Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012
17 May 2012 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Physical Activity
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 place.
There is no doubt that physical wellbeing and maintaining a healthy weight depend largely on the combination of a well-balanced healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle and that the problem of obesity must be tackled on both those fronts. In yesterday afternoon’s debate on the development of a national parenting strategy, it was emphasised that parenting starts pre-conception and continues through to adult life. I am in no doubt that encouragement and support for an active and healthy lifestyle should be an integral part of parenting. Being overweight is often a family problem, and finding a solution to overweight children often starts with a family making changes together for a healthy family lifestyle.
I welcome today’s debate and the Government’s commitment to promoting and encouraging initiatives to increase physical activity in all Scottish communities. There are many examples of good practice across the country, but we have a very long way to go. The Government’s obesity route map and the actions that are being taken in line with its principles are a good template for where we should go, but I agree with the Ramblers Association that
“action at a population level is required to support wholesale behaviour change country wide to enable the nation to live healthier lifestyles as a default choice, and this preventative action needs appropriate levels of investment.”
That investment must start with our children. If they are encouraged from an early age to be physically active, they are likely to maintain that pattern throughout life and to pass on that lifestyle to future generations once they become adults.
We should seek to remove the barriers to physical activity that many children face nowadays. Our risk-averse, health-and-safety-conscious and litigious society results in many young children being kept indoors, glued to television and computer screens, because of our natural fear of traffic hazards, predatory adults or the discarded equipment of those who depend on injected drugs.
Children are driven to playgroup, nursery and school, and they might well be prevented from taking part in the rough-and-tumble playground games that taught previous generations of children how to protect themselves as they grew up to face life’s hazards. Near home, children face signs that say, “No Ball Games”, “No Golf Practice” and suchlike, because they have not been taught how to behave responsibly outdoors or how to respect their neighbours.
I realise that I sound old-fashioned, but I feel strongly that children should be given freedom—within reasonable limits—to experience informal outdoor activity and interaction with their peers. It is not natural for a young animal to sit still—most want to be active—so it is concerning that the most recent Scottish health survey showed that as many as 28 per cent of children do not undertake the recommended amount of physical activity each day.
That brings me to my amendment, which is on physical education provision for schoolchildren. I note the cross-party consensus on that, about which I am delighted. The Government’s election pledge five years ago to provide two hours of physical education per week for Scottish pupils was welcome and we are all extremely disappointed that so far it has not been achieved. It might be the case that, as the motion says,
“levels of participation in physical activity are increasing, defying the international trend”,
but we need to remind the Government that there is no room for complacency and that it should be looking to implement its manifesto commitment.
Action is being taken in many communities to improve levels of physical activity. Members were given examples ahead of the debate by Ramblers Association Scotland, which I know will be delighted by the commitment that the minister gave to the development of a national walking strategy. We have been given evidence by the Paths for All Partnership and the Scottish Sports Association. Yesterday evening, there was an excellent presentation from the inclusive design for getting outdoors consortium, on how older people can be encouraged to undertake regular activity.
In my area, I immediately think of the parents who are organising a walking bus to school, of groups such as the Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association, and of Aberdeen Sports Village, which runs a hugely popular aerobics class for retired people—the class is fully subscribed every week and there is a waiting list to join it. The sports village is one of the best-ever developments in Aberdeen and is busy every day of the week with people of all ages undertaking various kinds of exercise.
My party has committed to a charitable trust fund to give all pupils in Scotland the opportunity to receive at least one full week of residential outdoor education between the ages of 11 and 15, and to opportunities for greater participation in grass-roots sports.
Everyone can take exercise, whether they are children playing hide-and-seek or other active games or adults walking to work, walking instead of using the lift to go upstairs—and downstairs, as I see some of the young researchers in the Parliament building doing—cycling or participating in organised sport. The imminence of the Olympic games and Commonwealth games presents an ideal opportunity to promote physical activity as the best possible legacy of the events.
The minister announced interesting initiatives, which I hope will be successful. I look forward to hearing how they progress.
I move amendment S4M-02904.2, to insert, after “trend”:
“notes, however, that the Scottish Government has not succeeded in delivering on its 2007 pledge to provide two hours of physical education per week for all school children in Scotland, but”.
