Seòmar agus comataidhean

Will the minister provide further information on the work that the long Covid national strategic network is undertaking to improve treatment for children and young people with long Covid?

To ask the Scottish Government when it last engaged with the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and other relevant UK Government departments regarding the provision of future agricultural funding for Scotland. (S6O-02803)

I very much welcome the opportunity to participate in this committee debate on a subject that is very important to me. Sport has always played a significant role in my life, and it continues to do so to this very day, albeit through slightly less vigorous activities these days.

It has therefore been insightful and concerning to sit on the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee while hearing at first hand evidence about barriers to female participation in sport and physical activity. Opportunities to take part in all forms of sport should be available to everyone, so the question that we faced was: how do we make that happen?

I very much welcome all the work that has gone into the committee’s inquiry, and I have confidence that our report, which was published in October, can serve as a call to action and, more important, a blueprint for change.

There is undeniable evidence of the benefits of regular participation in sport and physical activity for both physical and mental health and wellbeing. However, despite those benefits, we face a persistent gender gap, which begins at puberty, extends into early adulthood and persists until women are in their early 40s. That gap is not just a number; it represents a loss of opportunities, untapped potential and a failure to provide equitable access to the benefits of sport for half of our population.

I thank the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport for her thoughtful and detailed interim response to the committee’s report on behalf of the Scottish Government. It is encouraging to note that the Scottish Government has been working diligently to bridge the gap in funding support for women in sport through initiatives such as the active schools programme, Scottish women and girls in sport week and the women’s health plan. It is clear that that work, along with positive media coverage of women’s elite sport, has been instrumental in creating change.

A 2022 Women’s Sport Trust report showed that 36.1 million people watched women’s sport on television between January and July 2022. That was an increase of 18.6 million from the equivalent period in 2021. We know that the media plays a crucial role in promoting female participation in sport. Historically, women’s sport has received far less attention and coverage compared with sport played by their male counterparts. Lack of representation and invisibility have contributed to stereotypes and barriers for women in sport.

However, with the rise of digital media and social platforms, there has been a clear and positive shift towards increasing the visibility and recognition of women’s sport. Make no mistake—the power of the media cannot be overstated. They can reshape societal norms and challenge gender stereotypes by highlighting female athletes’ achievements and telling their inspiring stories. Through comprehensive coverage, documentaries, interviews and features, the media can showcase women’s sport as exciting, competitive and noteworthy. Such exposure not only legitimises women’s athletic abilities but creates role models for young girls and encourages them to participate in sport at all levels.

That is why we continue to build on the progress so far and why the Scottish Government continues to take ambitious action, including its commitment to double the funding for sport and physical activity to £100 million a year, although it is important to recognise that there are competing demands for that funding. In that context, I look forward to the Scottish Government setting out its plans for funding to be suitably targeted to ensure that the goal of increased participation and visibility of women and girls in sport and physical activity is made a key priority.

Crucially, we must acknowledge the intersectional barriers that are faced by girls, particularly those from minority backgrounds, and we must ensure that diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of the Scottish Government’s strategies.

During the committee’s inquiry, we heard evidence, supported by the findings of UK-wide research, that suggests that many girls and women are given limited opportunities to participate in sports and physical activities that are stereotypically viewed as being male-dominated and, therefore, unlikely to be of interest to them or suitable for female participation.

Some members might know that I am a passionate member of the Scout Association, have been a scout leader in Kirkcaldy for too many years to mention and spend most of my summer recess leading a mixed-gender scout group. Throughout my years, I have seen at first hand how important it is to encourage girls of all ages to participate in diverse sports opportunities and physical activity, particularly in co-educational settings and at community level.

A 2009 Observatory on Sport in Scotland report found that, although girls are more active than boys between the ages of five and seven, their participation drops significantly from the age of eight onwards. By the age of 13 to 15, approximately 11 per cent of girls in Scotland meet physical activity guidelines, compared with 24 per cent of boys. Those alarming statistics are echoed by what I have seen time and again on the ground. Negative body image, poor confidence and issues related to puberty are all major barriers to participation in sport. It is vital that we provide safe spaces for girls to overcome those issues and learn important life skills, such as teamwork and leadership.

