Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 December 2013
10 Dec 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Youth Sport Strategy
I welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s draft strategy on youth sport and the opportunity to take part in today’s debate. It is appropriate that the Scottish Government has chosen to launch the consultation on the draft strategy at a time when we are also preparing for the Glasgow Commonwealth games and, of course, the Ryder cup in 2014. The Commonwealth games in particular will be a stimulus for various economic, sporting and health initiatives, but it is important to ensure that those initiatives leave lasting benefits after the exciting events of next year have ended.
As the Government motion correctly points out, the potential benefits of sport are far reaching and any current investment in youth sport will manifest itself in many positive outcomes in years to come, particularly, I hope, for the most disadvantaged in our society.
As other members have mentioned, and as I am sure that others who have yet to speak will mention, sport has benefits that reach well beyond sport itself: from building the confidence of a young person to developing social skills as part of a team, through to improved health and embedding exercise habits that will, we hope, last a lifetime. However, the Government’s long-term objective of creating a healthier nation will not be achieved without the active participation of young Scots.
Like others, I therefore very much welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to create a young people’s sport panel, which consists of 16 14 to 25-year-olds, to ensure that young people are engaged and at the forefront of maximising the impact of sport in their communities. It has been a consistent theme of this Government to ensure that young people are empowered, whether at the ballot box or in their community, and I believe that including young people in shaping the future of sport in Scotland ensures the continuation of that policy.
As a West Scotland MSP, I am delighted to see that my region is well represented in the young people’s sport panel. Hannah Jolly and Matt McCormick of Bearsden are both members, and Kulbir Singh from Barrhead and Sophie Gibson from Giffnock will also help to increase the profile of sport in their communities. Kulbir—to pick out one person—is an example of how the involvement of young people in sport can create wider benefits. A badminton player in his own right, he has also volunteered at national and international sporting events, including the four nations disability badminton tournament and the national badminton championships. He runs a badminton club and is a member of the committee in his local Sikh temple that organises sports days in the community.
Through Scottish Government initiatives and the enthusiasm of people such as Kulbir, Sophie, Hannah and Matt, who work hard in their communities, Scotland is well armed for the battle against physical inactivity, with 70 per cent of children aged two to 15 now meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. We beat ourselves up in this place about statistics all the time, but frankly we should celebrate the fact that we are making progress in all these areas, including the battle against physical inactivity.
The 2013 healthy living survey shows that 89 per cent of pupils from first year to fourth year now meet the Government target of two periods of PE per week, which is a considerable improvement since 2004-05. The Scottish Government’s recent announcement of a further investment of £5.8 million will ensure that we are able to build on the progress that we have made in creating a healthier and more active society. The youth sport strategy is another step forward in the development of sport in Scotland and a number of welcome measures are included in it, such as community sports hubs and ensuring that young people with a disability are fully involved in PE and sports provision.
It is not a straightforward or easy task to change a nation’s outlook in terms of sport or healthy physical activity, but I believe that we are on the right path. Next year will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only to raise the profile of sport in Scotland, but to encourage our young people to live more active and healthy lives. It is therefore reassuring to see that the Scottish Government is already well prepared to take advantage of those major events and build on the existing opportunities that young people in Scotland enjoy.
17:28
As the Government motion correctly points out, the potential benefits of sport are far reaching and any current investment in youth sport will manifest itself in many positive outcomes in years to come, particularly, I hope, for the most disadvantaged in our society.
As other members have mentioned, and as I am sure that others who have yet to speak will mention, sport has benefits that reach well beyond sport itself: from building the confidence of a young person to developing social skills as part of a team, through to improved health and embedding exercise habits that will, we hope, last a lifetime. However, the Government’s long-term objective of creating a healthier nation will not be achieved without the active participation of young Scots.
Like others, I therefore very much welcome the Scottish Government’s decision to create a young people’s sport panel, which consists of 16 14 to 25-year-olds, to ensure that young people are engaged and at the forefront of maximising the impact of sport in their communities. It has been a consistent theme of this Government to ensure that young people are empowered, whether at the ballot box or in their community, and I believe that including young people in shaping the future of sport in Scotland ensures the continuation of that policy.
As a West Scotland MSP, I am delighted to see that my region is well represented in the young people’s sport panel. Hannah Jolly and Matt McCormick of Bearsden are both members, and Kulbir Singh from Barrhead and Sophie Gibson from Giffnock will also help to increase the profile of sport in their communities. Kulbir—to pick out one person—is an example of how the involvement of young people in sport can create wider benefits. A badminton player in his own right, he has also volunteered at national and international sporting events, including the four nations disability badminton tournament and the national badminton championships. He runs a badminton club and is a member of the committee in his local Sikh temple that organises sports days in the community.
Through Scottish Government initiatives and the enthusiasm of people such as Kulbir, Sophie, Hannah and Matt, who work hard in their communities, Scotland is well armed for the battle against physical inactivity, with 70 per cent of children aged two to 15 now meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. We beat ourselves up in this place about statistics all the time, but frankly we should celebrate the fact that we are making progress in all these areas, including the battle against physical inactivity.
