Chamber
Plenary, 12 Feb 2003
12 Feb 2003 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Young People in Sport
I will take Irene McGugan's reference to infrastructure as my main point. During the rush to local government reform in 1995, there was a rush to spend and to put up facilities in many parts of Scotland. That was true of Ross and Cromarty District Council and of Inverness District Council. A series of fine sports centres were built in much of Ross-shire and Inverness. A stop was put to that in 1995.
Although we still have those centres, at present there are virtually no facilities for the bigger towns north of my home town of Tain. In the most remote areas, village halls are quite well catered for, as there has been a good building programme, but Wick, Thurso, Tain and the villages of east Sutherland are very short of sports facilities.
Highland Council's capital allocation means that it will never be realistic to build such centres, which typically cost between £2 million and £2.5 million. The days of the old district councils, when we could do things in the far north, have gone. My young constituents, who are the seedcorn of the future, do not have the facilities that are necessary to get people into sport at that key early age. I have made that point before.
In rolling out its schemes, the Scottish Executive should remember that some areas of Scotland are behind in their facilities. Therefore, my concluding point is to urge the minister, when she undertakes her good work in the future, to remember that the far north—Wick, Thurso, Tain and east Sutherland—are badly provided for. I make no apologies for saying so. There will be ways of establishing the necessary centres.
I compliment Tom McCabe for securing the debate and for offering us a methodology that could be developed. I will ask bodies in my area to consider what Tom McCabe has outlined to identify whether it represents a suitable model. I ask the minister to remember some of the poorer areas such as those that I represent.
Although we still have those centres, at present there are virtually no facilities for the bigger towns north of my home town of Tain. In the most remote areas, village halls are quite well catered for, as there has been a good building programme, but Wick, Thurso, Tain and the villages of east Sutherland are very short of sports facilities.
Highland Council's capital allocation means that it will never be realistic to build such centres, which typically cost between £2 million and £2.5 million. The days of the old district councils, when we could do things in the far north, have gone. My young constituents, who are the seedcorn of the future, do not have the facilities that are necessary to get people into sport at that key early age. I have made that point before.
In rolling out its schemes, the Scottish Executive should remember that some areas of Scotland are behind in their facilities. Therefore, my concluding point is to urge the minister, when she undertakes her good work in the future, to remember that the far north—Wick, Thurso, Tain and east Sutherland—are badly provided for. I make no apologies for saying so. There will be ways of establishing the necessary centres.
I compliment Tom McCabe for securing the debate and for offering us a methodology that could be developed. I will ask bodies in my area to consider what Tom McCabe has outlined to identify whether it represents a suitable model. I ask the minister to remember some of the poorer areas such as those that I represent.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
SNP
The next item of business is a members' business debate on motion S1M-3840, in the name of Tom McCabe, on young people in sport.
Motion debated,
That the Parliament commends Hamilton International Sports Trust, which seeks to aid young amateur sports people in competition at the highest levels, for th...
Mr Tom McCabe (Hamilton South) (Lab):
Lab
It would be a great honour to represent one's country in one's chosen sport and a great challenge to compete at the highest level. I am sure that many in the...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We now come to open debate. I will allow four minutes for the first three speeches and three minutes per speech thereafter.
Irene McGugan (North-East Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate Tom McCabe on bringing forward the matter for debate. I was unfamiliar with Hamilton International Sports Trust, but I have enjoyed hearing ab...
Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I am very pleased to take part in the debate and I congratulate Tom McCabe on having his motion selected. I did not know about the debate until this morning,...
Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD):
LD
It is helpful that Tom McCabe lodged the motion. He has certainly explained about the Hamilton International Sports Trust, which I did not know about and whi...
Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Tom McCabe on securing the debate and on the role that he played when he was leader of South Lanarkshire Council in developing the Hamilton In...
Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD):
LD
I will take Irene McGugan's reference to infrastructure as my main point. During the rush to local government reform in 1995, there was a rush to spend and t...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
In congratulating Tom McCabe on securing this evening's debate, I recognise the important work that is being done both in his area and in my constituency. Ac...
The Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport (Dr Elaine Murray):
Lab
I, too, congratulate Tom McCabe on securing tonight's debate. It was only yesterday afternoon that I learned that the debate was to take place, so I was only...
Mr Stone:
LD
Aw.
Dr Murray:
Lab
I am glad that someone is sorry for me.
Mr Monteith:
Con
The minister missed herself.
Dr Murray:
Lab
I know that I did. I was most disappointed, but it was perhaps worth it to hear about and celebrate the good work of Hamilton International Sports Trust. It ...
Meeting closed at 16:26.