That the Parliament notes the 30th anniversary of the twinning of Nablus in Palestine and Dundee; congratulates Fraser Patrick, the convener of the Dundee Nablus Twinning Association, and the Palestinian students, Rami Issa and Rafiq Zein Eddin, who have been working with the twinning association to stage events commemorating the 30th anniversary of the link with the West Bank city, and considers that those involved in the anniversary celebrations have been actively strengthening the ties between Dundee and Nablus and continuing the tradition of friendship and understanding between the people of Nablus and the people of Dundee.

That the Parliament welcomes the V&A at Dundee exhibition, which will be in the Main Hall from 17 to 27 January 2011; notes that the exhibition will showcase the six designs, which it considers were all outstanding, that were shortlisted for the V&A at Dundee building competition, including the winning submission from Kengo Kuma and Associates; further welcomes the £5 million of funding committed by the Scottish Government for the building of the V&A; congratulates the project partners, Dundee City Council, the universities of Dundee and Abertay Dundee, Scottish Enterprise and the V&A; believes that the partners have all been vital in ensuring that the project becomes a reality; notes that the project, expected to be completed in 2014, will create 900 jobs and bring an estimated 130,000 extra visitors to Dundee each year, and further notes that the museum will provide access to what it believes will be high-quality exhibitions for residents in Dundee and across Scotland by linking up with cultural centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow, making Scotland a global cultural destination.

That the Parliament congratulates what it sees as the excellent work of Scotland’s science centres in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen; welcomes in particular the official launch of the Dundee Science Centre Science Learning Institute in support of the Curriculum for Excellence and lifelong learning, through which the science centre has formed what is considered a unique partnership with the University of Dundee and Dundee College; considers that this initiative, which will offer interprofessional science communication training for cross-sector audiences, will bring more science to the people of Tayside, promoting public engagement with scientific research and discovery and supporting science-sector skills development, and wishes all four centres and their partners every success in such ventures in the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Mrs Catherine Masters on reaching the age of 111 years on 23 November 2010; recognises that Mrs Masters is the oldest living Scot and the only Scot now alive who was born in the 19th century; notes that Mrs Masters was born and brought up in Dundee where her father, David Cromb, was the editor of The Courier, and wishes her all the very best on her birthday.

That the Parliament congratulates Kengo Kuma and Associates, the design team that has been awarded the contract to construct the Victoria and Albert Museum building at Craig Harbour in Dundee; welcomes the news that four UK-based companies, including three from Scotland will be involved in the project to build what it expects will become a national landmark; understands that the project, expected to be completed in 2014, will create 900 jobs and bring an estimated 130,000 extra visitors to Dundee each year; further notes that the museum aims to provide access to high-quality exhibitions for residents in Dundee and across Scotland, and welcomes the support given to the project by the University of Dundee, the University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government.

That the Parliament welcomes Dundee’s first science festival, organised by Dundee Science Centre and under the patronage of Professor Sir Philip Cohen, which celebrates Dundee as a city of science and will see, over the fortnight, what it considers an exciting programme of activities in diverse venues across Dundee, appealing to all in the community from the early years to adults, aiming to provide inspiring lifelong learning, and wishes the centre and festival every success in this exciting venture.

That the Parliament congratulates the members of the Dundee Museum of Transport on what it considers to be the sterling effort undertaken by them in attempting to create a museum in the city with partners including the Taybus Vintage Vehicle Society, Dundee Model Boat Club and Dundee City Council; notes the plans to run apprenticeships in conjunction with the Claverhouse Group and believes that these will help to bring much-needed employment to the city; considers that the former site of the Maryfield Tram Depot in Dundee would be a perfect site for such a museum, and hopes that the charity can come to an amicable agreement with the current owners of the site.

That the Parliament congratulates the city of Dundee on its recent clutch of accolades at this year’s Beautiful Scotland Awards, particularly the communities of Ardler, which received a bronze medal certificate, and Broughty Ferry, which received a silver gilt medal certificate, on top of the whole city’s silver medal certificate and Wright Sustainable Development Award.

