That this House welcomes the longlisting of Inverness as a candidate for UK City of Culture 2029; celebrates the city’s rich cultural life, including the transformation of Inverness Castle, the long-standing contribution of Eden Court Theatre, the international prestige of the Northern Meeting Piping Competition, and the success of local book festivals; notes Inverness’s growing role as a base for film and television production across the Highlands; further notes that no Scottish city has yet held the UK City of Culture title; highlights the significant economic and social benefits the title has brought to previous host areas, including increased investment, tourism and job creation; welcomes the wider engagement across the UK, with over 230 towns registering interest in the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition; and expresses its strong support for Inverness’ bid, believing it reflects the creativity, heritage and ambition that the judging panel seeks, and urging that its outstanding contribution to cultural life be recognised in the next stage of the competition.

That this House welcomes the longlisting of Inverness as a candidate for UK City of Culture 2029; celebrates the city’s rich cultural life, including the transformation of Inverness Castle, the long-standing contribution of Eden Court Theatre, the international prestige of the Northern Meeting Piping Competition, and the success of local...

That this House offers its sincere condolences to the families of Lewis Knox, 16, Fergus Ward, 17, and Jordan Cameron, 17, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in the Scottish Highlands; notes with deep concern the disproportionately high number of road traffic accidents involving drivers in their first year of driving; acknowledges that graduated driving licence schemes operate in countries including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where they have been associated with significant reductions in serious road traffic accidents; and calls for parliamentary consideration and debate of proposals, including those put forward by Lewis Knox’s father, Alan Knox, for measures such as temporary restrictions on carrying passengers during the first year after passing a driving test.

That this House offers its sincere condolences to the families of Lewis Knox, 16, Fergus Ward, 17, and Jordan Cameron, 17, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in the Scottish Highlands; notes with deep concern the disproportionately high number of road traffic accidents involving drivers in their...

That this House congratulates Inverness-based charity Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) on securing one of this year’s GSK IMPACTS Awards, a prestigious honour for health and care charities in the UK; notes their valuable work in supporting people affected by rape and sexual abuse and preventing sexual violence, as the only specialist rape and sexual abuse service in the Highlands; recognises the significant impact RASASH has had in supporting over 1,400 people each year and serving the local community; pays tribute to the vision and leadership of RASASH chief executive Romy Rehfield, whose commitment to delivering outreach and support has transformed lives across the Highlands; further acknowledges the importance of initiatives like this in supporting and educating remote communities to tackle sexual violence and eliminate survivors’ feelings of shame, fear and isolation; commends the charity’s ethos of support, which has aided thousands of people across the Highlands; and warmly thanks all the generous funders, dedicated staff and volunteers who have made this ambitious and inspiring project possible.

That this House congratulates Inverness-based charity Rape and Sexual Abuse Service Highland (RASASH) on securing one of this year’s GSK IMPACTS Awards, a prestigious honour for health and care charities in the UK; notes their valuable work in supporting people affected by rape and sexual abuse and preventing sexual violence,...

That this House welcomes the longlisting of Inverness as a candidate for UK City of Culture 2029; celebrates the city’s rich cultural life, including the transformation of Inverness Castle, the long-standing contribution of Eden Court Theatre, the international prestige of the Northern Meeting Piping Competition, and the success of local book festivals; notes Inverness’s growing role as a base for film and television production across the Highlands; further notes that no Scottish city has yet held the UK City of Culture title; highlights the significant economic and social benefits the title has brought to previous host areas, including increased investment, tourism and job creation; welcomes the wider engagement across the UK, with over 230 towns registering interest in the inaugural UK Town of Culture competition; and expresses its strong support for Inverness’ bid, believing it reflects the creativity, heritage and ambition that the judging panel seeks, and urging that its outstanding contribution to cultural life be recognised in the next stage of the competition.

That this House welcomes the longlisting of Inverness as a candidate for UK City of Culture 2029; celebrates the city’s rich cultural life, including the transformation of Inverness Castle, the long-standing contribution of Eden Court Theatre, the international prestige of the Northern Meeting Piping Competition, and the success of local...

That this House recognises the role of lawful drag hunting activities, whereby hounds track a non-animal scent laid by a human runner, in supporting rural communities across the United Kingdom; notes that drag hunting operates within the framework of existing legislation and does not harm any animals, but provides employment for local grooms, farriers, vets, riding schools, kennel staff, whippers in, feed suppliers and more; further notes the contribution of drag hunts to local businesses such as pubs, restaurants and farmers, as well as hospitality and tourism; supports the proper enforcement of the Hunting Act 2004, and condemns any hunt or individual trying to get around the ban; and calls on the Government to ensure that rural economic policy recognises and supports the economic contribution made by drag hunting and associated countryside activities.

