Chamber
Plenary, 14 Jan 2004
14 Jan 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Sexual Health and <br />Relationship Strategy
I welcome the tone of Cathy Peattie's speech. I cannot help recalling a time some years ago when I visited the home of the late Nicholas Fairbairn and saw what appeared to be some exquisite little pictures, which, on close examination, were revealed to be scenes from the "Kama Sutra". If I may say so, scenes of that nature are the form of sex education that our children should most certainly be spared. The same goes for much explicit material, which is certainly not appropriate in schools.
I welcome what David Davidson said about the need for, and desirability of, caring relationships. We are well aware that, in relation to education, the expert reference group is backing the McCabe report and is calling for its full implementation. It is significant that the McCabe report mentions that inclusion of parents is crucial. I am glad that the minister, Malcolm Chisholm, has reassured parents that they will be consulted on sex education and that all sex education materials must be appropriate. However, the guidelines and guidance of the Scottish Executive have no statutory authority; they constitute merely advice. Councils have discretion to consider using any materials that they wish.
Published reports have shown that sex education under the guise of family planning is failing to reduce unwanted pregnancies. Researchers have said that the £600,000 trial of the SHARE—sexual health and relationships: safe happy and responsible—programme had failed and they revealed that schools that took part had reported a rise in the rate of unwanted pregnancies.
In those circumstances, the conclusion in the summary proposals of the Scottish Executive on page 9 of its document is welcome. It says that
"a more robust national and local framework is required to support the development of a consistent approach to"
sex and relationship education
"across Scotland and to equip parents, carers and professionals to help make this happen."
Susan Deacon echoed that theme.
I welcome what David Davidson said about the need for, and desirability of, caring relationships. We are well aware that, in relation to education, the expert reference group is backing the McCabe report and is calling for its full implementation. It is significant that the McCabe report mentions that inclusion of parents is crucial. I am glad that the minister, Malcolm Chisholm, has reassured parents that they will be consulted on sex education and that all sex education materials must be appropriate. However, the guidelines and guidance of the Scottish Executive have no statutory authority; they constitute merely advice. Councils have discretion to consider using any materials that they wish.
Published reports have shown that sex education under the guise of family planning is failing to reduce unwanted pregnancies. Researchers have said that the £600,000 trial of the SHARE—sexual health and relationships: safe happy and responsible—programme had failed and they revealed that schools that took part had reported a rise in the rate of unwanted pregnancies.
In those circumstances, the conclusion in the summary proposals of the Scottish Executive on page 9 of its document is welcome. It says that
"a more robust national and local framework is required to support the development of a consistent approach to"
sex and relationship education
"across Scotland and to equip parents, carers and professionals to help make this happen."
Susan Deacon echoed that theme.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on the subject of developing a sexual health and relationship strategy for Scotland.
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Malcolm Chisholm):
Lab
I welcome this debate and the opportunity that it provides for members to contribute to the development of a national sexual health and relationship strategy...
Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the healthy respect project, part of which is in my constituency. Will the minister give an undertaking that funding will be available long enough ...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
First, funding is available for the continuation of healthy respect. Secondly, it is being evaluated. That is important and was always part of the idea of th...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
I begin by paying tribute to the expert group's work in producing the report. The incidence of sexually transmitted infections continues to increase in Scotl...
Malcolm Chisholm:
Lab
I do not know whether Shona Robison was listening to my speech, but I made it absolutely clear—I did this intentionally in view of the allegations that are b...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I will come on to say a little bit more about that. The minister has tried to distance himself from the expert group, because he obviously wants to decide wh...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I join the minister in thanking the expert group for the work that it has done, albeit under the direction of the minister. I agree with one thing that the m...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Will the member acknowledge that we must trust the teachers who work with youngsters? The idea that only parents can work with their children is nonsense. We...
Mr Davidson:
Con
Let me reassure the member that I said that parents should be able to approve the materials that are used in schools and the type of education that is delive...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
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...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
I, too, generally welcome the strategy and the debate. I ask members to welcome to the gallery some of the members of the cross-party group in the Scottish P...
Mr Davidson:
Con
I probably did not express myself very clearly. What I am saying is that parental responsibility means parents being responsible for educating children for w...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
It was certainly implied that parents should be allowed to veto resources. At heart, we must endorse the sex-positive approach. Sadly, however, we live in a ...
Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab):
Lab
I am not sure how to follow Green theories on lust, but I will try my best.It may be an unfortunate coincidence that Glasgow's clinic for the treatment of se...
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I am pleased to take part in this discursive debate. The first of the issues that I want to touch on is probably the most obvious—the reduction in the number...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
Does the member agree that there is a danger of hypocrisy on this issue? Perhaps some of the most titillating images and experiences are to be found in the m...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I share that view. In programmes such as "Top of the Pops", some of the camera angles leave little to the imagination. However, "Top of the Pops" is on at 7 ...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
Does the member accept that it would be extraordinarily difficult for the expert panel to include a representative who could reflect the broad range of paren...
Christine Grahame:
SNP
With regard to practicalities, perhaps a questionnaire could have been sent to parents who wished to take part, to elicit data on their views without—
Patrick Harvie:
Green
It is an expert panel.
Christine Grahame:
SNP
I know that it is an expert panel. However, why are parents not considered to be experts in their own way? There is a range of opinion among experts in any f...
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I am delighted to speak in the debate and to be able to raise an issue about which I take every opportunity to speak—low fertility rates in Scotland. The reg...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome today's debate and the publication of the draft sexual health strategy, which is an important milestone. Like other members, I welcome the strategy...
Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD):
LD
It is a pleasure to follow Susan Deacon, who has been a consistent and passionate advocate on the issue and who does credit to the debate.I will focus my rem...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
I welcome the speeches that have been made, with the exception of one or two. David Davidson is no longer in the chamber, but I will come back to him later.I...
Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab):
Lab
Women of my age or my generation will recall the sexual advice that they received when they reached a particular age. We got a pack that contained Dr White's...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con):
Con
I welcome the tone of Cathy Peattie's speech. I cannot help recalling a time some years ago when I visited the home of the late Nicholas Fairbairn and saw wh...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
The proposal to the Scottish Executive states:"NHS Boards have a duty to ensure that all young people have easy, open and confidential access to holistic hea...
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton:
Con
I accept the principle that there should be easy, open and effective access to health services. This afternoon, however, I am dealing with education, a subje...