Presiding Officer, I would like to raise a point of order under standing order 7.3.1. In this afternoon’s debate on the white paper, Johann Lamont stated:
“This is a Government that promises better childcare if we vote for independence but which in six years has not been able to deliver an extra hour of physical education for our children.”
I have had the opportunity to check that and the reality is that the number of hours of physical education being delivered in Scottish schools has increased substantially under this Government. Figures show that, in 2004-05, less than 10 per cent of schools were meeting the PE target but, under this Government, by June 2013, the figure had risen to 89 per cent. Presiding Officer, given that, should Ms Lamont now be given the opportunity to correct the record, as she has so often called on others to do, either now or in section K of the Scottish Parliament’s Business Bulletin? Alternatively, should we take it as more evidence that it is difficult to believe a single word that Labour says?
I say to Mr Dornan, as I have said on numerous occasions, that the Presiding Officer has never been, is not and cannot be responsible for the veracity of what is said in the chamber—that is entirely the responsibility of members in their speeches.
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