Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Linda Fabiani) SNP

The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-14194, in the name of Joe FitzPatrick, on women and girls in sport week. 15:03

The Minister for Public Health, Sport and Wellbeing (Joe FitzPatrick) SNP

I want to acknowledge the great and many successes that we have seen at the highest level in women’s sport this year, including the success of the Scottish n...

Rachael Hamilton (Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con) Con

I was formerly a voluntary netball coach and umpire. I found that one of the biggest barriers for the girls in the club—it was an all-female club—was transpo...

Joe FitzPatrick SNP

Rachael Hamilton has made an important point. If there are barriers to participation, whether for women and girls or people from deprived areas, we need to u...

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con) Con

I am delighted to have this opportunity to open this girls and women in sport debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives. We will support the Scottish Go...

Gillian Martin (Aberdeenshire East) (SNP) SNP

Some extra-curricular sports programmes can become quite competitive and children who enjoy the sport but do not excel at it can feel excluded. Does Brian Wh...

Brian Whittle Con

That leads nicely on to my next point about how we create the pathways and destinations in sport. When we consider sport, we often think of the destination a...

The Minister for Children and Young People (Maree Todd) SNP

Will the member take an intervention?

Brian Whittle Con

I will always take an intervention from Maree Todd.

Maree Todd SNP

I must correct Mr Whittle. The purpose of the expansion in early years in childcare is about improving the attainment gap and closing it before it occurs and...

Brian Whittle Con

Suitably chastised, I come back to my feet. The minister and I agree that early years provision is an opportunity for development, active play and physical l...

Anas Sarwar (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

This is an important debate, and I welcome the content and the tone of the Scottish Government’s motion. The debate is important not because of what we say i...

Brian Whittle Con

I did not say this in my speech, but we will support the Labour amendment. The health budget is £13 billion, whereas the sport budget is £29 million. We hav...

Anas Sarwar Lab

Brian Whittle makes a fair point. I would also make the point that it is the national health service, not the national ill health service. We want the nation...

Alison Johnstone (Lothian) (Green) Green

I draw attention to my entry in the register of members’ interests. I am pleased to be taking part in this afternoon’s debate on a subject that needs greater...

Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD) LD

There are many high points of being Orkney’s MSP but, as a sporting fanatic, being asked to co-host Orkney’s sportsperson of the year awards over the past co...

The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh) NPA

We move to the open part of the debate. 15:45

Jenny Gilruth (Mid Fife and Glenrothes) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the minister to his new role. For me, his constituency of Dundee City West is synonymous with sport. Any Fifer of my vintage will recall the former...

Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con) Con

Thank you, Presiding Officer and fellow athlete. Laughter. In expressing my delight in taking part in this debate, I declare an interest as a lifelong sports...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

Will Finlay Carson explain how cutting taxes would help to support sport in our schools and communities?

Finlay Carson Con

The important thing is to grow the economy, but that is for another day. Earlier, I mentioned my daughter, Vicky, who has succeeded even though those barrie...

Sandra White (Glasgow Kelvin) (SNP) SNP

It may seem difficult to imagine, but I was very sporty when I was younger; I played hockey and netball and ran in relay teams. One reason for that was that ...

Keith Brown SNP

Will Sandra White join me in congratulating Hibs Ladies, who have contributed substantially to the success of Scottish women’s football? She mentioned recent...

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame) SNP

I think that you have already done it for her.

Sandra White SNP

There is no harm in doing it again. I absolutely congratulate them; they are all great models for women and girls, and may they go on to great success in the...

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab) Lab

I welcome today's debate on women and girls in sport. We have already heard about women and girls who are achieving fantastic results in elite sports. We sho...

George Adam (Paisley) (SNP) SNP

Sport is an important part of life for the majority of Scots—we cannot get enough of it. However, on the whole, we tend to be spectators rather than particip...

Brian Whittle Con

The minister and I heard a story the other night from a young female footballer who was not allowed to play football at school because the teachers thought t...

George Adam SNP

Mr Whittle is correct. That is an example of some of the attitudes that we have to deal with. We have to ensure that everyone can have access to sport. The...

The Deputy Presiding Officer SNP

I do not know whether anyone noticed the name “St Mirren” in that speech. No doubt somebody has been counting the references. 16:19