 The next item of business is a member's business debate on motion 4048, the name of Stuart McMillan, on Commonwealth Day 2017. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put. Can I ask members to leave the chamber quietly? Those members who wish to speak in the debate, please press the request-to-speak buttons now, and I call on Stuart McMillan to open the debate. Mr McMillan, seven minutes are there abouts, please. Thank you very much. Last week, we had International Women's Day, on Friday, it's St Patrick's Day, and on Monday of this week, we had Commonwealth Day. Like the celebrations of the global achievements of women and the usually more exuberant affirmations of Irish identity, Commonwealth Day is marked across the globe and not only in the 53 member states, member countries of the modern Commonwealth. Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for individuals, communities and organisations to promote the Commonwealth's shared values of peace, democracy, equality and to celebrate the association's rich diversity. Having emerged from a group of countries that shared a connection with Britain, the modern Commonwealth has been based from the beginning in 1949 on the maintenance of fundamental values and principles. Since the 1949 declaration of the Commonwealth, it has regularly restated and refreshed those principles and values. The Commonwealth comprises people from across all the continents of the world, and despite the incredible diversity of members of the Commonwealth, we are intrinsically linked through our common history. At a time of increasing instability and uncertainty in the world, with today marking, unfortunately, the sixth anniversary of the conflict in Syria, starting, for example. The Commonwealth family of nations in its rich diversity becomes an ever-more-needed source of strength and hope for all its members. The theme of this year's Commonwealth Day is, of course, peace building. A peace building Commonwealth is a natural follow-on from 2016's theme of an inclusive Commonwealth and reaffirms the Commonwealth Charter principle that international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law, are essential to the progress and prosperity of all. The strength of the Commonwealth's commitment to its principles and values, including the promotion of human and political rights, has helped to give it a substantial and distinctive role in the international community. The Commonwealth theme for 2016 celebrated the diversity of the Commonwealth, which is made up of more than 2 billion people. Every person is different, and each has something unique to offer. The Commonwealth Charter asserts that everyone is equal and deserves to be treated fairly, whether they are rich or poor, without regard to their race, age, gender, belief or other identity. The Commonwealth builds a better world by including and respecting everybody and the richness of their personalities. The theme for this year's events, organised by Governments, schools, community groups and individuals to celebrate Commonwealth Day and helps to guide activities by Commonwealth organisations throughout the year. Membership of the Commonwealth is widely seen as implying a guarantee that our country is upholding high standards in democracy and human rights. Scotland remains a progressive, open, outward-looking and inclusive nation and an internationalist country. As a nation, we value our links with our Commonwealth cousins, and, through the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, the Parliament plays its part in that. The Inverclyde-Malawi School's partnership has been running since 2007 and links local schools with schools in the Chyridzulu district in Malawi. In the last session, the Inverclyde partner schools supported a wide range of projects, including installing solar and mains electricity, provision of clean water, supporting feeding programmes, building classrooms and teachers' houses and the formation of the Malawi branch of the Greenock Morton Supporters Club. I do not know how people would say, monotone in the various Malawi languages, but I am quite looking forward to learning at some point going forward. Fourteen schools have already built strong partnerships with young people in Malawi. Not only does this help people in Malawi during difficult times, it also helps to encourage our young people to see themselves as global citizens. Of the 2.4 billion people in the Commonwealth, 60 per cent are youth and young people, so that shows the importance of those partnerships going forward. In the spirit of friendship that brings the nations and territories of the Commonwealth together, it is evidenced by Scotland's connection with the late Nelson Mandela. My lessons of his life, his magnanimity and power of forgiveness will shine as beacons for decades and centuries to come. For the story of Nelson Mandela's special relationship with Scotland, it is also a tribute to the role of this nation's anti-apartheid campaigners played in contributing to the demise of the apartheid regime. Mandela was regarded by a terrorist as many and was an uncomfortable subject for the majority who actually sat in the fence on apartheid, but in Glasgow, a small group of activists had been active from the 16 onwards in trying to assist the ANC and, as Mandela was increasingly singled out, as a symbol of the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, the campaign began to gain traction. Mandela was granted the freedom of Glasgow in 1981, an example which many cities followed, and a declaration was launched