Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012
17 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Physical Activity
I am a bit of an expert on the subject, in which I have practical experience. One issue in relation to obesity is that proper care is not provided at the very early stages. When I was a child, my mother fed me double doses of milk, which the NHS did not really pick up or follow through. That means that I have been overweight throughout my life. Does the member agree that, to prevent obesity, we need to tackle that important issue at a very early stage?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-02904, in the name of Shona Robison, on meeting the challenge—physical activity and its contribution to t...
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am pleased to open the debate by exploring the significant challenge that obesity presents to Scotland and the Scottish people. I will also set out how phy...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
No matter what age each of us is, I am sure that, if we individually thought back to our own childhood, we would agree that our lives are significantly diffe...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
A number of authorities in Scotland have taken policy decisions to refuse hot food licences within a certain distance of school establishments. Does Patricia...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
I certainly think so. However, we must also ensure that the food that is offered in schools is appetising enough to encourage young people to stay and eat it...
Shona Robison
SNP
Will the member give way?
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
Unfortunately, I am in my last minute. I am sure that the minister will take the chance to respond later.We accept that PE is not the only factor in creating...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I call Nanette Milne. You have six minutes, but there is time if you feel inclined to take interventions.15:19
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
No one can doubt the need for action to address the increasing problem of obesity in this country, whose health consequences are well known and cannot be ove...
Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
I am a bit of an expert on the subject, in which I have practical experience. One issue in relation to obesity is that proper care is not provided at the ver...
Nanette Milne
Con
I am coming to that matter. I agree absolutely with the member. I, too, was an overfed young baby. As I get older, I struggle to keep my weight in the right ...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I really welcome this debate. It is essential that we understand the challenges that obesity currently poses to our national health and the devastating impac...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I ask you to come to a conclusion, please.
Alison Johnstone
Green
I thank the minister for her intention to support my amendment. I move amendment S4M-02904.1, to insert after the first “active”:”; considers physical activi...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
We come to the open debate. Speeches should be of six minutes.15:33
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the minister and the Government for lodging the motion. I also thank them for grasping the nettle of obesity and for the couple of reports that were ...
Drew Smith (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Does Mr Don accept that, in itself, simply having more people walking in their community—rather than feeling that they have to go somewhere else, because the...
Nigel Don
SNP
The member makes a fair point. A busy, occupied space is a much safer space—until, of course, it becomes so crowded that the pickpocket has a field day.The a...
Margaret McDougall (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Obesity is a major problem in Scotland. We have one of the highest rates of obesity—only the United States of America and Mexico have higher levels. The late...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I must ask the member to conclude.
Margaret McDougall
Lab
We need to become more effective at preventing obesity rather than just dealing with the consequences later. The clock is ticking, and we need to get that ri...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
Obesity is a highly complex matter and a difficult subject to tackle, due to the number of factors that are involved. If we had a simple cause, we would have...
Mark McDonald (North East Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I thoroughly enjoyed Alison Johnstone’s speech and I am happy that we will back her amendment at decision time. She speaks with great authority on the issue....
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on a pressing issue. We have heard from various speakers that Scottish people who are obese experience...
Gil Paterson
SNP
What makes you think that?
Mark Griffin
Lab
Mr Yousaf challenged me on which of us was younger and I won through on that, so I can say with some confidence that I am the youngest member in the chamber....
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
You must close now, please.
Mark Griffin
Lab
However, we will not achieve that if we continue to count throwing 25 boys out on to a football pitch for two periods a week as a success. I look forward to ...
Margaret Burgess (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
I, too, welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate on tackling obesity in Scotland. We must remember that obesity is not confined to Scotland and is a g...
Dennis Robertson (Aberdeenshire West) (SNP)
SNP
I am guilty as charged, Presiding Officer. I stand before you as a person who knows that he is overweight and does not take enough exercise, but who is perha...