Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2026 [Draft]
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 tartan army. I have to say that, although we have never yet made it into the second round, this could be our year, and the expectation is huge.
Despite reports to the contrary, this is not the first time in nearly 30 years that a Scottish football team has been at the world cup, because Scotland’s women were there in 2019. That was all the more impressive, given that the Scottish Football Association banned women from using club facilities for much of the 20th century and took charge of the women’s international side only in 1998.
Although it is right that we celebrate the fact that the men’s side is competing in this year’s tournament, let us also celebrate the way in which football has changed for the better. Football is now the number 1 sport for girls and women in Scotland; there are more than 1,000 grass-roots teams, I think.
However, women’s football still has significantly less investment, less coverage and less support than the men’s game. I hope that we will change that. The United Kingdom Labour Government has committed some £8 million to Scotland for grass-roots sports facilities, with an emphasis on women’s football. I encourage the Scottish Government to match that, or indeed to go further, so that we can expand the women’s game.
In my area, Dumbarton Football Club has started work on a new astroturf pitch, so that the women’s team can train locally, and the Vale of Leven football club, which also has a women’s team—a very successful one—has ambitious plans to improve the facilities at that long-standing community club.
The debate is about the summer of sport, not just football, although I think that many members—some on the Government benches—hope to attend the tournament. In July, Glasgow will welcome athletes from across the world for the Commonwealth games. That has not happened by chance; thanks to the hard work of all who put Glasgow’s plan together, at very short notice, we will be able to cheer on the Scotland team.
Aside from an expected huge medal haul for the Scotland team, what will be the legacy of those games? I think that we would all acknowledge that, despite the fact that the 2014 Commonwealth games were supposed to lead to a more fit and healthy Scotland, healthy life expectancy is going down. Only around six in 10 adults carry out the recommended physical activity to stay healthy. Worryingly, children and young people are spending ever more time in sedentary activities. Not often in government or in life do we get a second chance, so, this time around, the Scottish Government must ensure that the Commonwealth games leave a legacy of more investment in community and grass-roots sports, primary care and preventative health and more opportunities for the athletes of the future.
The Scottish Government made a commitment to free swimming lessons for every primary-school child in Scotland. That has the support of all parties in the chamber, and many included similar commitments in their manifestos. We want the Government to make progress on that, and I press the minister to say how it will be delivered. In my area, we currently have a waiting list for swimming lessons. That backlog is a hangover from Covid; however, there is also a shortage of swimming teachers and facilities. Only 16 per cent of young people from disadvantaged areas take part in swimming lessons. That is a massive inequality. I am therefore genuinely interested to know what steps the minister will take and whether she can tell us when the commitment is likely to be delivered. We lodged our amendment to try to accelerate progress on that, and get an indication of when the Government will do so.
I wish all Scotland’s athletes and players the very best of luck for this summer. We will all derive great joy from their competition, and I am sure that those sportsmen and women will do us all proud.
I move amendment S7M-00208.1, to insert at end:
“, and calls on the Scottish Government to publish a plan and timetable for the provision of free swimming lessons for every primary school child.”
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S7M-00208.1 Summer of Sport Motion