Official Report 203KB pdf
Our next item of business is a debate on motion S7M-00208, in the name of Maree Todd, on summer of sport.
15:34
Tapadh leibh, Oifigeir Riaghlaidh. I am pleased to open the debate on Scotland’s summer of sport. It is my first debate since being reappointed as minister for sport. This is the first time that I have spoken in the chamber since being re-elected, so I thank the people of the Highlands and Islands for electing me. I wish the very best of luck to my successor, David Green, in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
Many members will be aware that I have had the privilege of serving in the role of sports minister since 2021. During that time, I have seen at close hand the profound and positive difference that sport and physical activity can make to people’s lives across Scotland. Sport improves physical and mental health, strengthens communities, boosts resilience and confidence, enriches lives and opens doors to new opportunities. That is why sport and physical activity play such a central role in our population health framework and our wider ambition to reduce health inequalities across Scotland. Introducing young people to regular, enjoyable physical activity at an early stage significantly increases the likelihood that they will remain active throughout their lives. It is during those formative years that we nurture physical confidence, develop fundamental skills and foster a lifelong appreciation for movement.
That is why we announced significant additional investment of £20 million in the 2026-27 budget to deliver a nationwide summer of sport programme, which is designed to make this a truly transformational summer for children and young people across Scotland. The Deputy First Minister officially launched the summer of sport programme on Monday 25 May at Pollok United football club. It was a glorious, sunny day that was full of energy, with young people being inspired not just by the activities that were on offer but by a visit from Scotland and Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon. The event captured exactly what the programme is about—inspiration, opportunity and inclusion—because this will be a landmark summer for Scotland.
The minister makes an important point about inclusion. In rural areas, kids at school cannot get the bus transport to get to the activities and events, and the pools and other assets. What more can the Scottish Government do to support local authorities to ensure that the facilities and events become inclusive for everyone?
I will come on to some of the summer of sport activities that are particularly targeted at rural areas. As I represent a rural area, I recognise that challenge. On bus travel, we are piloting the £2 bus fare cap in the Highlands and Islands, which has been transformative. We have seen an increase in the number of bus routes that are participating. Once the scheme is rolled out all over Scotland, it will make a significant difference to the opportunities that young people have. That is one of the good reasons to support it.
This summer, our men’s national football team will be competing at the FIFA world cup for the first time in 28 years, and the Commonwealth games will return to Glasgow. Alongside that, Scotland’s women’s teams, from cricket to hockey, are also competing on the world stage and providing inspiration for the next generation.
We have made a clear choice as a Government that inspiration must not be passive. It must translate into real opportunity—opportunity for every child in Scotland, regardless of their background or circumstance. However, for too many children and young people, we know that the opportunity does not yet exist or is out of reach. We know the barriers that they face: cost, transport, lack of confidence and, in some cases, feeling that sport is just not for them. That is why we have worked collaboratively with sportscotland and partners to design a programme that directly addresses those barriers.
At its heart, the summer of sport programme will deliver free, targeted or low-cost opportunities for children and young people to get active, try something new and stay active. It is a deliberately inclusive programme that is designed to reach those who are currently underrepresented in sport, particularly children who are experiencing poverty, those who live in remote and rural areas, disabled children or those who are not currently engaged in physical activity.
The overarching purpose of the summer of sport fund is twofold. The majority of the funding has been allocated directly to all 32 local authorities. In addition, £1.75 million has been made available to Scottish Government sport bodies, national partners and national organisations that have applied through an open and competitive process. The model ensures both universal reach and targeted impact and recognises that, although national leadership is important, the real strength of Scottish sport lies in our communities and in the partnerships that bring activity to life.
The minister might be aware that many young people across Scotland, including pupils from Hopeman primary school in my constituency, will be taking part in the world cup day of dance next week. That initiative is inspired by the success of the men’s world cup team and promotes and celebrates Scottish country dance. Does the minister agree that we should do all that we can to support participation in, and celebration of, Scottish country dance in our schools?
Absolutely. It was not until I travelled to France as sports minister that I realised that only in Scotland do we learn the country dances that we carry through our lives and use at every opportunity for celebration. That is unique to Scotland and I think it is a fantastic thing and a great way to celebrate. I come from a community that absolutely loves to have an Orcadian strip the willow right along our seafront, which is now a beautiful promenade thanks to Scottish Government funding.
Across the country, local authorities, leisure trusts, active schools networks, clubs and the third sector are working together to develop plans that reflect local need. Those plans include universal discounts on and free access to programmes; activities targeted at priority groups, including children living in property, those with additional support needs, young carers and care-experienced people; increased capacity and subsidised access; festivals, events and multisport opportunities; leadership pathways and employability opportunities for young people; and outreach into communities that are currently underrepresented.
