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I am glad to hear that there has been some forward movement, however tentative. We are all aware of the news reports about fresh seafood rotting in the back of lorries, empty fish markets and boats tied up in harbour. That was upsetting for many people, so it is nice to hear some positivity.

Jimmy Buchan, I know that you have, rightly, been vocal about the issue of labour shortages, which is a massive problem here, on the north-east coast. However, what I really want to get to the bottom of and ask the panel about is the double whammy—it is something that we often hear about and I have used the phrase myself—of Brexit and Covid. For the benefit of the committee, can you clarify exactly what the Brexit issues are and what the Covid issues are? I think that knowing that is essential to enabling us to come up with targeted solutions. What should be prioritised that is within our gift with regard to labour shortages and haulage problems?

I note the extra funding to combat gender violence, particularly as the pandemic exposed more of those vulnerabilities. Such funding is vital. Coming from the angle that the majority of that abuse is committed by men, what will be done to support people not just reactively when they have been abused but proactively to get to the root cause of it? Taking a helicopter type approach, would that be within the remit of the misogyny working group?

Can the Scottish Government do anything about misinformation on the gender recognition bill? We are seeing some confusion in the public mind about things that are already in place in the Equality Act 2010. Those misconceptions are leading to requests to roll back legislation that is already in place. What messaging is getting out about there being no conflict between the bill and women’s rights, and about the difference between the bill and other legislation that is already in place?

Good morning. I declare that I, too, supported the campaign.

There has been momentum towards a ban, internationally, although some countries that committed to enacting a ban have stalled at the consultation process. In some nations, there is not the political or cultural will to counter the form of torture that we are talking about. Do the witnesses think that there is the political and cultural will here?

I just want to thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. When I talk to certain equality and zero tolerance groups, it comes up a lot that there needs to be a wider approach, particularly in the early years, to change the culture of toxic masculinity and misogyny.

It comes back to education, which Rebecca Crowther touched on. Outreach and partnership work might be needed with organisations that fear the consequences of a ban. Some organisations might have misconceptions about the implications of a ban for their freedom of speech. The issue is about striking the right balance and getting the point across that there is also a freedom of choice angle. Are we considering the international perspective and looking at what has stalled work on bans, so that we in Scotland can learn from that?

It is a privilege to speak to the motion tonight. I echo the sentiments of Maree Todd, the Cabinet Secretary for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, when she said that

“the Scottish athletes ... brought back a staggering amount of medals”

from Tokyo as part of ParalympicsGB. She also spoke of our pride in our athletes, and her hope that they would inspire others to take part in sport and perhaps to participate in future games. Everyone can share those sentiments, and I add my voice in congratulating all those who took part and supported the athletes in reaching their full potential: their coaches, clubs, families and others. A collective effort such as that creates a platform for Paralympians to excel not despite their disability, but because of their ability.

The 33 Scots in the ParalympicsGB team brought home 21 medals, which is an amazing hit rate. There were two gold, nine silver and 10 bronze medals, and the athletes all deserve recognition. As the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, I highlight three individuals from the north-east in particular. The cyclist Neil Fachie is one of our most celebrated Paralympians—indeed, he is one of our most decorated athletes in general. He has an astonishing number of medals from the Paralympics, the track cycling world championships and the Commonwealth games, and in Tokyo, he claimed another gold.

The swimmer Toni Shaw has been massively successful recently, during the European and world para athletics championships, and he came home from Tokyo with a bronze medal. A third athlete from the north-east is the swimmer Conner Morrison, from Turriff. He started out with the Garioch Gators in Inverurie and progressed to the University of Aberdeen performance programme. He has been a medal winner at the world para swimming championships and the European para athletics championships, and also domestically. When he was interviewed before the Paralympic games, he was realistic about his medal hopes—he said that he was going to Tokyo

“for the experience and to put the best version of”

himself

“out there”.