That this House recognises the role of lawful drag hunting activities, whereby hounds track a non-animal scent laid by a human runner, in supporting rural communities across the United Kingdom; notes that drag hunting operates within the framework of existing legislation and does not harm any animals, but provides employment...

That this House acknowledges the takeover of the Highland Foodbank by New Start Highland from Blythswood Care, thus securing the future of the community service; and recognises the small team of staff and over 70 volunteers that work tirelessly to provide emergency food parcels to residents in Inverness, Nairn, Alness,Tain and Dingwall.

That this House acknowledges the takeover of the Highland Foodbank by New Start Highland from Blythswood Care, thus securing the future of the community service; and recognises the small team of staff and over 70 volunteers that work tirelessly to provide emergency food parcels to residents in Inverness, Nairn, Alness,Tain...

That this House offers its sincere condolences to the families of Lewis Knox, 16, Fergus Ward, 17, and Jordan Cameron, 17, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in the Scottish Highlands; notes with deep concern the disproportionately high number of road traffic accidents involving drivers in their first year of driving; acknowledges that graduated driving licence schemes operate in countries including Canada, Australia and New Zealand, where they have been associated with significant reductions in serious road traffic accidents; and calls for parliamentary consideration and debate of proposals, including those put forward by Lewis Knox’s father, Alan Knox, for measures such as temporary restrictions on carrying passengers during the first year after passing a driving test.

That this House offers its sincere condolences to the families of Lewis Knox, 16, Fergus Ward, 17, and Jordan Cameron, 17, who tragically lost their lives in a car accident in the Scottish Highlands; notes with deep concern the disproportionately high number of road traffic accidents involving drivers in their...

That this House congratulates Eilean Dubh care home in Fortrose on being named Regional Care Home of the Year - Scotland at the Caring UK Awards; notes the judges’ praise for the home’s creative approach to resident wellbeing and strong links with the local community; acknowledges the home’s achievements over the past year, including award-winning gardening projects, fashion and talent shows, an art trail raising over £4,000 for Highland Hospice, and the development of intergenerational connections through a weekly playgroup and partnerships with Fortrose Academy and other local schools; and welcomes this positive recognition of the Highland social care sector.

That this House congratulates Eilean Dubh care home in Fortrose on being named Regional Care Home of the Year - Scotland at the Caring UK Awards; notes the judges’ praise for the home’s creative approach to resident wellbeing and strong links with the local community; acknowledges the home’s achievements over...

That this House welcomes the commencement of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 on St Andrew’s Day, which formally recognises Gaelic and Scots as official languages of Scotland; notes that the Act introduces new measures to strengthen language education, expand qualifications available in Gaelic, and support the creation of areas of linguistic significance to help target policies for language growth; further notes that the legislation enables research into the use of Gaelic and Scots and provides a framework for maintaining high teaching standards; recognises the cultural and historical importance of both languages to communities across Scotland; and observes that the most recent census recorded 130,161 people with some Gaelic skills and 2,444,659 with some Scots skills, both significant increases since 2011.

That this House welcomes the commencement of the Scottish Languages Act 2025 on St Andrew’s Day, which formally recognises Gaelic and Scots as official languages of Scotland; notes that the Act introduces new measures to strengthen language education, expand qualifications available in Gaelic, and support the creation of areas of...

That this House congratulates Highland and Islands Blood Bikes (HAIBB) on being awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, the highest honour given to UK volunteer groups; recognises that this prestigious award reflects the exceptional dedication of the charity’s volunteers who provide around-the-clock support to the NHS across one of the most geographically challenging regions of the UK; notes that HAIBB is entirely volunteer-led and delivers essential medical supplies, blood samples, equipment, and urgent items at no cost to the NHS, ensuring equitable access to vital services for rural and island communities from Caithness to Argyll and the Outer Hebrides to Moray; further recognises the charity’s strong partnerships with local councils, health boards, and community organisations; and commends all HAIBB volunteers for their tireless service to patients and clinicians throughout the Highlands and Islands.

That this House congratulates Highland and Islands Blood Bikes (HAIBB) on being awarded The King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2025, the highest honour given to UK volunteer groups; recognises that this prestigious award reflects the exceptional dedication of the charity’s volunteers who provide around-the-clock support to the NHS across one...

That this House congratulates Frank To, contemporary art lecturer at UHI Inverness, on his selection for both the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the Society of Bath Artists exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath; notes that he is one of very few Scottish artists chosen by both institutions this year; recognises his growing national and international reputation, with works acquired by the Northern Ireland Executive, the University of Cambridge, and former Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven; further notes that Frank graduated from Huddersfield with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art Painting and Drawing in 2004 and now teaches Contemporary Art Practice at Inverness College UHI; and celebrates his pioneering gunpowder drawing technique, which has attracted praise from art critics and high-profile collectors including Sir Patrick Stewart and New York-based Michel Witmer.

