Chamber
Plenary, 12 Nov 2003
12 Nov 2003 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Sexual Well-being
I certainly agree with Susan Deacon's main point about ensuring that the consultation goes beyond the traditional methods of involving people in this matter. As I said in my statement, we are going to set in train a series of measures to ensure that the broadest possible range of people is consulted. I pay tribute to the work that Susan Deacon did in this area when she was a minister, and to the work that she has done subsequently.
I also agree that we must ensure that we listen to those who are silent, as well as those who are vocal on the issue. We must make an effort to get a cross-section of public opinion. I am not hiding from that. We are trying to build the broadest possible consensus around the issue, which is an admirable thing to do. There is a broad consensus around the values that I and the expert group have described, concerning mutual respect and responsibility, irrespective of people's religious beliefs. Those with religious beliefs and those with no religious beliefs share in that consensus, to a large extent, and we want to build this strategy around that consensus.
I also agree that we must ensure that we listen to those who are silent, as well as those who are vocal on the issue. We must make an effort to get a cross-section of public opinion. I am not hiding from that. We are trying to build the broadest possible consensus around the issue, which is an admirable thing to do. There is a broad consensus around the values that I and the expert group have described, concerning mutual respect and responsibility, irrespective of people's religious beliefs. Those with religious beliefs and those with no religious beliefs share in that consensus, to a large extent, and we want to build this strategy around that consensus.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Malcolm Chisholm on "Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland: a Sexual Health and Relationships Strategy".
Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
On a point of order Presiding Officer—
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I will come to you, Mr Crawford, after I have finished my statement.The minister will take questions at the end of his statement. There should therefore be n...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
I seek the Presiding Officer's guidance. In December 1999, the then Minister for Health and Community Care, Susan Deacon, announced that she was developing a...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am sure that the Minister for Parliamentary Business has taken note of what you have said, Mr Crawford. Of course, we are not going into a debate, which wo...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. Following on from Bruce Crawford's point of order, I should say—if my understanding is correct—that it was conveyed t...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I am advised that the Minister for Parliamentary Business made it clear that they would be made available at half-past 1 or thereabouts.The Minister for Parl...
Bruce Crawford:
SNP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I seek assurances about the process involved. Is it really acceptable in the Parliament for the press to receive docu...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I cannot rule on that point of order because you have just told me that that has happened. I will look into the matter and will perhaps come back to you a bi...
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
Today, I announce to Parliament the launch of a wide-ranging consultation on proposals for a national sexual health strategy that have been prepared by an ex...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I thank the minister for an advance copy of his statement and welcome the long-awaited report from the expert reference group. I am keen that urgent action b...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Shona Robison made a great many points. The leading one was about the time that it has taken to reach this stage, but, in a sense, she answered her own quest...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I thank the minister for providing an advance copy of his statement. I, too, welcome the report and the work of the reference group. I agree with the ministe...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I remind David Davidson that the proposal for a tsar comes from the expert group which, he will accept, is a broadly constructed group that represents many k...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I warmly welcome the publication of the strategy and the substance and tone of the minister's statement.Does the minister agree that, by its nature, sexual h...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I certainly agree with Susan Deacon's main point about ensuring that the consultation goes beyond the traditional methods of involving people in this matter....
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The Liberal Democrats warmly welcome the strategy on sexual health and relationships—because it is about relationships. On that note of consensus, can the mi...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I welcome the fact that Mike Rumbles has pointed out the key word on the front page of the document—relationships. In many ways, this is a strategy about rel...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
I add my warm welcome on the publication of this draft strategy. From my background in the voluntary sector sexual health field, I know that it has been keen...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
As I have said, in relation to education the expert group is backing the McCabe report and calling for it to be fully implemented. It has been implemented, t...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I welcome the publication of the report, especially the contributions of professionals and agencies in providing us with a comprehensive strategy. I will foc...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
Carolyn Leckie has fastened on to one important sentence in the document. We will certainly consult on the matter and give a view in due course. The strategy...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
About seven minutes are left for questions. If questions and answers are kept reasonably tight, we might just about get in all members who wish to speak.
Margaret Jamieson (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, welcome the minister's statement and the publication of the expert group's sexual health proposals. However, in the consultation that the minister wi...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
On the member's first question, I strongly agree that young people will have to be involved as fully as the other groups whose views will be sought. We will ...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
Does the minister appreciate the frustration that many members feel? We are at an important staging post in the debate, but we have not had time to read the ...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I do not know where to start after all that. I would have thought that, as a result of the consultative steering group principles—which I thought we all supp...
Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD):
LD
I welcome a lot of what the minister has said, in particular what he said about respect and self-esteem. The work that can be done in our schools to build up...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
The section on sexual health services—roughly from page 41 to 62—is the most substantial section of the report. Obviously, the issues that Margaret Smith has...
Elaine Smith (Coatbridge and Chryston) (Lab):
Lab
The document says that it is not known how many young girls in Scotland have undergone female genital mutilation. Does the minister agree that female genital...