Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2026 [Draft]
02 Jun 2026 · S7 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Summer of Sport
I call Victor Currie to make their first speech.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
Our next item of business is a debate on motion S7M-00208, in the name of Maree Todd, on summer of sport.15:34
The Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs (Maree Todd)
SNP
Tapadh leibh, Oifigeir Riaghlaidh. I am pleased to open the debate on Scotland’s summer of sport. It is my first debate since being reappointed as minister f...
Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con)
Con
The minister makes an important point about inclusion. In rural areas, kids at school cannot get the bus transport to get to the activities and events, and t...
Maree Todd
SNP
I will come on to some of the summer of sport activities that are particularly targeted at rural areas. As I represent a rural area, I recognise that challen...
Laura Mitchell (Moray) (SNP)
SNP
The minister might be aware that many young people across Scotland, including pupils from Hopeman primary school in my constituency, will be taking part in t...
Maree Todd
SNP
Absolutely. It was not until I travelled to France as sports minister that I realised that only in Scotland do we learn the country dances that we carry thro...
Miles Briggs (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con)
Con
I welcome some of what the minister has outlined, but does she agree that it is concerning that the percentage of children who engage in one hour of physical...
Maree Todd
SNP
The member will be aware that schools are expected to deliver at least two hours of physical education for all primary school pupils, and at least two 50-min...
Fulton MacGregor (Coatbridge and Chryston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
The minister is in her last few seconds, Mr MacGregor.
Maree Todd
SNP
It is about ensuring that the child who attends a session this summer has the opportunity to still be active in a year’s time and throughout their life. If w...
Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab)
Lab
Like others in the chamber, I suspect, I remember the world cup campaign in 1998—hard to believe, I know—and the hope, aspiration and sheer joy that is the t...
Gillian Mackay (Central Scotland and Lothians West) (Green)
Green
We all know the evidence about the benefits of physical activity in helping to prevent and manage conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabe...
Alan Brown (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
I am a football supporter—a Kilmarnock sufferer—so I support the £25 cap on tickets. In England, television money dwarfs admission money, and clubs get much ...
Gillian Mackay
Green
We need to do more work at the national level to promote Scottish football, particularly in the Scottish Professional Football League, outside Scotland, in o...
Miles Briggs (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Con)
Con
This is my first contribution since being returned to serve as a member for the Edinburgh and Lothians East region, so I will start by paying tribute to a nu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
I call Victor Currie to make their first speech.16:06
Victor Currie (Highlands and Islands) (Reform)
Reform
Thank you for calling me, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you to your new place, and I congratulate the minister on her reappointment.It is a privilege t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Clare Adamson)
SNP
Liam McArthur will make the final opening speech before the open debate.16:14
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I congratulate Mr Currie on his first speech, and I welcome the minister back to her position, which I know that she is absolutely passionate about. I also s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
We move to the open debate. Members who wish to speak should press their request-to-speak button.16:19
Jenni Minto (Argyll and Bute) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I welcome you and your colleagues to your posts. I also congratulate my colleagues Siobhian Brown and Maree Todd on thei...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
I remind colleagues that there should be no interventions or interruptions on a first speech. I call Colm Merrick to make a first speech.16:24
Colm Merrick (Glasgow Anniesland) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, Presiding Officer, and congratulations on your election to your new office.Generations ago, a young man named Patrick left Sligo and crossed the s...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
To make a first speech, I call Irshad Ahmed, who has five minutes.16:31
Irshad Ahmed (Edinburgh and Lothians East) (Lab)
Lab
In my first speech in this Parliament, I thank the voters of Edinburgh and Lothians East for their trust in me. The Scottish Labour Party has given me a poli...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
I call Alyn Smith to make a first speech.16:36
Alyn Smith (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
It is a pleasure to see you in your place, Deputy Presiding Officer.I am delighted to make my first formal contribution in this chamber in this summer of spo...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Katy Clark)
Lab
I call Steven Bonnar to make a first speech.16:41
Steven Bonnar (Uddingston and Bellshill) (SNP)
SNP
Allow me to welcome you to your new place, Presiding Officer.It is an incredible honour to rise to speak for the first time as the MSP for Uddingston and Bel...