That the Parliament considers as a major step forward in the development of the Victoria and Albert Museum in Dundee the showcasing of the six shortlisted designs at the University of Abertay in Dundee from 29 September 2010 at an exhibit entitled, V&A at Dundee – Making it Happen; welcomes the fact that this free exhibition will be open to all residents and visitors of Dundee as late as 9pm and at weekends to allow everyone the opportunity to view the designs and express their opinion; views the project as an excellent opportunity for Dundee, bringing both extra employment and tourism to the city, following on from recent successes, such as the showcasing of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon in the newly refurbished McManus Galleries, and believes that this will add to Scotland’s wealth of internationally renowned culture.

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Dundee on being included in the top 200 world universities ranked by the Times Educational Supplement; understands that this year’s rankings were undertaken under a new and more thorough methodology, which places more emphasis on hard measures of excellence in all three core elements of a university’s mission – research, teaching and knowledge transfer; further notes that the university has been described by The Sunday Times as “an institution regarded as one of the success stories of British higher education”, which has already been ranked top in the world for research impact in pharmacology by Thomson Reuters and elected Europe’s “best place to work in academia” in the annual worldwide survey compiled by The Scientist magazine, and wishes the staff and students all the very best in continuing to move the bar of human knowledge and further both Dundee and Scotland’s reputations worldwide.

That the Parliament congratulates what it considers the continued success of the Discovery Award Scheme in allowing people over 50 to discover new talents, strengths and interests, allowing them to find new and interesting people as well as the satisfaction of helping others; notes the expansion of the scheme from Dundee in 1987 to dozens of nations around the world, and wishes the scheme and everyone involved all the very best wishes for their future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates the Samaritans on what is seen as its successful 2010 Suicide Prevention Week campaign in conjunction with many partners, including Health Scotland, local authorities and Network Rail; notes that rates of suicide remain highest in young men across Scotland, and applauds the efforts of groups such as the Samaritans on tackling this across the nation.

That the Parliament notes publication of the Scottish Police Service Authority’s (SPSA) Forensic Services Modernisation Options Paper and the work that the SPSA has done since 2007 to provide Scotland’s eight police forces with a more effective and consistent national forensic service to meet ever increasing demand; further notes the year-long analysis process of how to provide a forensic service better meeting the national needs of police forces and fiscals and which needs to take account of financial challenges facing the public sector; welcomes the ongoing consultation process on the options; considers that the third option, of using two laboratories, Glasgow (Gartcosh) and Dundee, offers real opportunities for more effective utilisation of resources and greater standardisation and consistency of service, and believes that this option will provide the highest level of efficiency for the lowest cost and therefore is in the best interests of providing the best possible crime detection service to Scotland’s police forces and the wider public at optimum cost.

That the Parliament regrets the continued refusal of the Committee on the Grants of Honours, Decorations and Medals to allow British veterans to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (Malaysian Service) medal awarded to Commonwealth forces for distinguished chivalry, gallantry, sacrifice or loyalty in upholding the Malay Peninsula or Malaysian sovereignty during the period of emergency and confrontation at the time of its newly won independence between 1957 and 1966; notes that other Commonwealth nations have allowed their veterans to wear the Pingat Jasa Malaysia medal; believes that it is time for the honours committee to do the right thing and to allow British veterans the same courtesy as their Commonwealth comrades, and calls on the committee to overturn its previous objections.

That the Parliament condemns the decision by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, to abandon plans for tax relief for the computer games industry; considers that this decision will affect Scotland disproportionately as Dundee alone accounts for 10% of the total UK computer games industry;considers tax relief necessary to enable the industry to be on a level playing field with competitors, such as France, Canada, Japan and South Korea, already offering tax relief; further notes that a recent report from games industry body TIGA showed that, over five years, the tax breaks would cost an estimated £192 million but would deliver £415 million in tax receipts, and calls for this important industry to be give the support that it needs to ensure its continued success.

That the Parliament welcomes Shelter Scotland’s first specialist housing and money advice helpline in Tayside; notes that the service is funded by the Scottish Legal Aid Board and will provide a combination of housing, legal, money and debt advice; further notes that the service will support individuals and families who are struggling to hold on to their homes and will help them tackle debt issues and prevent homelessness at a time when, due to the economic climate, repossessions are expected to rise across the United Kingdom; wishes all the staff involved in the helpline well, and urges anyone in Tayside in need of housing and money advice to contact the helpline on 0344 515 2527.

That the Parliament welcomes the release and pardon by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga who were serving 14 years in prison with hard labour after being convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts; believes that the conviction and sentencing was unlawful and a breach of Malawian, African and international law; is hopeful that this move demonstrates a commitment to human rights by the Malawian authorities, and calls for an end to the persecution and criminalization of people based on sexual orientation.