The matter transcends the boundaries of athletics and is about empowerment, equality and the celebration of talent and teamwork. The benefits of our efforts go far beyond the sports arena. They extend into society when we support women and girls in participating in sport and physical activity. We are not just creating athletes; we are nurturing future leaders, role models and advocates for gender equality.

Empowering women in sport and physical activity is not just about access to sports facilities or creating equal opportunities. It is about building a society where every girl and woman can realise their potential, unhindered by societal norms, physical barriers or gender bias. Let us all commit to that cause, not just in words but in actions, to create a more inclusive, healthier and equitable Scotland.

Data from the Scottish national health service suggests that only a quarter of the people who have high blood pressure are treated to target. With high blood pressure being associated with around 50 per cent of heart attacks and strokes, will the minister commit to prioritising action on high blood pressure in order to reduce the burden of ill health that it causes for people in Scotland?

To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to improve the detection and treatment of high blood pressure, in light of reports that an estimated 1.3 million people in Scotland are living with this condition. (S6O-02691)

Bill Kidd mentioned that Caithness was not allowed to be a nuclear weapon test zone. Will he acknowledge that many of our constituents were on Christmas Island, that they and their families have suffered since then and that the United Kingdom Government has ignored them?

I am very grateful to Bill Kidd for securing this important debate, and I congratulate him on achieving cross-party support for his motion. The issue has been at the forefront of his campaigning for many years, and I commend his tireless efforts.

It is an honour and a solemn responsibility to speak in this debate, in a country that stands for peace and one that seeks the abolishment of the threats that loom large over our collective futures as we stand on the precipice. Global affairs in the past few weeks have demonstrated that a state of safety and security is not one that we can take for granted. Last week, Russia’s Parliament backed the withdrawal of Moscow’s ratification of the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, which is one of the most consequential international agreements for global security. In these turbulent times, the establishment of nuclear weapons-free zones—or NWFZs—stands as a beacon of hope for the present and future generations and the international community as a whole.

We have a duty to our constituents to ensure that Scotland plays a leading role in driving forward the ideas of peace, prosperity and a sustainable future. That is why I join others in supporting the United Nations agenda for disarmament and recognise and commend the relentless efforts to establish more nuclear weapons-free zones across the globe.

Currently, there are five established NWFZs, which cover regions such as Latin America, the Caribbean, the south Pacific, south-east Asia, Africa and central Asia. Those zones cover a staggering 56 per cent of earth’s land area, include 60 per cent of its countries and shelter approximately 39 per cent of the global population from the immediate dangers of nuclear weapons. What makes those NWFZs truly remarkable is that they are not merely symbolic gestures; they come with legally binding obligations, verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

While we celebrate the milestone of achieving progress towards the UN agenda for disarmament, we must also face the undeniable reality of the absence of NWFZs across the continent of Europe. Scotland, with its clear history and stand on nuclear disarmament, has a unique perspective and a role to play. The Scottish Government’s position on the matter is clear, and I am proud to support the commitment to pursuing the safe and complete withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from Scotland. However, our vision of a nuclear-free Scotland has been threatened by changes in the geopolitical landscape in recent years. One of the most alarming repercussions of Brexit is the potential impact of the UK’s nuclear posture. Brexit has weakened our ties with European neighbours, particularly those that champion peace and diplomacy. If the UK Government truly aspires to rebuild and strengthen our relationship with those countries, a greater effort towards to the establishment of NWFZs in Europe would certainly be a bold step in the right direction.

Many nations in NATO do not have nuclear weapons, but they are part of it.

By establishing those zones, we can take collective ownership of our safety and security, and send a powerful message that security can be based on mutual trust, co-operation and diplomacy.

Most people in Scotland are strongly opposed to nuclear weapons, and it is well established that an independent Scotland will be free of nuclear weapons. However, it is only with independence that Scotland’s interests can be adequately represented on the international stage.

The UK Government has not ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons; in fact, it has decided to increase its stockpile of nuclear weapons. That is not only hugely disappointing; it is a break in the commitment to the international community.

European history has borne witness to countless wars and conflicts. By establishing NWFZs, we affirm our collective commitment to peace, unity and security. Doing so in Europe would be a powerful signal to the world that it is united in its desire for a safer future for all its inhabitants.