Critically, those plans are not just about delivering activities but about building pathways from positive experience in summer programmes into what we hope will be sustained participation in school, community and club sport. That is because we know that one of the biggest challenges in sport is not about just getting people active but about helping people to stay active.
The role of our national partners and governing bodies is equally important. Across those programmes, some of the plans that we have had sight of so far focus on inclusive access, partnership-based delivery, local place-based approaches, workforce development and long-term sustainability. Those programmes are designed not simply to deliver a one-off experience but to create lasting engagement, confidence and belonging. That is absolutely central to our ambition because the legacy of the programme must extend far beyond this summer.
I now turn to some examples of what that will look like in practice. Although plans are still being developed, we have some details about specific programmes. The Camanachd Association, working in partnership with Scottish Golf, will deliver a joint programme designed to increase participation in shinty and golf among young people in rural Scotland. The programme will provide free or subsidised holiday camps in rural communities, removing barriers such as cost, travel and equipment, and will, I hope, develop our next Scottish golfing star. It will focus on fun, inclusive and beginner-friendly activity while creating clear pathways into club sport and developing a local workforce of young coaches and volunteers. That is a powerful example of what we are trying to achieve: locally delivered and inclusive provision that creates lasting impact.
I welcome some of what the minister has outlined, but does she agree that it is concerning that the percentage of children who engage in one hour of physical activity per day has declined by 8 per cent since 2016? How will those initiatives help to turn that around in the school setting?
The member will be aware that schools are expected to deliver at least two hours of physical education for all primary school pupils, and at least two 50-minute periods of PE for all pupils from secondary 1 to secondary 4, in each school week. Scotland also developed, and has given to the world, the daily mile programme, which encourages 15 minutes of walking, wheeling or running three times a week.
There is a huge body of evidence to support the impact not just on physical and mental health but on learning ability in schools. I would be more than happy to pick up those issues with Miles Briggs over the course of this session. They are a passion of mine, and I would be more than happy to work with him to ensure that we are delivering for children in schools.
At local authority level, the project that is planned for delivery in Stirling focuses on community provision—on strengthening clubs, developing the workforce and ensuring that activity is available not just during the summer holidays but all year round. In Renfrewshire, there are proposals for a planned focus on co-ordinated local delivery, inclusive programmes, additional support needs provision, the development of young leaders and work to ensure that programmes are shaped by the needs and voices of young people.
What unites all those examples is a clear commitment to inclusion, partnership and sustainability. We hope that the summer of sport will lead to an enhancement of the sporting system in a number of ways. We want more children and young people to access local sport, facilitated by the wider partnerships that have been developed through the investment, which will support the transition from summer of sport activities into club and community activity. We hope that the programme will result in more inclusive provision that is facilitated by the inclusive training that will be made available to the delivery workforce across Scotland.
I have spoken quite a lot about partnerships, but we expect stronger and more effective partnerships to be formed, leading to better joined-up local delivery.
Ultimately, we hope that more children and young people in poverty will access sport regularly. We want to ensure that no child is left behind, no matter where they live or what barriers they face. Of course, achieving that ambition requires more than funding alone. It also requires leadership, collaboration and the dedication of partners across Scotland, and I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been or will be involved in designing and delivering the programme, from local authorities, leisure trusts and governing bodies to coaches, volunteers and community organisations.
Work is well under way, with plans continuing to be developed and refined, and I am very much looking forward to seeing the plans in action and visiting projects across the country over the coming months.
As part of the summer of sport, we are also working with the Scottish Football Association to deliver a celebration of football fund that is aligned with the momentous occasion of the FIFA world cup. It will support organisations to use football to drive positive outcomes in communities. We are also delivering a health in the community programme to target those with the lowest activity levels and help them to become and remain active. In Glasgow, the Commonwealth games will be accompanied by a free, family-friendly live site in Kelvingrove park that will bring people together to celebrate sport, watch live action and take part in accessible activities. Together, those activities represent a comprehensive approach that connects inspiration at the elite level with participation at the grass roots.
The summer of sport is about much more than a single summer. It is a strategic investment in Scotland’s future. It is about ensuring—
Will the minister take an intervention?
The minister is in her last few seconds, Mr MacGregor.
It is about ensuring that the child who attends a session this summer has the opportunity to still be active in a year’s time and throughout their life. If we get it right, the impact will be felt long after this summer’s event. This has the potential to be a truly transformative summer—a summer when inspiration leads to participation, participation leads to habit, and habit leads to lasting change. The message of this summer is clear: game on.