That the Parliament condemns the actions of the Israeli Government that, in what is considered to be in violation of international law, ordered the boarding of the freedom flotilla in international waters leading to the deaths of at least nine human rights activists; notes that among the 600 passengers detained is Dundee man Ali El-Awaisi, who was delivering humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza that included 13 pallets full of medicine, clothes, toys and building materials, worth around £30,000, donated by the people of Dundee; welcomes the donations given by the Fire Brigade Union, Tayside for Justice in Palestine, Friends of Al-Aqsa, Yusuf Youth Initiative and all the mosques in Tayside and all others who contributed, and calls for the immediate release of Ali El-Awaisi and all members of the freedom flotilla and an end to the blockade of Gaza.

That the Parliament condemns the sentencing by Malawian authorities of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga to a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison with hard labour after being convicted of gross indecency and unnatural acts; believes thatthe conviction and sentencing violates the equality and non-discrimination clause 20 of the Malawian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and international human rights documents, and calls on the Scottish and UK Governments to work with their partners in Malawi to end the criminalisation and discrimination of people on grounds of sexual orientation and to urge the Malawian Government to release Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga immediately.

That the Parliament congratulates Ss Peter and Paul RC Primary School in Dundee on achieving a bronze award in the Eco-Schools ratings; recognises the hard work carried out by the staff and pupils to make the school more environmentally friendly; notes that new initiatives such as the introduction of litter wardens and recycling and energy monitors contributed to winning the award; commends Ss Peter and Paul RC Primary School for achieving bronze status, and supports Eco-Schools awards as an important tool to raise the awareness of children about environmental and conservation issues.

That the Parliament notes that although the UK Government is planning to present an emergency budget in the coming weeks, it has not yet stated a position on granting the tax relief for the UK’s computer games’ development industry that it considers necessary to enable the industry to be on a level playing field with competitors around the world; considers that this industry is vitally important to the UK economy and particularly the city of Dundee, where it employs approximately 3,000 people; understands that the current UK tax regime puts British companies in this industry at a competitive disadvantage compared to those in countries such as France, Canada, Japan and South Korea where it believes governments are more welcoming; considers that the cost of granting such tax relief would be extremely small in comparison to the return on the investment and would play a key role in economic recovery; encourages discussions with major stakeholders such as TIGA (The Independent Game Developers Association) regarding the resolution of this issue, and invites the newly appointed Minister for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, to visit Dundee to note first hand the impact that the industry has on the city and the UK.

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee United Football Club on winning the 125th Scottish Cup Final by defeating Ross County 3-0; notes that this marks a successful end to the club’s 100th season, which has seen United finish third in the Premier League and win the Scottish Cup for the second time; commends Ross County on an impressive Scottish Cup run and their fans for their exemplary behaviour; pays tribute to former chairman Eddie Thompson, who passed away in 2008 and was instrumental in laying the foundations of the team that lifted the trophy;congratulates Dundee United’s chairman Stephen Thompson, manager Peter Houston and the players and fans who all played a part in the cup victory, and looks forward to Europa League Football at Tannadice next season.

That the Parliament agrees that protecting the economic recovery is a key priority for Scotland; believes that the importance of maintaining a fiscal stimulus cannot be underestimated; further believes that such a stimulus would be a key tool in helping to cement the recovery and create jobs, and calls on the UK Government to respond positively to the Scottish Government’s call for a sustained fiscal stimulus for Scotland and the UK.

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 congratulates the video games industry on its contribution to the country’s economy; notes that the video games industry contributes over £1 billion annually to the United Kingdom’s gross domestic product, generates £400 million for the Exchequer in tax revenues and supports 28,000 jobs, over a tenth of which are in the Dundee area; recognises the threat to the UK games industry that comes from its main competitors, including the United States of America, Canada and South Korea, which all offer major tax breaks at either national or regional level for game production or other substantial government financial support; welcomes the research by TIGA, the trade association representing the UK games industry, into tax relief, which shows that a tax break would create or save 3,550 graduate-level jobs or the vocational equivalent and increase and protect £415 million in new and saved tax receipts over five years, and calls on the Scottish Government to lobby the UK Government to implement such a tax break for game production in this year’s budget.

