That this House congratulates the 3rd Bo’ness Scout Group on becoming the first Scout Group in the UK to achieve net zero status; notes the installation of solar panels on its scout hall, which ensures sustainable energy and operational needs for the future; further notes the role of UCS Renewables for its partnership, sponsorship, and installation of the solar panels; commends the Scout Group’s initiative to incorporate environmental education into its program, teaching scouts about their role in the journey to net zero; welcomes efforts by organisations like the Scout Group in providing valuable extracurricular education, skills, and activities for children and young people; praises the positive role that Scout Groups across the UK play in communities; and extends best wishes to the Scout Group’s volunteers and young people in all future endeavours.

That this House congratulates the 3rd Bo’ness Scout Group on becoming the first Scout Group in the UK to achieve net zero status; notes the installation of solar panels on its scout hall, which ensures sustainable energy and operational needs for the future; further notes the role of UCS Renewables...

That this House notes that on 24 April 2024 the Armenian community commemorated the Medz Yaghern (Great Crime) of the Armenian Genocide that saw the massacre and starvation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottomans; further notes the significance of recognising the Armenian genocide and engaging in commemorative actions in paying tribute to the victims and supporting the Armenian community; pays tribute to the survivors of the Armenian Genocide, including many who share their testimony day in, day out, to ensure the horrors of the past are never forgotten; thanks all of those who work to educate every person from every background in the UK about the Armenian Genocide, its contemporary relevance, and why we must acknowledge this crime as having happened; urges all Rt hon. and hon. Members to observe this day and to pledge to speak out against the denial of the Armenian Genocide; and calls on the Government to formally recognise the Armenian Genocide.

That this House notes that on 24 April 2024 the Armenian community commemorated the Medz Yaghern (Great Crime) of the Armenian Genocide that saw the massacre and starvation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottomans; further notes the significance of recognising the Armenian genocide and engaging in commemorative actions in...

That this House celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Grangemouth Choral Society; notes the choir's work performing a wide-ranging repertoire of songs to audiences since 1954; recognises the wider role the choir has played in its local community, enhancing wellbeing in both its members and audiences; wishes the choir’s members all the very best with its upcoming anniversary concert on 20 April at Bowhouse Community Centre; and further wishes the choir many more years of success.

That this House celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Grangemouth Choral Society; notes the choir's work performing a wide-ranging repertoire of songs to audiences since 1954; recognises the wider role the choir has played in its local community, enhancing wellbeing in both its members and audiences; wishes the choir’s members...

That this House recognises the work of Scottish charity Held In Our Hearts in providing baby loss counselling and support to families for over 40 years; acknowledges the trauma caused by baby loss at any stage and the importance of making connections with people able to relate to the overwhelming emotions experienced; notes the range of services provided, such as one to one or couples counselling, peer support, group meetings, pregnancy support and training for healthcare professionals and students; congratulates the charity on their innovative new project Hospital to Home which bridges the gap from clinical to community, provides early intervention, and an opt out rather than opt in approach to baby loss and validates complex and intense feelings at a difficult time when a baby or young child dies; further notes that the project is being piloted in four Scottish Health Board across rural and urban areas; commends the Held In Our Hearts staff, the majority of whom are bereaved parents themselves, on their empathy and hard work in providing support to families dealing with loss; and notes that people should not face baby loss alone and encourages anyone who has been affected by baby loss to reach out for support.

That this House recognises the work of Scottish charity Held In Our Hearts in providing baby loss counselling and support to families for over 40 years; acknowledges the trauma caused by baby loss at any stage and the importance of making connections with people able to relate to the overwhelming...

That this House notes that, on 24 January 2024, the Israeli military issued an administrative detention order against Palestinian lawyer Diala Nader Ibrahim Eideh for a period of four months; condemns the degrading and humiliating treatment of Ms Eideh by Israeli soldiers throughout her initial ordeal; expresses grave concern at Israel's ongoing practice of administrative detention; believes that this practice is in breach of a number of international agreements and conventions, including the fourth Geneva Convention; further notes that Israel's use of administrative detention effectively circumvents due process and the principles of natural justice, using it as a tool of systematic persecution against Palestinians; also notes Israel's practice of deporting Palestinian prisoners from the Occupied Palestinian Territories to Israel and the subsequent isolation of detainees with denial of family visits and access to lawyers; expresses its view that extensive detention without charge or trial amounts to inhumane, degrading and punitive punishment of prisoners; acknowledges that the detention of Ms Eideh is solely because she is a human rights lawyer and an advocate for human rights; highlights that the frequency of administrative detentions has escalated recently, with the current number of administrative detainees reaching 3,558, the highest since the beginning of the occupation; regrets the Government's lack of any meaningful or substantive action against administrative detention; and calls on the Government to make urgent representations to the Israeli government to cancel this policy, restore rights to all Palestinian prisoners and to release all Palestinians being held without charge or trial.