He qualified from the heat to reach the final of the S14 100m breaststroke. There was no medal for him this time, but the motion refers to the “positive impact” of the “inspiring endeavours” of Conner and his fellow athletes on the people in Banffshire and Buchan Coast, around the rest of Scotland and beyond. From Turriff to Tokyo is a story with all that positive impact and inspiration, and the same goes for every other athlete at the games. It is not just about the medals.

I am sorry to strike a sombre note now, but I have to be clear that when it comes to disabled people and sport, there are challenges too. It would be remiss of me not to mention the challenges that are faced by the deaf community when it comes to participation. Although deaf people are unable to take part in the Paralympics unless they have another disability, they still face disadvantages in participating in sports. I hope that, as the child of a deaf adult, or a CODA, I can use my platform to highlight those issues during my time in Parliament.

Just last month, the University of the West of Scotland and the Observatory for Sport in Scotland published a research paper by two professors, Richard Davison and Gayle McPherson, who revealed—shockingly—that only 12 per cent of disabled children in Scotland had taken part in sport during the relevant research period, as opposed to 81 per cent of non-disabled children. The gap closes to some degree in adulthood, but not nearly enough.

Meanwhile the gap for disabled adults who are living in poverty is stark. Last year, Professor Tess Kay of the University of Stirling published a research review entitled “Sport and social inequality”, which showed that low family income and poverty was the main driver in whether people of all ages participated in sport. Sadly, it has long been recognised that a household with a disabled person is much more likely to be a household in poverty. Members do not have to take my word for it—they can ask charities such as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Disability Rights UK and others.

The implications for participation in sport are clear, and there is a bigger point to make. Life for disabled people in Scotland, whether their impairment is intellectual or physical, should be the same as life for everyone in Scotland: accessible, equal and inclusive. However, we still have some way to go.

The Scottish Government is taking positive action on disability, and on sport and active living more generally. I will not read out the relevant pages of the programme for government, which will come as a relief to some, but I note that the Scotland-wide launch of the child disability payment and the adult disability payment, administered by Social Security Scotland, should make a significant difference for disabled people.

The Scottish Government will double investment in sport and active living to £100 million a year by the end of the current session of Parliament, which is excellent news. The more we level the playing field, the more disabled people will have the chance to take part in sport at a grass-roots level. As numbers rise, more talent will be identified. Not everyone will get a chance to go to the Paralympics, but taking part in sport is good in itself for fitness, self-esteem, social connections and much more. Whether we are disabled or not, and whether we are focused on gold at the Paralympics or just having a more active life, we can all be inspired by the example that has been set by Conner Morrison of Turriff and all the other Paralympians. Whether they are medal winners or not, they are an inspiration for us to put the best version of ourselves out there.

It is important that we recognise the achievements of those Paralympians and that we celebrate with them, while not forgetting to ensure that everyone in society has an opportunity to fulfil their full potential. We need adequate support—we all need support at some point in our life, at various levels and to varying degrees.

If we can ensure a society where equalities are at the heart of everything that we do, then we can create a society where thriving is possible, where celebrating each other and our achievements contributes to a health and wellbeing economy, and where purpose and joy in life prevails. I doubt that anyone could argue with that vision: inclusion and equalities always, and supporting each other to put the best version of ourselves out there.

I recently met Equate Scotland and discussed the importance of putting an equalities lens on the just transition for workers. What steps is the Scottish Government taking to ensure that there is equity for women in the just transition for workers, in particular as they have been disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 pandemic?

As you are aware, the fishing industry has had quite a hard time of late, especially because of the double whammy of Covid and Brexit. Naturally, its people are concerned for their future. With that feeling of vulnerability, they are quite sceptical about the co-operation agreement with the Scottish Green Party. Will you say something to alleviate their fears? In particular, can you tell us a bit more about how the distribution of quota and tackling of discards and by-catch are being worked on within the future fisheries management strategy?

Thank you. You touched on enticing new entrants into the industry. I know that there has been fantastic work in and around women in agriculture. Is there any scope to look at a programme for women in aquaculture and fisheries?