That the Parliament endorses the warning from COSLA President Pat Watters to all parties at the general election that a cut in funding by the UK Government to Scotland and Scotland’s local authorities following this year’s election would be catastrophic for services in Scotland; acknowledges the letter from Pat Watters to all parties and the letters from the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and the First Minister to Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats in Westminster, and urges all parties to ensure that any changes in the UK budget following the election do not effect budgets already set by the Scottish Government and Scotland’s local authorities.

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.

As an amendment to motion S3M-5517 in the name of Elaine Smith (Grand Theft Childhood), leave out from the first “notes” to end and insert “celebrates Scotland’s world-leading video game development sector; recognises that, although there is a correlation between playing violent games and aggressive behaviour, there is no evidence to suggest that one causes the other; further considers that most video games are suitable for children; notes that just 3% of games in 2007 were classified as an 18 certificate; agrees that there is a place for the development of adult video games for all adult players; urges the UK Government to enact the Pan-European Game Information classification system at the earliest opportunity, and warns parents to buy only games that are appropriate to their children’s age and that retailers should strictly enforce the classification system when selling video games to the public.”

That the Parliament congratulates the University of Strathclyde and world-leading pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on the first ever initiative in the United Kingdom to deliver a bespoke postgraduate MPhil chemistry degree programme; pays tribute to the expertise and professionalism of the university staff in achieving this outcome; recognises that this unique research programme will be geared towards identifying and developing novel treatments for a range of diseases, including respiratory, inflammatory, neurological and psychiatric diseases; acknowledges the potential that this will have to deliver considerable benefits for patients and public health; commends this innovative initiative as a tangible demonstration of the benefits of collaboration, in particular the knowledge exchange between academia and industry, and notes that the programme is designed to allow GSK employees to develop novel research approaches towards new treatments and, in so doing, aims to benefit society as a whole.

That the Parliament welcomes the next step in the development of the Victoria and Albert in Dundee, which will see architects from across the world compete in a competition to design the new museum to be sited on the water at the iconic Discovery Quay site; notes that the project, which is expected to begin construction in 2012 and be completed in 2014, will create 900 jobs and bring an estimated 130,000 visitors to Dundee every year;further notes that the museum will provide access to high quality exhibitions for residents in Dundee and across Scotland, and welcomes the support given to the project by the University of Dundee, the University of Abertay Dundee, Dundee City Council, Scottish Enterprise and the Scottish Government.

That the Parliament condemns the arrest and treatment by the Malawian authorities of Steven Monjeza and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, two men who were arrested on 28 December 2009 and charged with unnatural practices between males and gross public indecency; condemns the attempts of the Malawian authorities to subject the men to forced anal examinations; considers the arrest to be discriminatory, homophobic and illegal and to violate equality and non-discrimination clause 20 of the Malawian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and international human rights documents, and calls on the Scottish Government to urge the Malawian authorities to release the two men immediately and unconditionally, to ensure their safety on release, to end the criminalisation of homosexuality in Malawi, to halt the reported police harassment of and the legal proceedings against HIV educators and human rights defenders from the Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), three workers of which have been arrested following their public defence of the men and apparently as a result of their HIV education work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, and to continue to support the rights of LGBT people at both domestic and international level.

That the Parliament welcomes the calls by Dundee City Council for residents to help during the cold weather by gritting pavements; condemns the scaremongering from some quarters regarding the possibility of people clearing paths facing legal action; notes the comments of Ronald Conway, a senior partner with Bonnar & Co, personal injury solicitors, that he had never known of a case of someone being taken to court in Scotland accused of causing injury by failing to properly clear a frozen public path; further notes the comments of Gordon McBean, a partner at Thorntons in Dundee who specialises in personal injury law, who said that he believed that a court would be reluctant to convict anyone seen to be acting in the interests of public safety, and calls on residents in Dundee and across Scotland to help keep paths clear and to look out for neighbours, particularly older people, during the current spell of bad weather.

That the Parliament notes with caution the work of Universities UK and its report, Changing Landscapes: future scenarios for variable tuition fees, in particular its model that tuition fees in England should be increased further; notes that this has been met with concern by some student groups, and reiterates a commitment to free education in Scotland.