That this House notes that, on 24 January 2024, the Israeli military issued an administrative detention order against Palestinian lawyer Diala Nader Ibrahim Eideh for a period of four months; condemns the degrading and humiliating treatment of Ms Eideh by Israeli soldiers throughout her initial ordeal; expresses grave concern at...

That this House notes the campaign by the Real Meal Deal which calls for the introduction of a UK meal card scheme to provide a tax-free allowance for employees to spend on ready-to-eat food and non-alcoholic beverages; further notes that such a scheme could be implemented by updating HMRC's existing tax exemptions list for employee benefits and expenses, with a graduated tax treatment to ensure that support is targeted at those on the lowest incomes; understands that research from Ignite Economics on the economic impact of a UK meal voucher in 2023 showed that a new UK meal card scheme would cut household food bills by up to 58% for the most vulnerable households without requiring direct spending from the Government; acknowledges that economic analysis commissioned by the Real Meal Deal Campaign shows that as well as benefitting employees, rolling-out a meal card scheme would provide a major boost to the economy, creating 280,000 new jobs in the hospitality sector and adding £6.3 billion to UK GVA; notes that by boosting people’s food spending power, the scheme would drive an average 18% uplift in turnover for restaurants and food providers, unlocking additional tax revenue for the Treasury which would offset the scheme’s costs and create a £2.1 billion net-benefit for the public purse; and urges the Government to follow the lead of 35 other nations around the world in introducing an innovative tax-relief scheme which would provide vital support to workers, employers and businesses during this cost of living crisis.

That this House notes the campaign by the Real Meal Deal which calls for the introduction of a UK meal card scheme to provide a tax-free allowance for employees to spend on ready-to-eat food and non-alcoholic beverages; further notes that such a scheme could be implemented by updating HMRC's existing...

That this House commends the temporary display entitled The Pioneers: The First Asian and Black MPs, which is being transferred to form part of the permanent hang in Admissions Order Office Corridor; reflects on the protracted process of permanently acknowledging our groundbreaking Asian and Black MPs; notes with dismay the exclusion of Scotland’s first mixed-race MP, Peter McLagan, who served the Linlithgowshire constituency from 1865 to 1893; further notes that Peter was the longest-serving Scottish Member during the reign of Queen Victoria; and calls on the Parliamentary authorities to rectify the omission of Peter McLagan from The Pioneers display at the earliest opportunity.

That this House commends the temporary display entitled The Pioneers: The First Asian and Black MPs, which is being transferred to form part of the permanent hang in Admissions Order Office Corridor; reflects on the protracted process of permanently acknowledging our groundbreaking Asian and Black MPs; notes with dismay the...

That this House applauds the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, enshrining in law the ability of animals to experience joy and feel suffering and pain; notes the science-based campaign For Life On Earth, with its Beagle Ambassador, rescued laboratory dog Betsy; is shocked to see the continuing harrowing exposés that show thousands of laboratory dogs being intensively bred in the UK, underlining the consequences of the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022; notes that scientists in the wider scientific community, outside of the animal-based research sector, acknowledge the failure of animal testing in the search for human treatments and cures, and that those experts include pharmaceutical industry scientists, an Editor in Chief of the British Medical Journal, the US-based National Cancer Institute, which states cures for cancer have been lost because studies in rodents were believed, and the Food and Drug Administration, which states that nine-out-of-ten new medicines fail to pass human trials because animals cannot predict responses in humans; further notes Doctors Greek and Shanks' Trans-Species Modelling Theory, founded upon the theory of evolution, which explains why animals fail as predictive models of humans; and calls on the Government to mandate a rigorous public scientific hearing, judged by independent experts from the relevant science fields, to cease the funding of the now-proven failed practice of animal experimentation and increase funding for state-of-the-art human-based research, such as human-on-a-chip and gene-based medicine, to prioritise treatments and cures for human patients, and stop the suffering of innocent laboratory dogs and other animals.

That this House applauds the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022, enshrining in law the ability of animals to experience joy and feel suffering and pain; notes the science-based campaign For Life On Earth, with its Beagle Ambassador, rescued laboratory dog Betsy; is shocked to see the continuing harrowing exposés that...

