Chamber
Plenary, 15 Jun 2005
15 Jun 2005 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Sexual Health
That is because we bumped them out of the debate.
There is a serious point to be made here. There is an element of right-wing reaction, particularly in relation to termination services. President Bush's attacks on the rights of women in the United States of America to access termination and contraception are extremely worrying. On the whole, I detect consensus in the chamber in respect of women's right to control their own fertility but, rather than simply protect that, we need to go on the offensive. In America, pharmacies are now allowed to block women from purchasing contraceptives on the basis of a conscientious objection. I would hate to think that that is happening or could ever happen here.
In some states in the USA, men have been charged and convicted for killing miscarried foetuses, but were not charged or convicted for the assault on the pregnant woman that led to that miscarriage. The result is that unborn foetuses now have more rights than women in some states, which renders the women there third-class citizens.
It is time for women and men to go on the offensive to protect, enshrine and develop a woman's right to control her own fertility without any barriers. We need to be at the forefront in resisting any further attempts to restrict access to terminations in this country. We must be extremely vigilant and we must be the stout defenders of a non-judgmental, supportive and empowering sex and relationships strategy. We need to defend equal and consistent access to information, with confidential support, advice and services being provided to people whatever their age and geographical location and irrespective of whether they are poor or wealthy, of what school they go to, of what their background is or of what their occupation is. That needs to be delivered by qualified professionals who are experts in sexual health, who have no moral or religious agenda and who will provide non-judgmental and non-directional education.
I am a wee bit concerned about why materials should be different in different schools if the underlying principles are that they should be non-judgmental, non-directional and consistent. I ask the minister to elaborate on that and—I hope—to reassure me that all schoolchildren will have access to equal and consistent information, support, advice and services.
I was previously a midwife, and I am very proud of the fact that, on any given day, I was able to deliver appropriate care, whatever the circumstances of the women I was caring for. On any one day on a labour ward, we could see a continuum of a woman's life. We might see one woman sadly having a miscarriage, another woman sadly giving birth to a much-wanted but stillborn baby, more women having happy healthy babies and, occasionally, some women having terminations because of foetal abnormality or other reasons. I am proud that professionals throughout this country are able to give consistent, appropriate and professional care to such women, whatever their circumstances, at whatever stage in their life. I am equally proud of the care that is given in every situation.
A couple of comments have been made about parents' role. Some members have said that parents should be consulted; the Conservatives raised the possibility of parents' having a veto. That would take us back to the dark ages. It is irresponsible and it is a cop out. Not only do some parents not see themselves as being in a position to offer advice—some are unable to do so and some are unwilling to do so—but quite often the last person from whom children and young people want advice, support and information is a parent. They have an absolute right to access information and the Tories are not living in the real world and do a disservice to young women, young men and adults if they think that the answer is to say that it is about parental responsibility. Heaven help the next generation and the generation after that if that is to be our approach.
There is a serious point to be made here. There is an element of right-wing reaction, particularly in relation to termination services. President Bush's attacks on the rights of women in the United States of America to access termination and contraception are extremely worrying. On the whole, I detect consensus in the chamber in respect of women's right to control their own fertility but, rather than simply protect that, we need to go on the offensive. In America, pharmacies are now allowed to block women from purchasing contraceptives on the basis of a conscientious objection. I would hate to think that that is happening or could ever happen here.
In some states in the USA, men have been charged and convicted for killing miscarried foetuses, but were not charged or convicted for the assault on the pregnant woman that led to that miscarriage. The result is that unborn foetuses now have more rights than women in some states, which renders the women there third-class citizens.
It is time for women and men to go on the offensive to protect, enshrine and develop a woman's right to control her own fertility without any barriers. We need to be at the forefront in resisting any further attempts to restrict access to terminations in this country. We must be extremely vigilant and we must be the stout defenders of a non-judgmental, supportive and empowering sex and relationships strategy. We need to defend equal and consistent access to information, with confidential support, advice and services being provided to people whatever their age and geographical location and irrespective of whether they are poor or wealthy, of what school they go to, of what their background is or of what their occupation is. That needs to be delivered by qualified professionals who are experts in sexual health, who have no moral or religious agenda and who will provide non-judgmental and non-directional education.
I am a wee bit concerned about why materials should be different in different schools if the underlying principles are that they should be non-judgmental, non-directional and consistent. I ask the minister to elaborate on that and—I hope—to reassure me that all schoolchildren will have access to equal and consistent information, support, advice and services.
I was previously a midwife, and I am very proud of the fact that, on any given day, I was able to deliver appropriate care, whatever the circumstances of the women I was caring for. On any one day on a labour ward, we could see a continuum of a woman's life. We might see one woman sadly having a miscarriage, another woman sadly giving birth to a much-wanted but stillborn baby, more women having happy healthy babies and, occasionally, some women having terminations because of foetal abnormality or other reasons. I am proud that professionals throughout this country are able to give consistent, appropriate and professional care to such women, whatever their circumstances, at whatever stage in their life. I am equally proud of the care that is given in every situation.