That the Parliament welcomes the intervention in the Dundee-based The Courier by Bailie George Regan, Chair of Nuclear Free Local Authorities, to the debate on the future of Scotland’s energy needs; considers that his opinion reflects the will of the people and the Parliament that Scotland’s future energy needs lie in renewables rather than nuclear power, and believes that the massive government subsidies that are earmarked for new nuclear power stations in the UK would be of greater benefit to the research and development of renewable technologies.

That the Parliament welcomes Stonewall’s Education for All campaign, which aims to tackle homophobic bullying in schools; notes with concern research that shows that 9 in 10 secondary school teachers and more than two in five primary school teachers report that their pupils currently experience homophobic bullying, name-calling or harassment; further notes that homophobic bullying can result in lower educational achievement and also increase the rate of self-harm and suicide among young lesbian, gay and bisexual people; welcomes Stonewall’s Some people are gay. Get over it! poster campaign, which was created by young people and will be used to directly target young people travelling to and from school on buses during National Anti-Bullying Week from 16 to 20 November 2009; further notes the steps taken by the Scottish Government to combat homophobic bullying with the toolkit resource for teachers, Dealing with Homophobia and Homophobic Bullying in Scottish Schools, and hopes that the forthcoming national anti-bullying strategy will further address the issue of homophobic bullying in order that all young people can enjoy the full benefits of learning in a safe and an inclusive environment.

That the Parliament congratulates One Parent Families Scotland (OPFS) on its 65th anniversary; welcomes the work carried out by OPFS to ensure that all families, especially those headed by a lone parent, have the support, information and confidence needed to play a full part in Scotland’s economic and social life; notes that OPFS is the biggest childcare-at-home provider in Scotland, supporting the lives of almost 9,000 families and 4,000 children each year and building their capacity to be full and active contributors to Scottish society; further congratulates OPFS on 25 years in Dundee, where it has carried out programmes such as the 101 project, which offers specialist information and support to lone and young parents and their children, including supporting them towards learning, training, volunteering or employment, and wishes OPFS and all its staff continued success in the years to come.

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee United Football Club on its 100th anniversary; notes that United played its first game on 18 August 1909 as Dundee Hibernian in a game that resulted in a 1-1 draw with Hibernian; notes that in 1910 Dundee United joined the Scottish football league and went on to win all of Scotland’s major football honours, winning the league cup in 1979-80 and 1980-81, the league in 1982-83 and the Scottish Cup in 1993-94; further notes that united was the first Scottish side to reach the final of the UEFA Cup in 1987 where, although they were narrowly beaten by IFK Gothenburg, FIFA awarded its first-ever Fair Play Award to the club for the sporting behaviour of the fans at Tannadice Park; acknowledges the contribution that Dundee United has made to International football, hosting International players from three continents and producing some of Scotland’s greats, including Dave Narey who famously put Scotland ahead against Brazil in the 1982 World Cup with a “toe poke”, and wishes all the players, staff and fans good luck for their centenary year.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the 10th annual Dare to be Digital competition held by the University of Abertay, Dundee; notes that 70 students from nine different countries around the world will compete over the next 10 weeks to create a finished video game, which will then be judged on the basis of its creativity, market potential and use of new technology; notes that Dundee is a global player in the development of computer games and recognises the importance of the Scottish digital media industry, which employs 30,000 people and contributes £1 billion to GDP, and further welcomes the commitment of the Scottish Government to the digital media sector, which is demonstrated by the creation of a £3 million centre of excellence for computer games education at the University of Abertay, Dundee, and by its provision of funding to enable teams from India and China to compete in the Dare to be Digital competition.

That the Parliament welcomes the end of the ban on home baking at school events in Dundee after the ruling was overturned by the city’s new SNP administration after being kept in place by the Labour party for almost a decade; highlights that this half-baked idea was introduced by the Labour administration in 1999 and that it was never removed during its time in office takes the biscuit; notes Dundee’s proud home baking tradition, which includes the Dundee cake and Desperate Dan’s cow pies; welcomes the fact that attendees at Dundee school events can now enjoy home baking, and looks forward to the host of events over the coming months that can now have cake sales without breaking council rules.

That the Parliament congratulates Dundee City Council’s new SNP administration; notes that, with 14 councillors, the SNP is the largest elected group on the council and, with the SNP administration, Dundee City Council will finally reflect the will of the electorate; also congratulates SNP Councillor Craig Melville whose recent victory in the Maryfield by-election, where the SNP increased its share of the vote to 48%, was instrumental in the transition of power; looks forward to a new era for Dundee, and welcomes the fact that, with an SNP administration, Dundee is now in a great state.