That this House acknowledges that 25 September 2023 marked the centenary of the Redding Pit disaster; respectfully remembers the 40 men who lost their lives following a sudden inrush of water from disused mine workings flooded No. 23 Pit, trapping 66 miners underground; further remembers the subsequent rescue operation to reach survivors, and remembers the families of the miners, who waited anxiously at the pit head for news of their loved ones; further acknowledges the lasting impact of the disaster upon Redding and the surrounding community; commends the efforts of the Sir William Wallace Grand Lodge of Scotland Free Colliers and the community in establishing an upgraded memorial and in holding memorial events to mark the centenary; and further commends the whole Redding community for their endeavours in honouring the men who lost their lives and their families, and in ensuring that the story of the disaster and the memory of those lost is preserved for future generations.

That this House acknowledges that 25 September 2023 marked the centenary of the Redding Pit disaster; respectfully remembers the 40 men who lost their lives following a sudden inrush of water from disused mine workings flooded No. 23 Pit, trapping 66 miners underground; further remembers the subsequent rescue operation to...

That this House congratulates Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band on their magnificent victory at the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships, held at Glasgow Green on 18 and 19 August in front of 35,000 spectators; notes that 190 bands and almost 9,000 pipers and drummers from 15 countries across the globe competed; commends the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band in achieving this level of success; and wishes the Band all the very best in future competitions.

That this House congratulates Peoples Ford Boghall and Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band on their magnificent victory at the 2023 World Pipe Band Championships, held at Glasgow Green on 18 and 19 August in front of 35,000 spectators; notes that 190 bands and almost 9,000 pipers and drummers from 15 countries...

That this House congratulates OSI Renewables, an engineering business headquartered in West Lothian, that has received four Spotlight on New Technology® awards from the offshore Technology Conference in Houston Texas, which span O and G, Deepsea Minerals and Floating Wind, a Hart Energy award, and Scottish Engineering’s Innovation Excellence Award 2023; commends its over forty years' experience in delivering solutions to the offshore energy market; further commends its accomplishment in designing an offshore wind turbine foundation named F-TLP, which targets the Floating Wind market sector; welcomes the foundation’s unique design that could generate a revenue of between 1.2 and 1.5 billion pounds per year; and celebrates its investment in harnessing Scotland's renewable energy potential.

That this House congratulates OSI Renewables, an engineering business headquartered in West Lothian, that has received four Spotlight on New Technology® awards from the offshore Technology Conference in Houston Texas, which span O and G, Deepsea Minerals and Floating Wind, a Hart Energy award, and Scottish Engineering’s Innovation Excellence Award...

That this House congratulates the 3rd Bo’ness Scout Group on their Birdie and Breakfast project that aims to install 30 birdhouses in its local area to provide essential nesting areas; notes that these will benefit many species of birds by giving them shelter and a safer place to raise young, thereby boosting their population; further notes that this will reduce common garden pests without using pesticides; recognises that the program will also see young people building the nesting boxes, which will develop skills as well as introduce them to British wildlife; and further recognises the increase in plant pollination it will create across the local community, which will benefit the environment.

That this House congratulates the 3rd Bo’ness Scout Group on their Birdie and Breakfast project that aims to install 30 birdhouses in its local area to provide essential nesting areas; notes that these will benefit many species of birds by giving them shelter and a safer place to raise young,...

That this House celebrates the success of West Lothian singer songwriter Lewis Capaldi, whose single Someone You Loved has been named the UK's most streamed song; notes that his breakthrough hit has accumulated 562 million UK streams, beating Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You and Perfect, respectively; and further notes that the song reached number one in March 2019 and stayed there for a total of seven weeks.

That this House celebrates the success of West Lothian singer songwriter Lewis Capaldi, whose single Someone You Loved has been named the UK's most streamed song; notes that his breakthrough hit has accumulated 562 million UK streams, beating Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You and Perfect, respectively; and further notes that...

That this House congratulates Bathgate bairn Dario Franchitti on being inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame; notes that the motorsport legend is a three-time winner of the famous Indianapolis 500 as well as four-time IndyCar series champion; recognises a lifetime of achievement in racing including winning the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award in 1992, being crowned BBC Scotland’s Sports Personality of the Year 2007 and elected into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 2019; commends Dario Franchitti for his bravery when he was involved in serious career-ending crash at the Grand Prix of Houston in 2013; and wishes him continued success in his new career as a TV commentator.

That this House congratulates Bathgate bairn Dario Franchitti on being inducted into the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame; notes that the motorsport legend is a three-time winner of the famous Indianapolis 500 as well as four-time IndyCar series champion; recognises a lifetime of achievement in racing including winning the McLaren...