the following year, signed by two and a half thousand city mayors calling for Mandela's release from prison. For that reason, it's a story about Scotland can be justly proud. The Mandela connection reaffirms Scotland's great tradition of political internationalism. Perhaps Scotland's greatest reward for allying itself with Mandela's battle against apartheid is the collective sense of national decency such a positive role engendered. This is an important point to remember with great relevance for today and for this year's theme for Commonwealth Day. Support for far-right politicians is unfortunately increasing worldwide, and that should be a huge concern to those who value peace and prosperity for all wherever we live. As Europe grapples with the defining issue of our age, the largest refugee crisis since the end of the second world war, the growth and inequality and the impact of climate change now more than ever nations across the world must work together. In opposing apartheid, Scotland revealed itself as a nation capable of displaying the qualities that are needed only in claiming to be a tolerant, caring, peace-building and multicultural society. As well as upholding its values in its own member states, the Commonwealth clearly has that potential to be a hugely influential voice in the wider international community. The diversity of the Commonwealth is membership taking in some of the smallest states in the world, as well as some of the largest, and including both very poor countries, and some of the richest must be seen as a particular strength. It is important, therefore, that we continue to affirm our commitment to work together as a diverse community of nations individually and collectively. Thank you very much. Commonwealth Day is officially celebrated annually on the second Monday in March, and the Scottish Parliament holds a debate to recognise the importance of the Commonwealth as soon as possible thereafter. I thank Stuart McMillan for using his member's debating time to bring this motion to the chamber this evening. The theme for Commonwealth Day this year is the peace-building Commonwealth, and in this time of world uncertainty and instability, this theme is particularly relevant. The Commonwealth is a family of 53 nations stretching across all continents. It is a unique organisation of members with a shared history, eminently suited to work together to deliver that peace-building objective. The values and aspirations that unite the Commonwealth are democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The Commonwealth parliamentary association was founded in 1911 and consists of 180 branches that operate across nine regions, of which the British Isles and Mediterranean region is one. In October 2016, the seventh secretary general of the CPA, Ackbar Can, took up his post, and since then he has hit the ground literally running. It is therefore an honour for our branch that, within months of his appointment to this demanding job, he has chosen to be here in Scotland to listen to this Commonwealth debate this evening, and that Dr Shoudry, chair of the CPA, has been here in Parliament today meeting with MSPs. The SPA's remit is to connect, develop, promote and support parliamentarians in order to identify good governance and implement the values of the Commonwealth. Enabling good governance and peaceful transition of power is clearly crucial if international peace and security is to be maintained. Here, for the remainder of the time that is available to me, I want to focus on my remarks on the Commonwealth Women's Parliamentary Association, which was founded in 1989, to increase the number of female elected representatives in parliaments and legislators across the Commonwealth and ensure that women's issues are brought to the fore in parliamentary debate and legislation. As a member of the CWP BIMR steering group last month, I took part in the international working group of CWP at Wilton Park in Sussex. Wilton Park is a very special conference centre that promotes peace and reconciliation, and it was against this backdrop of consensus building that the working group met, and took important decisions that embody Commonwealth's day's peace buildings theme. Increasing female representation in the Commonwealth parliaments is CWP's main goal, but the working group, taking into account the huge diversity and complexity of the issues facing parliamentarians in the CWP member states, also focused on our key agreed priorities for the next three years. Those included ending violence against women by adopting a zero-tolerance approach to it in whichever form it takes. Crucially, it was stressed that tackling this issue must be recognised not as an additional spend, but rather as an investment in promoting peace, stability and economic growth. In conclusion, Parliamentarians throughout the Commonwealth are keenly aware that tackling this issue of violence against women wherever it takes place, whether in the home, in war zones or in the worrying levels of abuse directly through the internet, is an essential prerequisite to strengthening international peace and security, and that through the effective work for co-operation, the Commonwealth, CPE and CWP are ideally placed to take the lead in ensuring that message is heard loud and clear. Since its creation, the Commonwealth has aimed to secure democracy and peace in its member states by promoting values of tolerance, respect and understanding, and the theme of this year's Commonwealth Day is a peace-building Commonwealth, which invites us to reflect on the