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.

That the Parliament notes reports about the future of the Dunfermline Building Society, possible losses and its exposure to the commercial property market; further notes that the Dunfermline has for 130 years been a solid and trusted mutual and is now Scotland’s largest building society; expresses concern that building societies are being penalised by the increased capital requirement and funding formula for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, and calls on the Scottish and UK governments to do everything in their power to keep the Dunfermline as a strong independent Scottish mutual.

That the Parliament welcomes proposals by Ofgem to limit the scope of energy companies to charge unjustified prices; notes that the poorest and most vulnerable groups continue to pay higher prices for electricity and gas, particularly those with prepayment meters where charges amount to an average differential of £118 compared to customers paying by direct debit, and that a significant percentage of some groups at risk of fuel poverty use prepayment meters, including 22% of households with an income of less than £10,000; calls for tighter regulatory laws in the future, including windfall taxes or fines as a tool of regulation for utility companies that fail to comply, and believes that Ofgem could go further by insisting that energy companies absorb the comparatively small operational costs for prepayment meters and standard credit payment methods in order to achieve a more level and fairer system of pricing.

That the Parliament expresses deep concern over the alarming figures published by Amnesty International showing that in 2008 at least 2,390 people were executed by states across the globe, including China, the United States of America and Japan, compared to 1,252 in 2007; believes that capital punishment, which includes beheadings, electrocutions, hangings, lethal injections, shootings and stonings, is the most inhumane form of punishment and has no place in the 21st century; notes that Belarus is the only country in Europe where executions still take place; further notes that the European Union (EU) is the only major global economic and political power where capital punishment is illegal and condemned, and calls on the EU as a major promoter of peace in the world to stand by its principles of respect for human dignity and strongly condemn all forms of capital punishment in Belarus and across the globe.

That the Parliament calls on all local authorities to back the Scottish Government’s fight to put a halt to HM Government’s proposals to slash £500 million from the Scottish Budget in each of the next two financial years as, if implemented, this £1 billion cut would have a hugely detrimental effect on the provision of public services to the people of Scotland.

That the Parliament supports the request by the rector of the University of Dundee, Craig Murray, to give evidence to the Westminster Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights on the subject of the UK Government’s policy on receiving intelligence obtained by torture abroad and considers that Mr Murray is offering first-hand eye-witness testimony with documentary proof of a secret and reprehensible policy of attempting to benefit from torture, endorsed and directed by UK ministers.

That the Parliament believes that retained firefighters provide an invaluable service to communities across Scotland, particularly those in remote and rural areas, such as the north east and Highlands and Islands; believes that setting a 48-hour maximum to the working week as currently proposed in relation to retained firefighters could greatly reduce the hours for which they would be available for duty, to the detriment of fire services in many remote and rural communities; recognises the concerns raised by the Retained Firefighters Union in relation to the recent European Parliament vote to end the UK opt-out to the EU working time directive; agrees with the STUC and Fire Brigades Union that, as the issue is now subject to negotiations at European level, there is no immediate threat to fire provision, and hopes that the mature and responsible joint efforts by the Scottish and UK governments will ensure that any future changes to the EU working time directive ensure the flexibility required to allow the continuation of retained firefighters and the protection of workers’ rights.

That the Parliament notes the continuing debate at Westminster about the possible part-privatisation of the Royal Mail; further notes that over 170 MPs, including over 140 Labour members, have signed the Early Day Motion in the name of Geraldine Smith MP opposing the plans; welcomes the leading role played by the Communication Workers Union in the campaign against the proposals, and believes that any privatisation of the Royal Mail will have a detrimental effect on postal services in central Scotland and across the country.

That the Parliament notes proposals from the Government of Norway to establish two new funds with a total capital of NOK100 billion (approximately £10 billion), designed to improve access to loans for companies and households and to help stabilise the financial market; further notes the range of measures that the Government of Norway, which is an independent country with a population comparable to that of Scotland, has taken to insulate the country’s economy against the global economic downturn; considers that there is no evidence whatsoever that Norway is, or is about to become, insolvent, and therefore believes that the actions of the Government of Norway are an example of why independence for Scotland is even more necessary in the face of global recession.