That this House congratulates Frank To, contemporary art lecturer at UHI Inverness, on his selection for both the Royal Ulster Academy Annual Exhibition at the Ulster Museum in Belfast and the Society of Bath Artists exhibition at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath; notes that he is one of very...

That this House recognises and pays tribute to Hamish Corrigall of Portree, Isle of Skye, on his retirement after 35 years of dedicated service as a volunteer with the RNLI; notes that Mr Corrigall, a Skye native, first joined the station on 1 November 1990 and served as one of the original crew when the first Skye lifeboat arrived in 1991; further notes his service as a full-time volunteer from 2013, remaining on call day and night while carrying a pager throughout his daily life; acknowledges his role in hundreds of rescues, including the successful refloating of a sinking creel boat off Gairloch; highlights his representation of Portree RNLI at national events, including the opening of the Royal Lifeboat College by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and a garden party at Holyrood Palace; further recognises the high esteem in which he is held by colleagues, the wider RNLI community, and seafarers across the region; and expresses the House’s gratitude for his exceptional seamanship, commitment, and longstanding service to the safety and wellbeing of coastal communities.

That this House recognises and pays tribute to Hamish Corrigall of Portree, Isle of Skye, on his retirement after 35 years of dedicated service as a volunteer with the RNLI; notes that Mr Corrigall, a Skye native, first joined the station on 1 November 1990 and served as one of...

That this House commends Highland resident Wendy Sylvester on undertaking her North to South for Poppyscotland challenge, a 340-mile walk across Scotland in aid of the forces charity Poppyscotland; notes that the walk will begin at Cape Wrath lighthouse in late October 2025 and concludes at the Scottish border on 29 November 2025, taking in some of Scotland’s most iconic routes, including the Great Glen Way and the West Highland Way; further notes that Wendy will complete the five-week trek entirely self-funded, relying on the generosity of local people, friends and businesses along the route; recognises her deep personal connection to the armed forces through her own service as a combat medic with 7 Scots and her family’s military background; commends her previous fundraising effort in 2021, when she raised over £5,000 for Poppyscotland by walking from Dunnottar Castle to Eilean Donan Castle; acknowledges the vital work of Poppyscotland in providing financial, employment, housing and mental health support to veterans, serving personnel and their families; and wishes Wendy every success in her inspiring journey to support Scotland’s armed forces community.

That this House commends Highland resident Wendy Sylvester on undertaking her North to South for Poppyscotland challenge, a 340-mile walk across Scotland in aid of the forces charity Poppyscotland; notes that the walk will begin at Cape Wrath lighthouse in late October 2025 and concludes at the Scottish border on...

That this House congratulates Danny Young, Head Chef at The Torridon in the Scottish Highlands, on being named National Chef of the Year 2026; notes that he triumphed over ten other finalists, with a menu showcasing technical excellence, creativity, and mastery of flavour; recognises that Mr Young was previously named Young National Chef of the Year in 2018 and received an Acorn Award in 2021 for rising stars in hospitality; commends his continued success as a leading representative of Scotland’s world-class culinary scene; and wishes him well as he continues to inspire the next generation of chefs.

That this House congratulates Danny Young, Head Chef at The Torridon in the Scottish Highlands, on being named National Chef of the Year 2026; notes that he triumphed over ten other finalists, with a menu showcasing technical excellence, creativity, and mastery of flavour; recognises that Mr Young was previously named...

That this House congratulates Ewan MacDonald for being named as a finalist for the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) Apprenticeship of the Year Awards 2025; recognises that this accolade is testament to his technical ability, professionalism, and exceptional attitude whilst working for Ross-shire Engineering; notes that as Scotland continues its transition to net zero, apprentices play a vital role in delivering the skills and innovation the country needs; appreciates that young skilled workers represent the bright future of an industry that is essential to a modern, sustainable society; thanks the SJIB for inspiring young people to fulfil rewarding and technical careers in the electrotechnical industry and for their organisation of the awards at the Edinburgh Marriott Hotel Holyrood on 9 October; and wishes Ewan all the best for his bright future.

That this House congratulates Ewan MacDonald for being named as a finalist for the Scottish Joint Industry Board (SJIB) Apprenticeship of the Year Awards 2025; recognises that this accolade is testament to his technical ability, professionalism, and exceptional attitude whilst working for Ross-shire Engineering; notes that as Scotland continues its...

