Hansard

This is an unusual debate, in that, instead of addressing a specific motion that requires a decision, we are straightforwardly examining the issues, as we do regularly during members' business debates. If I may strike a slightly discordant note, I am not convinced that that is the best way to provide parliamentary scrutiny on this important issue.

A healthy sex life is an important and enjoyable part of people's lives. The reference group's proposals, which were published in October in the consultation document "Enhancing Sexual Wellbeing in Scotland: A Sexual Health and Relationships Strategy", should be welcomed by all—as I am sure that they are.

I have time to focus on only one aspect of the reference group's work, which is the recommendation on page 31 that

"There should be a consistent approach to sex and relationships education across Scotland."

We would not have that if David Davidson had his way.

The group goes on to recommend that the approach should be

"introduced in pre-school, based upon pre-school health guidelines, built upon throughout primary school as part of 5-14 health guidelines and developed through to school leaving age".

Evidence was presented to the group that not all children and young people have access to comprehensive school-based sex and relationships education. That must be put right.

One way to do that is to have local sexual health and relationships co-ordinators to ensure that there is equality of access to services and information across all population groups. Normally, I am not very convinced of the co-ordinator approach to tackling issues, although it seems to be the focus of so many Government initiatives. I know that we have fat tsars, exercise tsars and drugs tsars—tsars for all occasions—but, in this case, I am convinced by the group's recommendation for local sexual health co-ordinators to ensure that proposals to identify and improve access for all young people are implemented as an essential part of an effective strategy to achieve the required level of change. That recommendation is essential.

The group found that, despite the fact that the role of parents and carers is important—as David Davidson has emphasised—and although young people report that parents are one of their main informants about sex, most young people do not talk openly to their parents about sexual health. Indeed, the group also stated that, in turn, parents and carers find it difficult to discuss sex and sexual health issues with their children. The approach taken to discussing issues and the way in which parents talk about sexuality is as important as what they say.

Therefore, the partnership approach among parents, schools and health services is essential. Parents must take a more active role in school-based sex and relationships education. I am convinced that, although it is indeed the duty and prime responsibility of parents and carers to educate their own children in that area, the state also has a responsibility and a real role to play in ensuring that everyone has equal access to all the information and the services that they require.

I want to spend a little more time dealing with the development of closer links between schools and clinical services, which is identified on page 33 of the group's report. While the group stated that the evidence presented to it clearly showed that school-based sex and relationships education is most effective when linked to health services, it also reported that that was not happening consistently throughout Scotland.

The group also made us aware that views were expressed to it that health services that incorporate a sexual health element should never be available in schools, but other views were expressed that in rural Scotland there are no other easily accessible locations. I am disappointed with that aspect of the group's findings, since it seems to have ducked the issue. It made no specific recommendation to the Executive. We can all speculate as to why the group shied away from making a specific recommendation on that point but, whatever the reason, I am surprised that the nettle was not grasped more directly. I hope that when he comes to draft the Executive's policy, the minister does not similarly shy away from doing the right thing.

It is made clear almost everywhere else in the report that there is a duty on the Government to ensure equality of access to information and services for all our people, whether young or old. I hope that the minister will not duck that issue for fear of sections of the so-called popular press or of vested and powerful interest groups, which can—and, indeed, do—shout the loudest on so-called moral issues. Moral courage from politicians in this chamber is required. We should be doing what is right for all the people of Scotland—everybody, of all ages—and we should not shy away from that.

I am conscious of time, Presiding Officer. I could address a number of other issues in the document, but I will focus on the way ahead, as outlined in the document. I agree that, with the one exception that I outlined, the strategy is ambitious and wide ranging. It sets out a long-term programme for achieving a society in which people have the knowledge and skills to make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual and personal relationships. It is a good start to the Executive's consultation.

Governments cannot improve sexual health or change behaviour on their own. Parents, carers, local authorities, the media, faith organisations and the voluntary sector all play an important part. Individuals themselves obviously play the most important part by taking responsibility for their own actions and managing their own sexual health and relationships with others. What we as politicians across the chamber can do is set the framework that is necessary for that to take place. With the one exception that I mentioned, this is a good framework and, from the Liberal Democrat benches, I have no hesitation in supporting the recommendations.