peaceful future with an open and transparent government that they can trust.

S6M-14430

That the Parliament recognises World Suicide Prevention Day 2024, taking place on 10 September, and what it sees as the importance of promoting this day to help those who need support and protection from suicide in Scotland; notes National Records of Scotland findings that suicide has increased over the past year, suicide rates have been around three times higher in men than women over the past 30 years, there were 2.4 times more deaths by suicide in the most deprived areas of Scotland compared with the least deprived areas, and that remote small towns recorded the highest suicide rates over the past decade; emphasises what it regards as the inherent value of each and every person, no matter their circumstances, and affirms calls from anti-suicide groups for every person to be strengthened in hope and to receive appropriate care and support; recalls research into the impact of the Samaritans helpline, with 76% of callers saying that they felt better because they were listened to, and 74% saying that they felt better because they felt they had gained options for dealing with difficult situations; notes with concern, however, that for one in 10 callers, the Samaritans helpline was their only source of support; affirms the role of charities and community organisations like The Salvation Army, CAP Scotland, Men Matter Scotland (MMS), Hope Connections, the SAMH Wayforward Service that provides housing support in Maryhill, and others who can help resolve difficult situations, as well as the many local groups who provide space for connection and building deeper friendships, and understands that it is in such settings as these that we can see individuals enabled to thrive, empowered to reject despairing narratives and freed from suicidal thinking.