current state of peace and security within each member state and collaborate even more together on issues of mutual interest. The Commonwealth is a unique international organisation with a fundamental belief in freedom, composed mainly of former component parts of the British Empire, but countries that were never under British rule such as Mozambique and Rwanda also see the value of joining and have done so, as has Francophone Cameroon. In the world of sport, nations and territories, no matter how small, can compete in the Commonwealth Games, with Tristan da Cunha, St Helens and Nae population 312, all sending competitors to the 2014 Glasgow Games. I am sure that we all recall those games very fondly, with Scotland competing in its own right, unlike in the Olympics, doing tremendously well, winning 19 golds coming forth, well out of proportion to your population and comparison to Australia, Canada and England. In my constituency, the lasting legacy is a unique new state of the art sports facility at the Sports Scotland's national centre in Verkline-Largs, which will open in a few short weeks and help to nurture our future sporting talent. In a free association, the Commonwealth does not impose any legal and economic obligations, and each member can withdraw at any time without facing sanctions. What sets it apart from other inter-governmental organisations is the diversity of member states, from republics in monarchies to small Pacific islands to India, Australia and Canada. The Commonwealth's mission is to build bridges, allowing smaller nations to sit down with their larger counterparts as equals. The Commonwealth offers the opportunity to the least developed member states to negotiate bilateral agreements with more developed countries. In that way, many benefit from strong economic support from the richest Commonwealth member states. However, Commonwealth trade not only helps poorer members, but also brings benefits to all members, including here in the United Kingdom. Our most important Commonwealth economic partners are Australia, India and Canada, who together invest billions of pounds in the UK annually as the direct result of our strong Commonwealth bonds. Every year, the Commonwealth supports many cultural and economic projects between member states at every level. As a member of the cross-party group in Malawi, I warmly support the Scotland-Malawi partnership, which is a perfect example of the bridges that exist between Commonwealth nations. The partnership celebrates more than 1,000 civic links between all 73 Holyrood constituencies and Malawi. The University of Edinburgh estimates that, as of last year, there are more than 94,000 Scots actively involved in those projects. That outlines the desire of the people of Scotland to open up even more to the rest of the world, something deeply rooted in our culture. In my constituency, three schools are twinned with schools in Malawi, promoting friendship and learning between our two countries, and the Larg St John's Church, as well as our Drossan Presbytery, organises not only solidariate actions such as the collection of clothing, food or medical supplies, but also provides strong support to their sister churches in Malawi. For instance, the Larg St John's Church contributes directly to the economic life of Catalonia, a little village in Malawi, by supporting the development of women's crafts and work training. I believe that such examples show why the Commonwealth continues to thrive and resonate with so many people in Scotland today. Many Commonwealth countries still lack basic freedoms, and we cannot be blind to that. The excellent work of the Scottish branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is well-respected in its sincere efforts to work to make improvements in democratic accountability across the Commonwealth. It is great to have Akbar Khan, the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, here with us today. I understand that today he has had Stockbridge primary school and Holyrood senior school, along with Deputy Presiding Officer Linda Fabiani. That outreach helped to relay the value of the Commonwealth and discuss democracy and diversity, along with serious topics such as apartheid, climate change, equality and diversity. I commend the work of people at every level from the international to the very local, which allows the Commonwealth family to exist and develop, regardless of race, nationality or religion. Thank you very much, Mr Gibson. I call to un-lament, if I will be Alexander Stewart. Thank you very much, Deputy Presiding Officer. It is a privilege for me to have the opportunity to participate in this debate, and I congratulate Mr MacMillan on securing it. This week of all weeks, we reflected back on the Commonwealth and on the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as we saw the Commonwealth baton again sent off on its journey round the world. It is wonderful to think of this baton traversing continents, which at one point traversed Pollock, Cardonald and other bits of the south side of Glasgow. It reminds us of the real sheer joy of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the friendly games, people coming together, young people from across the world, coming together and competing and operating at the very highest levels and showing the world that Glasgow and Scotland can be a wonderful platform for that kind of event and people coming together. This afternoon, I had the privilege to chair an event of the Scotland branch of the Commonwealth parliamentary association with Mr Ackbar