That this House congratulates the Isle of Raasay Distillery on being awarded the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2025 Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards; notes that its Cask Strength Single Malt achieved a near-perfect score of 99 out of 100 and received the event’s top honour, a Platinum medal; recognises the distillery as the first legal producer of whisky on the island, founded in 2017 by R&B Distillers; applauds the skill and dedication of the entire Raasay team in crafting a spirit that captures the distinctive maritime character of the Inner Hebrides; and celebrates this remarkable achievement for the Isle of Raasay, the Highlands, and Scotland’s world-renowned whisky industry.

That this House congratulates the Isle of Raasay Distillery on being awarded the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2025 Las Vegas Global Spirits Awards; notes that its Cask Strength Single Malt achieved a near-perfect score of 99 out of 100 and received the event’s top honour, a Platinum medal;...

That this House congratulates Radio Skye on being named Radio Station of the Year at the 2025 Community Radio Awards; notes that this award recognises the station’s outstanding service to its community through high-quality, inclusive and locally rooted broadcasting; acknowledges the station’s vital role in connecting people across Skye and Lochalsh, from sharing local news and Gaelic culture to supporting musicians, community groups and emergency communications during severe weather; pays tribute to the dedicated volunteers, presenters and sponsors whose commitment keeps the station thriving; recognises that community radio is sustained by passion, collaboration and a deep understanding of place; and celebrates Radio Skye as a model of how local media can strengthen communities, amplify local voices and inspire pride in the Highlands.

That this House congratulates Radio Skye on being named Radio Station of the Year at the 2025 Community Radio Awards; notes that this award recognises the station’s outstanding service to its community through high-quality, inclusive and locally rooted broadcasting; acknowledges the station’s vital role in connecting people across Skye and...

That this House congratulates the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport, and Jacobite Cruises in Dochgarroch, for winning gold at the new Highland Employer Charter awards; commends their commitment to local recruitment, supply chains and fairer pay; notes their contribution to the development of local workforce, engaging with education and third sector volunteering opportunities; recognises the importance of ethical employment, fairness, community investment, and sustainable economic growth across the Highland region; thanks the Highland Council for this new Employer Charter accreditation which delivers benefits for both employers and employees as well as developing a sustainable, diverse economy across the Highlands; and wishes the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport and Jacobite Cruises all the best in their future endeavours.

That this House congratulates the Inverness and Cromarty Green Freeport, and Jacobite Cruises in Dochgarroch, for winning gold at the new Highland Employer Charter awards; commends their commitment to local recruitment, supply chains and fairer pay; notes their contribution to the development of local workforce, engaging with education and third...

That this House celebrates the purchase of St Columba’s Church on the Isle of Eigg by the community group Solas Eige; thanks the Scottish Land Fund for their generous grant of over £90,000 to enable the sale; notes that this crucial funding is a major milestone in Solas Eige’s journey to rejuvenate this unique historic building and turn it into a community hub and island archive for residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come; congratulates Solas Eige and the Isle of Eigg Heritage trust for all their hard work in getting to this stage; recognises that there is still significant funding necessary but that this grant will allow the trustees to create all-ability access, install essential services, and plan for the building’s future; looks forward to seeing St Columba’s reopen as a valuable asset for Eigg; and further notes that this project will create a vibrant space for culture, heritage, climate literacy and pilgrimage on the Isle of Eigg.

That this House celebrates the purchase of St Columba’s Church on the Isle of Eigg by the community group Solas Eige; thanks the Scottish Land Fund for their generous grant of over £90,000 to enable the sale; notes that this crucial funding is a major milestone in Solas Eige’s journey...

That this House congratulates the Knoydart community on the west coast of Scotland on being awarded the Michael Dower Award for European Rural Resilience; notes that the award recognises communities across Europe tackling economic, environmental and social challenges to improve rural life; further notes that Knoydart was selected ahead of finalists from Armenia, Germany and Ireland; recognises that this accolade comes 25 years after the community completed its historic £750,000 buy-out of the 17,000-acre Knoydart Estate; commends the community’s achievements over that period, including the doubling of its population from around 60 to 120, the establishment of community enterprises such as the Old Forge pub, Knoydart venison and tourism services, and the creation of 450 hectares of new woodland with over 600,000 trees planted; welcomes the improvements in local infrastructure and the restoration of the community’s hydro power scheme; and applauds all those involved with the Knoydart Foundation, Knoydart Forest Trust and wider community for their inspiring example of rural regeneration and resilience.

That this House congratulates the Knoydart community on the west coast of Scotland on being awarded the Michael Dower Award for European Rural Resilience; notes that the award recognises communities across Europe tackling economic, environmental and social challenges to improve rural life; further notes that Knoydart was selected ahead of...