Highland Council accreditation as a living wage employer

That this House congratulates Highland Council on officially being accredited as a living wage employer; notes that the living wage is independently calculated each year based on what employees and their families base line financial requirements are for living costs; further notes that Highland Council has an estimated 10,000 staff making it one of the largest regional employers in the Highlands and the importance of this change for wider regional development; additionally recognises the hard work of Living Wage campaigners and Highland Council staff on achieving this aim; and actively calls on other employers in the Highlands, wider Scotland and the UK as a whole to follow this example.