A couple of comments have been made about parents' role. Some members have said that parents should be consulted; the Conservatives raised the possibility of parents' having a veto. That would take us back to the dark ages. It is irresponsible and it is a cop out. Not only do some parents not see themselves as being in a position to offer advice—some are unable to do so and some are unwilling to do so—but quite often the last person from whom children and young people want advice, support and information is a parent. They have an absolute right to access information and the Tories are not living in the real world and do a disservice to young women, young men and adults if they think that the answer is to say that it is about parental responsibility. Heaven help the next generation and the generation after that if that is to be our approach.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Murray Tosh):
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-2958, in the name of Andy Kerr, on sexual health, and three amendments to the motion.
The Minister for Health and Community Care (Mr Andy Kerr):
Lab
As MSPs are aware, the Executive decided to produce a sexual health strategy because sexual health in Scotland is undeniably poor. The number of unintended t...
Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP):
SNP
In response to the statement made by the minister on 27 January this year, the Scottish National Party gave a broad welcome to the Executive's strategy and a...
Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
It is now 40 years since the advent of the contraceptive pill in the 1960s put women in charge of their reproductive lives. As a result, society has changed ...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
Can Nanette Milne perhaps bring herself to mention any positive benefits that have come from women taking control of their reproductive lives?
Mrs Milne:
Con
I can indeed. As I have said, women have been given untold freedom. It is not all negative, but I am highlighting the downsides simply because we know that s...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
I agree with Mrs Milne that parents have a key role to play in assisting in any sexual health strategy, but does she agree that her overemphasising of that r...
Mrs Milne:
Con
We know that there are parents who are not best equipped to educate their children, but we must look at giving them support. It is a multi-agency problem, an...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Will Mrs Milne give way?
Mrs Milne:
Con
I have given way twice already. Sexual health education is a complex subject. It needs to help all children with their confidence and self-esteem—not just th...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
Will the member give way?
Mrs Milne:
Con
I will take no more interventions.We want an assurance that the sexual health strategy will not undermine the authority of parents by providing a plethora of...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
I will try to follow that speech with a seriousness that it does not deserve.Yesterday, I talked at an event that the Telephone Helplines Association organis...
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
The strategy and action plan for improving sexual health are all about ensuring that a culture of respect and responsibility based on sound values is at the ...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
How would the member define "equitable"? Is there a role for parents in contributing to the decision-making process?
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Of course parents have a role to play, but we are talking about taking an equitable approach so that all school kids throughout Scotland have the same inform...
Marilyn Livingstone (Kirkcaldy) (Lab):
Lab
Sexual health is a controversial subject on which people have deeply held views. However, given the rising rates of diagnosed sexually transmitted infections...
Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP):
SNP
My question to the minister is, "Why are we having this debate?" Is it just to announce the formation of a committee? If that is the reason, it is a bit feeb...
Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP):
SSP
Fiona Hyslop asked why we are having the debate. She also asked many questions that I want answers to. One of the reasons why we are having the debate is tha...
Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con):
Con
I think that Carolyn Leckie is being a bit hard on the Conservatives. There are at least two men on our benches, but there are no Scottish Socialist Party ma...
Carolyn Leckie:
SSP
That is because we bumped them out of the debate.There is a serious point to be made here. There is an element of right-wing reaction, particularly in relati...
Susan Deacon (Edinburgh East and Musselburgh) (Lab):
Lab
I am surprised that the question has been asked why we are having this debate. It is more than five months since the Executive published a major, long-awaite...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
Given comments that were made earlier in the debate, I feel that I am the token male on the Conservative benches. However, I think that I have something to c...
Mike Rumbles:
LD
Alex Johnstone has missed the point. What members objected to in Nanette Milne's speech was the fact that she was advocating that people should be able to ve...
Alex Johnstone:
Con
I believe that Mike Rumbles has misunderstood what was said. I hope to address that in greater detail as I progress.The Parliament has become famous for the ...
Patrick Harvie:
Green
Bigots.
Alex Johnstone:
Con
Well, that is a fairly simple definition, and one that perhaps does not belong in the debate. That is not what we are talking about today.The truth is that I...
Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I have some sympathy with Fiona Hyslop. How much more can we say about this subject? I came to the debate thinking, "What on earth can I talk about this time...
Alex Johnstone:
Con
Is the fact that so many parents are unable to fulfil that responsibility not one of the primary issues that we need to address?
Linda Fabiani:
SNP
The need to remove the stigma about such matters is an issue, as Susan Deacon explained very well. However, we also need to address reality: some parents are...