That this House welcomes Reduced to breaking point, the MS Society report on the cost of living for people with MS; is alarmed by the findings that 33 per cent. of people with MS are either struggling or really struggling on their current income; is concerned that three in ten of those suffering with MS who were surveyed have necessarily reduced their spending by reducing or stopping treatments and therapies; notes the need to provide an appropriate cost of living package which supports disabled people on means-tested income replacement benefits and non-means tested extra costs benefits; and supports the suggestion that the UK Government commits to raising benefits at least in line with inflation.

That this House welcomes Reduced to breaking point, the MS Society report on the cost of living for people with MS; is alarmed by the findings that 33 per cent. of people with MS are either struggling or really struggling on their current income; is concerned that three in ten...

That this House commemorates Peter McLagan, MP for the Constituency of Linlithgowshire from 1865 to 1893; applauds that, as Scotland’s first mixed-race MP, he withstood negative campaigning and became Parliament’s longest serving Scottish Member until his resignation; acknowledges his progressive contributions on matters of the day such as animal rights, universal free education, and women’s suffrage that led him to be known as a suffragette in trousers; further acknowledges his advocacy for the establishment of a Government Department dedicated to agricultural issues; commends his goal of increasing the number of elected Members for Scotland and his support for a Bill to better prevent the pollution of rivers; and appreciates the contemporary relevance of his ambitions.

That this House commemorates Peter McLagan, MP for the Constituency of Linlithgowshire from 1865 to 1893; applauds that, as Scotland’s first mixed-race MP, he withstood negative campaigning and became Parliament’s longest serving Scottish Member until his resignation; acknowledges his progressive contributions on matters of the day such as animal rights,...

That this House notes that this year marks the 150th anniversary of Grangemouth becoming a Burgh; acknowledges that in 1872, Grangemouth's Burgh Council was established, with nine Burgh Commissioners elected to run the newly constituted Burgh of Grangemouth under the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862; notes that this important democratic change preceded a period of investment in public facilities, including the establishment of Zetland Park and the Victoria Public Library; notes this chapter in Grangemouth's story of growth from a small village and quay in the 1770s to a major port and centre of industry by the 20th century; and celebrates the enduring community spirit of Portonians to this day.

That this House notes that this year marks the 150th anniversary of Grangemouth becoming a Burgh; acknowledges that in 1872, Grangemouth's Burgh Council was established, with nine Burgh Commissioners elected to run the newly constituted Burgh of Grangemouth under the General Police and Improvement (Scotland) Act 1862; notes that this...

That this House notes the urgent need for a ban on the domestic sale and advertisement of cruel animal experiences abroad, such as elephant rides and captive dolphin shows, to be brought into legislation; acknowledges the cruel methods used to train elephants for entertainment, such as repeated beatings with hooks, forced separation from their mothers, restraint and forced isolation; notes the substandard conditions dolphins live in, such as being kept in small, featureless tanks, denied the ability to exhibit natural behaviours and separated from their mothers at a young age; notes that wild animals used for entertainment have miserable and torturous lives that do not meet their basic welfare needs; and recognises the strong public and parliamentary support to introduce a ban.

That this House notes the urgent need for a ban on the domestic sale and advertisement of cruel animal experiences abroad, such as elephant rides and captive dolphin shows, to be brought into legislation; acknowledges the cruel methods used to train elephants for entertainment, such as repeated beatings with hooks,...

That this House congratulates Jemma Boyle on the celebration of her 15 years as a volunteer with Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL); notes that Jemma began volunteering in 2002 with various organisations before joining the VSGWL; recognises the enormous contribution Jemma makes to the VSGWL through the varied work she does; commends Jemma's commitment to volunteering; and thanks her for her dedication to helping others in her local community.

That this House congratulates Jemma Boyle on the celebration of her 15 years as a volunteer with Voluntary Sector Gateway West Lothian (VSGWL); notes that Jemma began volunteering in 2002 with various organisations before joining the VSGWL; recognises the enormous contribution Jemma makes to the VSGWL through the varied work...

That this House supports the international campaign Plastic Free Pint by A Plastic Planet, which seeks an outright ban on plastic pint cups without delay; notes that globally 500 billion plastic cups are used each year and lined up end to end they would span 50 MILLION kilometres – the same distance as 130 trips from Earth to the moon; acknowledges that those pint cups are almost exclusively made of plastic and are single-use items that will end up in landfill, in incinerators or directly in our natural environments; highlights that plastic cups are the sixth-most commonly found plastic item in Britain’s rivers, and the eighth on the nation’s beaches; and calls on the Government as well as hon. Members to work together to end the scourge of the plastic pint cups and help build a more sustainable planet.

That this House supports the international campaign Plastic Free Pint by A Plastic Planet, which seeks an outright ban on plastic pint cups without delay; notes that globally 500 billion plastic cups are used each year and lined up end to end they would span 50 MILLION kilometres – the...