Khan, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth parliamentary association, along with students and young people from right across Scotland. I have to say to you that it was a fabulous event, hugely thought-provoking and challenging, about what the Commonwealth now means. The young people were there with many ideas and thoughts on what that relationship should be. I was grateful to have the opportunity to be there. When we think of the Commonwealth, I do not think that we can stress too heavily that it is the importance of time of great insecurity, a world that feels increasingly fragile, a world that feels less safe than it was even five or ten years ago. There could be no more appropriate time than to have, as is the theme, a peace building Commonwealth, where, at global level, we look to see our communities outward looking, reaching out to each other and finding ways of co-operating. That message of peace building is relevant at a global level, is also relevant at a community level but also in our own homes. I am particularly pleased on the emphasis on the issue of domestic abuse, because can we be free as a country if any one of us is not safe and secure in our own homes? I think that that message of security and safety has a message that is globally understood but is also critically locally realised. Of course, the scale of the Commonwealth family is massive—2.4 billion people, one-third of the world's population, and 60 per cent of them are under 30. The reality is that the Commonwealth is a young, vibrant organisation, not a relic of past glories but something that speaks to the best in our international capacity to co-operate. It is a new relationship. Those of us who have a certain vintage, we can almost reach back and touch the colonial past with which the Commonwealth is associated. In the past, perhaps, first world countries are helping and supporting those in the developing world. That sense of helping and supporting is still relevant, and we see those significant partnerships in places in Malawi, for example. We also have to recognise that this is now a modern relationship. The power of the Commonwealth to give voice to tiny little countries in the issue of climate change. Countries that do not cause the damage but are in the front line of suffering from that damage are given voice by the Commonwealth. Many of those countries are now modern, thriving, innovative economies that we need to work and trade with and have proper respect for and learn from. Those are important modern relationships that have given away the past of that colonial relationship. Finally, I would say uniquely that the Commonwealth has the potential to trade, but it is not a trading bloc. That is not its point. It is not a supra national organisation, but it is a voluntary Commonwealth of its peoples. It is not its Government, not the state but of its people. It is the potential to stand strong in these fragile times for very important values of democracy, of gender equality, of the separation of powers, of the rule of law, of celebrating diversity, development and democracy. There can be no more important time to recognise the strength of the Commonwealth, not as something to celebrate simply of its past but utterly relevant in these times now. I thank everyone in the Commonwealth parliamentary association and its Scotland branch for all that it does to ensure those values are enduring. I thank you very much. I call Alexander Stewart. We have followed by Maurice Corry. Mr Corry is the last speaker in the open debate. Mr Stewart. Thank you, Presiding Officer. May I start by congratulating Stuart Millar on securing this debate and thank him for raising the subject of the Commonwealth Day in the Scottish Parliament this evening? While very diverse the family of nations that makes up the Commonwealth are united by a common ties and shared history, and, as we have heard, a third of the population around the world, 2.4 billion people are involved in the Commonwealth, and they work locally, they work nationally and they work globally. The Commonwealth helps to strengthen those bonds and its member states work together on a global force of good, and that force is recognised, respected throughout the world. The values that are shared by the member states of the Commonwealth, with which the Commonwealth Charter can be found, are ones that I am sure we can all share those values—human rights, the rule of law, democracy and the fundamental building blocks of free and intolerant society. Those areas are areas that we work together to ensure. Those shared values are also the heart of this year's Commonwealth Day theme, a peace-building Commonwealth. What a wonderful theme to have, it brings together all the ages of individuals throughout the Commonwealth to work for peace. That is something that we would all want to strive for. The very nature of the Commonwealth which unites some very different countries and is forced for good and stability in very uncertain times to which we live in. The world is much more a dangerous place than it was some time ago, and as we move to the future we are not quite sure where we are going, but the strength of the Commonwealth pulls together the nations, pulls together the people, and that gives us strength. Like others today in the debate, I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. I may also thank the Secretary General for being here this evening. I think that that is testament to us here in Holyrood, to have you here with us this evening. It gives us pride and respect in what we are