That the Parliament expresses its concern, following the revelation that, despite official assurances to the contrary, terror suspects detained by British soldiers in Iraq were secretly flown by the United States of America to Afghanistan; states its belief that extraordinary rendition is an errant practice with no legal basis, in which no decent government should engage, and calls on the UK Government to accede to the numerous demands for a full inquiry into the various allegations that the United Kingdom has been involved in facilitating the extraordinary rendition of individuals to countries where they face torture.

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.

That the Parliament notes with concern the comments of Colin Macdonald, Studio Manager for Dundee-based computer games developer Realtime Worlds, who recently expressed concern for the future of the industry; recognises that despite the current economic situation the computer games industry is continuing to grow, however that in terms of games development the United Kingdom is falling behind; notes that UK firms must pay tax on research and development, while in countries such as Canada and France rebates are given; further notes the importance to the economy of Dundee and Scotland of computer games developers who have produced award winning titles such as Crackdown, which recently sold over 1.5 million units, and believes that games development in Scotland will suffer under the current tax regime.

That the Parliament congratulates publishers DC Thomson and Co on the 90th birthday of The Sunday Post; notes that The Sunday Post was created in 1919 from The Post Sunday Special, a newspaper that was originally produced to ensure that lists of World War One casualties, which were released on a Saturday evening, could be available as soon as possible; further recognises that The Sunday Post is a Scottish institution enjoying an impressive readership of 950,000 and is home to Scottish icons The Broons and Oor Wullie; looks forward to its continued longevity and success in future years, and wishes everyone connected with The Sunday Post, both past and present, all the best.

That the Parliament notes the continued relevance of Holocaust Memorial Day, the international day of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and of other genocides; further notes that Renfrewshire Council, chosen to host the Scottish National Holocaust Memorial Day, marked the day with, among other things, a series of events under the positive title, One Great Tapestry; A Celebration of Diversity, at which a major theme was “stand up to hatred”; believes that an appreciation of peoples and cultures the world over should be an integral part of the Scottish identity, as suggested by this title, and expresses the hope that Scotland will continue to welcome those fleeing persecution, stand up to hatred and have the courage to condemn all those who infringe human rights.

That the Parliament pays tribute to the moving courage and sacrifice of Scottish missionary Jane Haining who, following the outbreak of the Second World War, ignored orders to return to Scotland from Budapest, refusing to leave the Jewish orphans in her care, and, as a result, was arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz-Birkenau in July 1944; celebrates the example of moral courage that her actions set for young people today; recognises the honour bestowed on her by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial authority, in naming her as Righteous Among the Nations, non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis, and supports the Holocaust Educational Trust, The Scotsman and others in calling for a posthumous honour for Jane Haining and other heroes of the Holocaust in recognition of their bravery and selflessness.

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.

That the Parliament condemns the decision by the BBC, a publicly funded body, not to air the appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) for humanitarian aid for Gaza; notes that ITV and channels 4 and 5 will air this appeal and commends them for doing so; considers that refusing to air this appeal leaves the BBC in a minority and brings into question the independence of the BBC, and draws attention to the fact that people who wish to contribute to the DEC Gaza Crisis Appeal can do so by contacting DEC on 0370 60 60 900 or at DEC Gaza Crisis, PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA or by visiting www.dec.org.uk.

That the Parliament welcomes the launch of the Active Scotland website, www.activescotland.org.uk, which has been developed by NHS Health Scotland as a tool to support the physical activity workforce when working with patients, clients or pupils to answer the question “where do I go to be active?”; notes that the site captures a range of local physical activity opportunities in the form of spaces, places, services and contacts that can help the people of Scotland become more active; welcomes the Scottish Government’s commitment to a healthy Scotland as promoted in Healthy Eating, Active Living: An action plan to improve diet, increase physical activity and tackle obesity (2008-2011), and calls for continued progress to ensure that the people of Scotland enjoy the benefits of an active life.

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.

That the Parliament congratulates the Dystonia Society for its efforts over the past 25 years in raising awareness about this little-known but severely debilitating neurological disorder, which can cause involuntary, sustained and painful muscle spasms in various parts of the body; further congratulates the society on its sustained fundraising efforts, which have culminated in two specialist physiotherapists being based in Scotland working with those suffering from cervical dystonia; is concerned that, according to the Dystonia Society, there are at least 38,000 sufferers in the United Kingdom who sometimes have to wait years for a correct diagnosis due to a lack of awareness on the part of general practitioners (GPs), and calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that adequate information is given to GPs so that a correct and timeous diagnosis can be made and to provide resources for research into the causes of dystonia.

