Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 November 2018
15 Nov 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Physical Activity, Diet and Healthy Weight
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14749, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on physical activity, diet and healthy weight. I ask members who wish to speak in the debate to press their request-to-speak buttons. As members are aware, time for the debate is already short, so I ask opening speakers not to go over the time that has been allocated to them. I call Joe FitzPatrick to move the motion and speak to it for up to—and no more than—13 minutes.
15:10References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14749, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on physical activity, diet and healthy weight. I ask members who w...
The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Joe FitzPatrick)
SNP
This Government has made it clear that it wants a fairer Scotland where everyone thrives. In moving the motion, I make the point that our overall aim is to i...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
In Edinburgh, the Scottish National Party and Labour Party controlled city council is looking to hike up prices for local groups that undertake sports in spo...
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
Local government is one of our partners in what we are trying to do. I was pleased when City of Edinburgh Council said that it would look again at those matt...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Will you formally move your motion, please, minister?
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I moved it in my very first sentence.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Did you? I was not listening closely enough. I am very sorry.
Joe FitzPatrick
SNP
I move, That the Parliament welcomes the publication of two new delivery plans for Scotland, which set out ambitious actions to increase levels of physical ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
I call Brian Whittle to move amendment S5M-14749.1 and to speak to it for no more than eight minutes, please. 15:23
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I welcome the opportunity to open on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives and thank the Scottish Government for the opportunity to debate this important topi...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome this afternoon’s debate. Obesity is a modern-day public health crisis that would have been unrecognisable to Scots who lived through rationing in t...
Brian Whittle
Con
I mentioned to the member last night, in discussing preventable health issues, that I read in a magazine that parental physical activity has a huge impact on...
David Stewart
Lab
I bow to the member’s experience. He makes a very good point that was reinforced at the diabetes dinner last night. I agree with what the Government has do...
Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green)
Green
I would like to thank the many organisations that have provided briefings for this afternoon’s debate. I, too, am glad to discuss the systemic change that we...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
I agree with what the member is saying, but does she agree that, sometimes, healthier food can be cheaper than takeaway food, which is expensive, and that an...
Alison Johnstone
Green
The member makes an interesting point, but we also have to remember that in some parts of our more deprived communities we have what are described as food de...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
On days such as this, when there are tectonic shifts in politics, both at Westminster and across Europe, it is possible that outside observers might see deba...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
The Scottish Government motion that we are debating today sets out the benefits of improved physical activity and healthy eating. A healthier lifestyle can b...
Annabelle Ewing (Cowdenbeath) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Bruce Crawford
SNP
Only if the member is going to serve me macaroni and cheese.
Annabelle Ewing
SNP
I am curious, now that Bruce Crawford has raised the matter: did he have macaroni cheese for lunch?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Excuse me, Mr Crawford; I put on record that I did not take chips.
Bruce Crawford
SNP
I did not have it, but only because I did not spot that it was on. It is one of my favourites. There is a place for it. We should not decry that as not being...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
I warmly congratulate the member who has just spoken, not just because of the wonderful Munros in Stirlingshire, which I have had the privilege of climbing—s...
Alex Cole-Hamilton
LD
Does the member agree that as well as improving food in school canteens, we need to educate children about the journey that the foodstuffs that they ingest a...
Liz Smith
Con
Absolutely—I agree. That is all part of the educational journey for youngsters. However, the key thing is that we must ensure that there is an improvement in...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
I very much welcome the fact that Philip Sim is watching the debate, because I know how much he enjoys my contributions. I say to Bruce Crawford that, in 194...
David Stewart
Lab
Will the member give way?
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
That is all that people need to survive, although the experiment reported that there was a substantial increase in flatulence. Speaking of which, I will give...
David Stewart
Lab
What was the member’s experience of living through the Boer war?