As international security concerns are heightened and global politics continue to change, we need to renew and encourage our global co-operation and diplomacy. The establishment of a NWFZ in Europe is one of many tools to help us to achieve that. That would be not just for strategic or political reasons—it is a moral imperative.

Although the path to nuclear disarmament is undeniably challenging, it is a path that Scotland is leading on with determination. That is demonstrated by cross-party support for the motion, with unity. In the words of Rabbie Burns:

“Now’s the day, and now’s the hour.”

The time to explore the establishment of a nuclear weapons-free Europe is now for Scotland, Europe and the world.

I agree with Willie Coffey. The committee does have views on that and, if he waits, there will be recommendations about that later in my speech.

We are fortunate in the in-house experience, knowledge and support that officials across the Parliament have provided, and I thank all those who have helped us during the inquiry.

To turn to some of the comments that were made during the debate about the confusing terminology, citizens panels, citizens juries and deliberative democracy are key terms that are defined in page 4 of our report. Parliament should know that, based on our citizens panel’s recommendation, we recommend the use of the term “people’s panel”.

As well as recommending greater use of people’s panels, our report considers many other aspects of participation. Early on in the inquiry, we heard some striking evidence about the many barriers to engagement, and that was amplified by the views of our citizens panel.

In response to Ruth Maguire’s earlier question and Willie Coffey’s intervention, I note that the panel made a number of thoughtful recommendations about how Parliament could do more to seek out a range of voices and make it easier for people to engage—for example, by better promoting translation services and the use of easy-read formats, and by creating a new web page where people can register their details, so that Parliament can alert them each time there is a new opportunity to express their views.

I echo comments that my colleague, John Mason, made about the fact that getting out and about around the country and engaging with the general public, where they live and work, is of great benefit and should absolutely be encouraged, because accessibility and opportunity are key to participation.

Our report responds in detail to all the recommendations that the panel made, and it was encouraging to find that, in many respects, the panel was pushing at an open door.

As the minister mentioned earlier, the Parliament already has a public engagement strategy, and a lot of innovative work is already under way. We hope that the report and the contribution that the citizens panel has made will serve to push that work forward and give it a higher profile.

The final section of the report sits under the theme “Strengthening trust in the Parliament”, and that was more challenging for the committee. As Maurice Golden mentioned, and as other members raised in the debate today, we heard early on in the inquiry that there is a widespread lack of trust in politicians and the political process, which many of us encounter daily in our constituencies and in the media. Therefore, it was not a surprise that three recommendations under that heading also came out clearly from the citizens panel.

One of those recommendations was to give members of the public an opportunity to put their questions directly to Government ministers. As a committee, we were unable to support the idea of delivering that through a new type of chamber proceedings, for a number of reasons that are set out in our report. However, we agree that the underlying idea might be worth exploring further if there is cross-party support for doing so. That might be something that the Parliamentary Bureau could look at.

The two other panel recommendations on the theme of strengthening trust were to give the Presiding Officer more powers to ensure that oral questions in the chamber are properly answered, and to set up a people’s panel to discuss the MSPs’ code of conduct. In each case, we had mixed feelings—we understand why public trust is damaged by the way in which we sometimes conduct ourselves in the chamber, and we therefore respect what has motivated those recommendations; however, we also see real difficulties in implementation. For that reason, we have proposed that the Standards, Procedures and Public Appointments Committee explore those issues further.

That is not meant to sound as though we are just passing the buck; it is more a recognition that matters relating to members’ conduct and to chamber procedure fall squarely within that committee’s remit rather than ours. We look forward to hearing the outcome of the SPPA Committee’s consideration of those issues in due course.

I will close this afternoon’s debate by thanking members for their thoughtful contributions. I hope that the debate has gone some way to convincing other members to support the direction of travel that is set out in our report.

The experience of other countries has shown us that, if a Government is receptive, a citizens panel can deliver dramatic policy recommendations on difficult and emotive issues through people-led discussion, with complete transparency and fairness. It is now up to us to reflect on the role that they can play in our own democracy, and I encourage all members to support the convener’s motion.