The 2013 healthy living survey shows that 89 per cent of pupils from first year to fourth year now meet the Government target of two periods of PE per week, which is a considerable improvement since 2004-05. The Scottish Government’s recent announcement of a further investment of £5.8 million will ensure that we are able to build on the progress that we have made in creating a healthier and more active society. The youth sport strategy is another step forward in the development of sport in Scotland and a number of welcome measures are included in it, such as community sports hubs and ensuring that young people with a disability are fully involved in PE and sports provision.
It is not a straightforward or easy task to change a nation’s outlook in terms of sport or healthy physical activity, but I believe that we are on the right path. Next year will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity not only to raise the profile of sport in Scotland, but to encourage our young people to live more active and healthy lives. It is therefore reassuring to see that the Scottish Government is already well prepared to take advantage of those major events and build on the existing opportunities that young people in Scotland enjoy.
17:28
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-08546, in the name of Shona Robison, on the youth sport strategy.16:59
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison)
SNP
I am delighted to address Parliament on “Giving children and young people a sporting chance: a draft Strategy for Scotland”, which we published yesterday.Ear...
Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I agree with the sports minister about the principle of giving young people opportunities. Does she recognise that in outlying areas an argument is being mad...
Shona Robison
SNP
I am happy to take that point on board and to give it further consideration.The draft strategy sets out in some detail what we are doing, collectively, and w...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I am sure that the minister is aware, in presenting those statistics, that when the Parliament was established very few new PE teachers were being recruited....
Shona Robison
SNP
I am sure that that is true, to some extent. What is also true is that the priority that is given to PE, particularly in the primary sector, is now far more ...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the minister give way?
Shona Robison
SNP
I will do so in a second. If we were to remove that resource, the quantity and quality of PE that children in primary schools get would be drastically reduce...
Liz Smith
Con
I thank the minister for that comment. Quality is extremely important. Parents want PE to be provided by qualified PE instructors. When I made a freedom of i...
Shona Robison
SNP
PE specialists have an important role to play, particularly in supporting classroom teachers and in creating links between secondary schools and their feeder...
Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab)
Lab
I am pleased to speak in the debate. For reasons that will become clear later, I am also pleased that the minister chose the quotation that she did from Nels...
Shona Robison
SNP
I welcome Patricia Ferguson’s comments on the role of classroom teachers. Does she not recognise the huge progress that has been made towards all schools ach...
Patricia Ferguson
Lab
Progress is always to be welcomed, but we must recognise the challenges that remain. We would be doing the young people about whom we are talking a huge diss...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for writing to the relevant spokesmen in the parties back in October to ask us to give some input. I congratulate the young people who h...
Shona Robison
SNP
In the 2011 manifesto, we recognised that the classroom teacher is a key resource in delivering PE. I absolutely acknowledge that now. I hope that Liz Smith ...
Liz Smith
Con
Absolutely. I think that the two are complementary. The fact remains that specialist PE teachers were mentioned in the SNP manifesto. There must have been a ...
Stewart Maxwell (West Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the launch of the Scottish Government’s draft strategy on youth sport and the opportunity to take part in today’s debate. It is appropriate that th...
Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab)
Lab
Many of us are using this afternoon’s debate to pay our own personal tribute to the life of Nelson Mandela, in particular his powerful and resonant message a...
Shona Robison
SNP
I am not sure that I agree with the vision that Ken Macintosh painted of facilities. When I look around me, I see fantastic new facilities not just in the we...
Ken Macintosh
Lab
I absolutely welcome new facilities every time that they are opened. However, I am conscious that we are still losing parks, playgrounds and tennis courts. J...
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
You will need to make it quickly.
Ken Macintosh
Lab
In those years, a catastrophic falling-off occurs in participation in sport, particularly among girls. It does not have to be that way. If we take the exampl...
Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to speak and I welcome the launch of the consultation on the draft strategy. I thank the young people’s sport panel for its work an...
Margo MacDonald (Lothian) (Ind)
Ind
I have an interest to declare—I am the Parliament’s one qualified specialist PE teacher. I might have two sticks these days, but I would not even be going ar...
Shona Robison
SNP
The strategy is about giving young people the core skills so that they can go on to enjoy sport, a by-product of which will be a healthier life. The quality ...
Margo MacDonald
Ind
Obviously, I am pleased to hear that.We have not yet identified a strategic way to develop sports that suit Scotland. The figures show that fewer young peopl...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Can I ask you to wind up, please?
Margo MacDonald
Ind
I have said my piece. Thank you, Presiding Officer.
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You are very welcome, Ms MacDonald.17:42
Colin Keir (Edinburgh Western) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the strategy for youth sports and in particular the input by the young people’s sport panel. It is good that those whom we want to encourage to par...