I move,
That the Parliament welcomes Scotland’s Summer of Sport programme, which aims to capitalise on the landmark summer of international sport taking place this year, with Scotland’s men’s football team competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow in July; recognises that it will provide opportunities for children and young people to take part in free and low-cost activities across the country; believes that providing positive, inclusive and inspiring sporting experiences for children and young people is one of the best things the people of Scotland can do to support physical, mental, and social health, and hopes that these experiences will encourage lifelong participation in sport, whether through playing, or as future captains, coaches and volunteers across the sporting sector.
15:48
Like others in the chamber, I suspect, I remember the world cup campaign in 1998—hard to believe, I know—and the hope, aspiration and sheer joy that is the tartan army. I have to say that, although we have never yet made it into the second round, this could be our year, and the expectation is huge.
Despite reports to the contrary, this is not the first time in nearly 30 years that a Scottish football team has been at the world cup, because Scotland’s women were there in 2019. That was all the more impressive, given that the Scottish Football Association banned women from using club facilities for much of the 20th century and took charge of the women’s international side only in 1998.
Although it is right that we celebrate the fact that the men’s side is competing in this year’s tournament, let us also celebrate the way in which football has changed for the better. Football is now the number 1 sport for girls and women in Scotland; there are more than 1,000 grass-roots teams, I think.
However, women’s football still has significantly less investment, less coverage and less support than the men’s game. I hope that we will change that. The United Kingdom Labour Government has committed some £8 million to Scotland for grass-roots sports facilities, with an emphasis on women’s football. I encourage the Scottish Government to match that, or indeed to go further, so that we can expand the women’s game.
In my area, Dumbarton Football Club has started work on a new astroturf pitch, so that the women’s team can train locally, and the Vale of Leven football club, which also has a women’s team—a very successful one—has ambitious plans to improve the facilities at that long-standing community club.
The debate is about the summer of sport, not just football, although I think that many members—some on the Government benches—hope to attend the tournament. In July, Glasgow will welcome athletes from across the world for the Commonwealth games. That has not happened by chance; thanks to the hard work of all who put Glasgow’s plan together, at very short notice, we will be able to cheer on the Scotland team.
Aside from an expected huge medal haul for the Scotland team, what will be the legacy of those games? I think that we would all acknowledge that, despite the fact that the 2014 Commonwealth games were supposed to lead to a more fit and healthy Scotland, healthy life expectancy is going down. Only around six in 10 adults carry out the recommended physical activity to stay healthy. Worryingly, children and young people are spending ever more time in sedentary activities. Not often in government or in life do we get a second chance, so, this time around, the Scottish Government must ensure that the Commonwealth games leave a legacy of more investment in community and grass-roots sports, primary care and preventative health and more opportunities for the athletes of the future.
The Scottish Government made a commitment to free swimming lessons for every primary-school child in Scotland. That has the support of all parties in the chamber, and many included similar commitments in their manifestos. We want the Government to make progress on that, and I press the minister to say how it will be delivered. In my area, we currently have a waiting list for swimming lessons. That backlog is a hangover from Covid; however, there is also a shortage of swimming teachers and facilities. Only 16 per cent of young people from disadvantaged areas take part in swimming lessons. That is a massive inequality. I am therefore genuinely interested to know what steps the minister will take and whether she can tell us when the commitment is likely to be delivered. We lodged our amendment to try to accelerate progress on that, and get an indication of when the Government will do so.
I wish all Scotland’s athletes and players the very best of luck for this summer. We will all derive great joy from their competition, and I am sure that those sportsmen and women will do us all proud.
I move amendment S7M-00208.1, to insert at end:
“, and calls on the Scottish Government to publish a plan and timetable for the provision of free swimming lessons for every primary school child.”
15:53
We all know the evidence about the benefits of physical activity in helping to prevent and manage conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. The benefits to overall wellbeing, including tackling loneliness and enhancing brain health, are not referred to as often but are just as important. Sport can reinvigorate communities and give people purpose and somewhere to go when other spaces put barriers in their way.
I have previously referenced in the chamber the wonderful work that the community trusts at both Motherwell and Falkirk football clubs in my region do week in, week out. For me, that is an example of the biggest takeaway from the debate: although big, set-piece sporting events should be a catalyst for participation, we need to make sure that promotion and, crucially, funding keep sport accessible for the long term. I am pleased that the minister has recognised that that is essential, and that her examples extend to a diverse range of sports.
The Scottish Greens believe that universal access to sport and physical activity is a right, not a privilege, because it is necessary to support the health of the nation. Unfortunately, however, too many barriers still remain.
