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 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 and I am pleased that some of its members have joined us for the debate. The strategy is for young people and has been guided by them; I congratulate them on that. I also warmly welcome the announcement that £5.8 million in funding will continue to support schools in delivering PE lessons.
Some members have reflected on the importance of sport in promoting health and wellbeing. We need sport for young people to function well at all levels so that we identify and support the champion athletes of the future and allow everyone to participate, whatever their ability level is.
As I am a South Scotland MSP, I will mention that the under-20 ice hockey world championships are taking place at Dumfries ice bowl this week. This morning, the Stanley cup—the most prestigious trophy in ice hockey—arrived in Glasgow ahead of celebrations in Dumfries later this week to mark 100 years of ice hockey in Britain. That is great for Dumfries because, like the Commonwealth games, it brings elite-level sport closer to home and such opportunities are very important for our young people. Indeed, a key message in the strategy is the importance of opportunities, whether it is the chance to see world-class sporting events at first hand or the chance to get involved in active participation.
Much of what is happening in Dumfries and Galloway to deliver opportunities is already aligned with the key areas that are outlined in the strategy. For example, the local council is moving ahead with plans to establish community sports hubs and has secured funding from sportscotland to create a new post that will concentrate on developing competitive school sport across the region. I understand that it is the first such post in Scotland.
Secondary schools throughout Dumfries and Galloway are part of the 2014 ambassador programme, and a lead 2014 conference is being planned for next February or March. The support and training that will be offered at that event will be linked to the Queen’s baton relay as an opportunity to spread engagement in sport as widely as possible throughout the region.
Reflecting the importance of the great people strand of the strategy, Dumfries dolphins swimming club is one of the first swimming clubs in Scotland to have worked through all the elements of the positive coaching Scotland programme, and the council is working with sportscotland on piloting the multiskill coach training to which the minister referred.
The Dumfries and Galloway branch of Scottish Disability Sport recently recorded a fantastic success at the national junior championships for swimmers with a sensory impairment or physical disability, with the region’s swimmers well represented in the medals table. It is vital that we are inclusive and use the strategy to offer opportunities to all our young people.
On the great places strand, there is a great opportunity in the Dalbeattie schools project—a new learning campus that will be built through the Scottish Futures Trust—for us to test the early involvement of sportscotland in the design process and create a really first-rate facility.
There is so much that is positive both in the strategy and in what is already happening on the ground that it is impossible to do the subject justice in the time that we have. I will, therefore, close by reflecting on the minister’s summary of what the young people’s sport panel said that it wants: “great opportunities, supported by great people, delivered in great places and given a higher profile.” The work that is already taking place is starting to deliver those things, and I am confident that the draft strategy will deliver on those ambitions and the aspirations of Scotland’s children and young people. I look forward to the publication of the final strategy and the action plan next spring.
17:37
Some members have reflected on the importance of sport in promoting health and wellbeing. We need sport for young people to function well at all levels so that we identify and support the champion athletes of the future and allow everyone to participate, whatever their ability level is.
As I am a South Scotland MSP, I will mention that the under-20 ice hockey world championships are taking place at Dumfries ice bowl this week. This morning, the Stanley cup—the most prestigious trophy in ice hockey—arrived in Glasgow ahead of celebrations in Dumfries later this week to mark 100 years of ice hockey in Britain. That is great for Dumfries because, like the Commonwealth games, it brings elite-level sport closer to home and such opportunities are very important for our young people. Indeed, a key message in the strategy is the importance of opportunities, whether it is the chance to see world-class sporting events at first hand or the chance to get involved in active participation.
Much of what is happening in Dumfries and Galloway to deliver opportunities is already aligned with the key areas that are outlined in the strategy. For example, the local council is moving ahead with plans to establish community sports hubs and has secured funding from sportscotland to create a new post that will concentrate on developing competitive school sport across the region. I understand that it is the first such post in Scotland.
Secondary schools throughout Dumfries and Galloway are part of the 2014 ambassador programme, and a lead 2014 conference is being planned for next February or March. The support and training that will be offered at that event will be linked to the Queen’s baton relay as an opportunity to spread engagement in sport as widely as possible throughout the region.
Reflecting the importance of the great people strand of the strategy, Dumfries dolphins swimming club is one of the first swimming clubs in Scotland to have worked through all the elements of the positive coaching Scotland programme, and the council is working with sportscotland on piloting the multiskill coach training to which the minister referred.
The Dumfries and Galloway branch of Scottish Disability Sport recently recorded a fantastic success at the national junior championships for swimmers with a sensory impairment or physical disability, with the region’s swimmers well represented in the medals table. It is vital that we are inclusive and use the strategy to offer opportunities to all our young people.
On the great places strand, there is a great opportunity in the Dalbeattie schools project—a new learning campus that will be built through the Scottish Futures Trust—for us to test the early involvement of sportscotland in the design process and create a really first-rate facility.
There is so much that is positive both in the strategy and in what is already happening on the ground that it is impossible to do the subject justice in the time that we have. I will, therefore, close by reflecting on the minister’s summary of what the young people’s sport panel said that it wants: “great opportunities, supported by great people, delivered in great places and given a higher profile.” The work that is already taking place is starting to deliver those things, and I am confident that the draft strategy will deliver on those ambitions and the aspirations of Scotland’s children and young people. I look forward to the publication of the final strategy and the action plan next spring.
17:37
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...