15:27
There is no doubt that physical wellbeing and maintaining a healthy weight depend largely on the combination of a well-balanced healthy diet and a physically active lifestyle and that the problem of obesity must be tackled on both those fronts. In yesterday afternoon’s debate on the development of a national parenting strategy, it was emphasised that parenting starts pre-conception and continues through to adult life. I am in no doubt that encouragement and support for an active and healthy lifestyle should be an integral part of parenting. Being overweight is often a family problem, and finding a solution to overweight children often starts with a family making changes together for a healthy family lifestyle.
I welcome today’s debate and the Government’s commitment to promoting and encouraging initiatives to increase physical activity in all Scottish communities. There are many examples of good practice across the country, but we have a very long way to go. The Government’s obesity route map and the actions that are being taken in line with its principles are a good template for where we should go, but I agree with the Ramblers Association that
“action at a population level is required to support wholesale behaviour change country wide to enable the nation to live healthier lifestyles as a default choice, and this preventative action needs appropriate levels of investment.”
That investment must start with our children. If they are encouraged from an early age to be physically active, they are likely to maintain that pattern throughout life and to pass on that lifestyle to future generations once they become adults.
We should seek to remove the barriers to physical activity that many children face nowadays. Our risk-averse, health-and-safety-conscious and litigious society results in many young children being kept indoors, glued to television and computer screens, because of our natural fear of traffic hazards, predatory adults or the discarded equipment of those who depend on injected drugs.
Children are driven to playgroup, nursery and school, and they might well be prevented from taking part in the rough-and-tumble playground games that taught previous generations of children how to protect themselves as they grew up to face life’s hazards. Near home, children face signs that say, “No Ball Games”, “No Golf Practice” and suchlike, because they have not been taught how to behave responsibly outdoors or how to respect their neighbours.
I realise that I sound old-fashioned, but I feel strongly that children should be given freedom—within reasonable limits—to experience informal outdoor activity and interaction with their peers. It is not natural for a young animal to sit still—most want to be active—so it is concerning that the most recent Scottish health survey showed that as many as 28 per cent of children do not undertake the recommended amount of physical activity each day.
That brings me to my amendment, which is on physical education provision for schoolchildren. I note the cross-party consensus on that, about which I am delighted. The Government’s election pledge five years ago to provide two hours of physical education per week for Scottish pupils was welcome and we are all extremely disappointed that so far it has not been achieved. It might be the case that, as the motion says,
“levels of participation in physical activity are increasing, defying the international trend”,
but we need to remind the Government that there is no room for complacency and that it should be looking to implement its manifesto commitment.
Action is being taken in many communities to improve levels of physical activity. Members were given examples ahead of the debate by Ramblers Association Scotland, which I know will be delighted by the commitment that the minister gave to the development of a national walking strategy. We have been given evidence by the Paths for All Partnership and the Scottish Sports Association. Yesterday evening, there was an excellent presentation from the inclusive design for getting outdoors consortium, on how older people can be encouraged to undertake regular activity.
In my area, I immediately think of the parents who are organising a walking bus to school, of groups such as the Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association, and of Aberdeen Sports Village, which runs a hugely popular aerobics class for retired people—the class is fully subscribed every week and there is a waiting list to join it. The sports village is one of the best-ever developments in Aberdeen and is busy every day of the week with people of all ages undertaking various kinds of exercise.
My party has committed to a charitable trust fund to give all pupils in Scotland the opportunity to receive at least one full week of residential outdoor education between the ages of 11 and 15, and to opportunities for greater participation in grass-roots sports.
Everyone can take exercise, whether they are children playing hide-and-seek or other active games or adults walking to work, walking instead of using the lift to go upstairs—and downstairs, as I see some of the young researchers in the Parliament building doing—cycling or participating in organised sport. The imminence of the Olympic games and Commonwealth games presents an ideal opportunity to promote physical activity as the best possible legacy of the events.
The minister announced interesting initiatives, which I hope will be successful. I look forward to hearing how they progress.
I move amendment S4M-02904.2, to insert, after “trend”:
“notes, however, that the Scottish Government has not succeeded in delivering on its 2007 pledge to provide two hours of physical education per week for all school children in Scotland, but”.
15:27
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
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...