trying to achieve and we thank you for coming along this evening. As a new member of the Scottish Parliament, I have been extremely impressed by the acts that take place across Parliamentary democracy, across the Commonwealth nations and ensure that they play a very active role in developing member states. As I am delighted to be one of the co-chairmen of the all-party group on Malawi, I have been astounded by the organisations, the individuals and the projects that are taking place over a thousand years in Scotland. They are all to be congratulated and commended for what they are trying to achieve and building bridges and building opportunities for young and old in the countries that they come from. With my background in local government, I know the importance of looking for examples of good practice and best practice. I see that here in the authorities and what is happening across the parliamentary level. That is to be welcomed. The exchanging of information, the sharing of experiences among members in different legislative access to the Commonwealth, gives a profound positive impact on parliamentary democracy. That is what we want to see. I am delighted that Margaret Mitchell talks about the women's end, because I think that that is a vital role. We have to encourage more women to participate across the Commonwealth and across the parliamentary process. In that regard, I would also like to think that the minority government values the work of the CPA and everybody that we have in moving forward. In conclusion, the work of the Commonwealth and the nations does on a day-to-day basis enrich our lives and promote stability in times of uncertainty around the world. Following on this year's Commonwealth Day, I am sure that everyone across the chamber will welcome its achievements. I wish that Commonwealth continued success. It proves that the Commonwealth plays a very important part, a very vital part, and that part is still very alive and living today. When the Commonwealth was started, it started in a very different era, but it is very relevant for today. Today's people want to participate and want to be involved, so I wish that it continues success. First, I would like to thank Stuart McMillan for bringing forward this member's debate to mark this very important day of Commonwealth Day. The Commonwealth is a unique creation. It is a group of diverse nations from across the planet that are united, as the motion says, in the shared values of peace, democracy and equality. It is only right that it has to be marked here in the Scottish Parliament. The Commonwealth charters of 16 values and principles from democracy and human rights, all the way through to the issues to do with access to health and education, are all key to the success of the Commonwealth. They provide a guideline of what necessary building blocks are for a successful, vibrant and democratic state to exist in the 21st century. It is part of the reason why the expansion of the Commonwealth to other countries should be welcomed, such as with Rwanda, which joined in 2009 and Suriname, which in 2012 applied to join. It is a sign that, while in some parts of the world, those shared values that I mentioned earlier seem to be in full retreat, in others they are still being embraced and put into action. I want to turn and mention a part of the special bond that binds the Commonwealth together, which means a great deal to me and in my role as a convener of the cross-party group for armed forces and veterans community. Watching the unveiling of the Afghanistan and Iraq memorial in London last week, I have reminded of those that I served with, which included members and servicemen and women from the Commonwealth countries in operations overseas. It is worth reminding people in this country that citizens of the Commonwealth freely join our military forces and they serve a vital role. Thousands are serving in the army, the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy currently. They serve as distinction and honour. For example, Sergeant Johnston Bahari, born in Grenada, won the Victoria Cross in Iraq some years ago. Those contributions to our military should be welcomed and celebrated. They join because the Commonwealth truly does matter and they share their values, which are worth defending. From Banff to Bathgate, from Inverness to Inverary, there are war memorials throughout our country with the names of the fallen from several Commonwealth nations and countries inscribed on those memorials. In conclusion, I firmly believe that the Commonwealth is one of the world's greatest institutions and one that is certainly worth celebrating and defending. This certainly has been endorsed today by the presence in Parliament of the Secretary General of the CPA, and we really do appreciate his presence here today with us. Thank you very much, Mr Corey. I call on Alasdair Allan to close to the Government Minister. Seven minutes are there abouts, please. Thank you, Presiding Officer, and, like others, I firstly thank Stuart McMillan for allowing the Parliament today the opportunity to celebrate the importance of the Commonwealth family of nations and to emphasise the mutual benefits that are provided by maintaining and enhancing our existing unique relationship with the independent countries around the world that make up the Commonwealth. I give apologies from the cabinet secretary Fiona Hyslop, who would be here but for a long-standing engagement. I also welcome to the gallery Mr Akbar Khan, the Secretary General of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association