That the Parliament welcomes the Scottish Catholic International Aid Fund (SCIAF) publication Ending Mass Rape in the Democratic Republic of Congo: The Role of the International Community, which highlights that sexual violence and other human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ruin countless lives and threaten the peace and security of the troubled region; notes that in Shabunda region of South Kivu 70% of the women have been raped and that 50% of those women raped are aged under 18; further notes that the high number of rapes are a direct result of the continuing conflict in the eastern region of the DRC, which involves Congolese forces, neighbouring countries – including Rwanda and over 20 independent militias; condemns the use ofrape as a tool of war to humiliate and destroy communities, and calls on the UK Government to step up its efforts to end this horror and increase desperately needed care for survivors.

As an amendment to motion S3M-2699 in the name of Claire Baker (Congratulations on Scottish University World Rankings), leave out from second “notes” to end and insert “congratulates the University of Dundee for being shortlisted as the only Scottish institution for the Times Higher Education Award of University of the Year; also congratulates its Politics Department, which came top for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey this year, and welcomes the investment being made by the Scottish Government in restoring Scotland’s reputation for having a world-class education system.”

That the Parliament welcomes President Obama’s announcement of a strategic move towards a “nuclear-free world” through bilateral and multilateral disarmament; hopes to see the newly inaugurated president make good on this pledge in a constructive and practicable way, and believes that a fitting beginning to this new strategy necessitates the cessation of the shipment of vital bomb components by US weapons makers to the United Kingdom, historically sanctioned by US presidents, thus bringing about the end to the folly of Trident.

That the Parliament recognises that one of the major aims of any government is to facilitate sustainable economic growth; acknowledges that the current lack of fiscal powers limits the Scottish Government’s ability to react to changing conditions in a way that is attuned to Scotland’s distinct circumstances; notes that the Northern Ireland Assembly can borrow up to £2 billion, and calls on the UK Government to listen and respond to the growing demands from both inside the Scottish Parliament and beyond for borrowing powers and to take any action necessary to put those powers in place so that Scotland can emerge from the current economic downturn in a strong, competitive position.

That the Parliament recognises the significance of the President of the United States of America calling for a 120-day suspension of military court proceedings for inmates at Guantánamo Bay; welcomes his intervention so early in his presidency, and calls for all detainees who are held at Guantánamo Bay to be brought into the mainstream of the USA justice system in order that the rest of the world can be confident as to the methods used to obtain a confession and that justice is not only done but is seen to be done

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 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.

That the Parliament notes with concern the decision of the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to withdraw its referees from the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League due to its lack of affiliation; recognises that this decision has ramifications for friendly leagues across Scotland, which now face an uncertain future; notes with further concern that this decision has threatened the viability of a league which has for 15 years proved to be a resounding success based on the principles of fair and friendly play; recognises the value of this league not only in raising money for local charities but also as income for Dundee City Council in pitch and facilities fees; believes that the approach taken by the SFA whereby registered referees can participate in any other non-affiliated league except this one is inconsistent and simply unfair, and applauds the organisers of the Dundee Saturday Morning Friendly League for their drive and determination to make sure the league continues in spite of the SFA’s position.

That the Parliament expresses concern over the unjust decision by the Scottish Football Association (SFA) to demote the Dundee youth team, along with Dunfermline Athletic and Ross County, from the elite performance level of its Youth Football initiative; notes that the decision to demote Dundee was made on a technicality as a second youth licence holder was not employed at the club for a few weeks due to an employee moving on and a new licence holder taking time to recruit; understands that the decisions made against Dunfermline and Ross County were due to a technicality in disclosure of which they were not informed until an audit but have now rectified; notes with concern reports that the SFA have allowed Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs to remain at performance level even though these clubs do not meet the criteria; regrets the impact that this decision will have, leading to reduced playing opportunities for budding young local footballers in Dundee, a reduction in youth development creating a gap between clubs outwith the SPL and the possible demise of youth development at Dundee FC; calls on the SFA to revisit its decision on the demotion of these three teams, and urges the Scottish Government, which provides the funding for the elite performance level Youth Football initiative, to investigate this matter.