Taking part in sport and attending sporting events as a spectator can be prohibitively expensive, whether because of the cost of tickets, uniforms, equipment or membership of clubs. Watching sport can be a gateway to people getting involved in it, whether playing or volunteering. That is why the Scottish Greens want to work with Scottish Professional Football League clubs to introduce a price cap of £25 for tickets for travelling away fans. That would widen access and ensure that fewer people were priced out of Scotland’s national game.
A cap has been in place in England for more than a decade that means that travelling fans do not pay more than £30 for a ticket. In March, it was announced that the £30 price cap on away tickets has been extended for a further two seasons, and clubs voted unanimously to keep the cap in place until the end of the 2027-28 season.
In the United States, just two months ago, in order to tackle persistent concerns about sky-high ticket prices for the 2026 world cup, New York City mayor, Zohran Mamdani, proudly announced a deal that would allow residents in New York to buy 1,000 world cup tickets for $50 each.
I am a football supporter—a Kilmarnock sufferer—so I support the £25 cap on tickets. In England, television money dwarfs admission money, and clubs get much more revenue from that. In Scotland, clubs rely on the money that is coming through the door. So, how would the price cap work in practice? I am for the measure, but I am worried that some clubs would suffer financially.
We need to do more work at the national level to promote Scottish football, particularly in the Scottish Professional Football League, outside Scotland, in order to generate more money from TV rights.
Falkirk is already selling away tickets for £25. Other clubs could look at its model and consider adopting that approach themselves.
A £25 away ticket price could also serve as a starting point for the conversation. There is potential to reach a level that clubs are comfortable with, while, crucially, ensuring that fans are not priced out of the game. However, we should work with clubs and supporters’ organisations to drive that forward.
The First Minister said in January that he would be happy to consider the issue. Now that the minister for sport is back in place, I hope that she will join me in making calls to cap away ticket prices.
The summer of sport is an opportunity to break down some of the barriers to sport and physical activity. I am pleased that the motion mentions the provision of
“opportunities for children and young people to take part in free and low-cost activities”.
We should be using those opportunities for young people to get parents, grandparents or whichever adults accompany those young people back into sport, too.
However, to secure the legacy of the Commonwealth games, we must get the basics right. Across my region, a number of publicly owned sport and leisure venues are under threat of closure or are coming towards the end of their lifespan.
I have backed calls from constituents who are rightly concerned about the proposals to close Aquatec Motherwell. That leisure facility has been a vital part of the community for decades. It is one of the only accessible venues with good public transport connections and has been a lifeline for residents seeking a place to exercise, socialise and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
Venues such as the Aquatec, and many similar facilities across Scotland, are important not just for fitness but for community cohesion. If we want to improve the mental and physical health of the nation, we must invest in local facilities where friendships are built and people come together to support one another.
We need to ensure that the next generation of elite athletes, coaches and lifelong sports enthusiasts have local and accessible places to go to.
We must also make sure that people can walk, wheel and cycle in their local areas and that having access to a car is not necessary for them to take part in sport. We rightly provide exercise referrals to allow people to improve their health with cheap or free access to exercise. Those people are less likely to drive, so local facilities are vital. That is not to say that regional or national facilities are not important, but, realistically, a velodrome will not be accessed by as many people as a green space that is suitable for cycling.
The summer of sport has to be the catalyst to get people involved, but the investment must keep up to ensure that the summer of sport lasts longer than a Scottish summer usually does.
We believe that sport should be about the joy of taking part in physical activity and not about huge profits for industries that harm our health and extract wealth from sporting achievements. That is why we want sport to take place in an environment that promotes health and is free from sponsorship by industries that would harm it. It is disappointing, therefore, that two of the partners involved in the Commonwealth games are Coca-Cola and Jubel Beer. I cannot see how that is not at odds with an event that is meant to be about promoting healthy lifestyles through sport and physical activity. I would be grateful if the minister could advise members what conversations she has had with organisers about alcohol sponsorship of the games and what message that sends, particularly given that there is a focus on the participation of children and young people.
The summer of sport is an opportunity to spread the joy of taking part in sport to people all over Scotland. It is a truly worthwhile investment that has the potential to improve Scotland’s health and wellbeing immeasurably. On behalf of the Scottish Greens, I wish all those taking part the very best, and I hope that the next debate that we have on sport is about celebrating their success.
I move amendment S7M-00208.3, to insert at end:
“and believes that to maintain participation in the long term, measures such as a £25 ticket cap for away football fans and support for local authorities to keep local sports venues open, including Aquatec Motherwell, are essential.”
The rest of this Official Report will be published progressively as soon as the text is available.
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