and, likewise, pay tribute to the very important work that that organisation does. The Commonwealth Charter explicitly recognises that, in an era of changing economic circumstances and uncertainty, new trade and economic patterns and unprecedented threats to peace and security, as well as a surge in popular demands for democracy, human rights and broadened economic opportunities, the potential of and need for the Commonwealth has never been greater, both as a compelling force for good and as an effective network for co-operation and for promoting development. That description of a time of rapid and unsettling change sounds familiar to all of us living in 2017, and it emphasises that the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law enshrined in the charter remain values that every generation needs to cherish. Those were points made among many others by Michael Alexander Stewart, Lewis MacDonald, Morris Corry and others in today's debate. Indeed, the First Minister has outlined and underlined our unequivocal support for such values as represented in such other documents as the European Convention on Human Rights and we are doing everything within our power to defend the Human Rights Act that gives it effect domestically. Our programme for government commits to exploring how we can go further in giving effect to the economic, social and cultural rights set out in UN and other international treaties. Scotland's international framework outlines a strong emphasis on working with our fellow Commonwealth countries to achieve that. We will consistently and constantly strive to build, maintain and strengthen those relationships, both through formal trading relationships, which yielded £2.7 billion of exports to the Commonwealth in 2015, and through a greater awareness of each other's culture allowing us to unlock the wealth of reciprocal benefits. However, as Kenneth Gibson and Johann Lamont rightly identified, those are by no means the only benefits of the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth Games is perhaps the most visible manifestation of the Commonwealth. Scottish ministers made it clear that the game's values of humanity, equality and destiny are universal and cherished here in Scotland. The 2014 games in Glasgow allowed ministers to actively promote a positive vision of human rights and we sought to raise issues with visiting nations where appropriate, working with stakeholders to put human rights at the heart of the games through awareness raising. In doing that, we welcomed the organising committee's human rights policy statement and provided £25,000 of funding for Pride House in Glasgow during the games. As part of our efforts to promote those Commonwealth values, the Scottish Government supports various projects, including the Beyond Borders Women in Conflict 1325 Fellowship. That provides training to 50 women annually from international conflict areas to reaffirm and enhance the role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflict. Promoting equality in parallel with our Commonwealth partners is certainly a core component of our international development work, with work in Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia aligned to the 16 United Nations sustainable development goals. One such goal states the need to achieve gender equality and to empower all women and girls and all projects delivered using the international development fund will need to demonstrate how they have embedded those goals in their work. I welcome Mr Gibson's reference to the links that, in particular, the Scotland-Malawi partnership represents between the peoples of Scotland and Malawi. Since 2005, we have allocated over £58 million to development initiatives, provided humanitarian assistance and improved energy access for 80,000 people as part of our long-standing special link with Malawi, a relationship that, of course, dates back to the works of missionaries and Dr David Livingstone, but also looks to the future in our new co-operation agreement, which is planned. In doing so and preparing that, I will now be aware—in a way, I was not previously of the role that Greenock Morton Football Club plays in Malawi in society. We have recently opened a new funding round for Zambia and Rwanda, inviting Scottish-based organisations to develop projects to contribute to the global fight against poverty and inequality. Our work in India and Pakistan further strengthens our commitment to sustainable development, with the Scottish Government working with Scottish and local partners in areas such as clean water, sanitation and sustainable energy. That work and those connections are evidenced by the Pakistan Scottish Scholarship Scheme for Women in Higher Education, which was introduced by the Scottish Government in 2013 in collaboration with the British Council and has enabled hundreds of young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to study. As a number of members have alluded to, we live in somewhat uncertain times. As the United Kingdom progresses towards its exit from the European Union, it becomes even more important to maintain and strengthen the relationships with independent countries across the world, which comprise the Commonwealth, and to strengthen the friendships that exist between the peoples of the Commonwealth. That becomes more important than ever it was to provide stability in those times of uncertainty. Scotland remains as passionate as ever about our place in the Commonwealth, and we will remain a committed member of the Commonwealth family of nations.