Chamber and committees

Flexibility and choice are fundamental to our offer of 1,140 hours of funded ELC for all three and four-year-olds, as well as eligible two-year-olds. The latest ELC census reported that uptake by three and four-year-olds remains near universal, with a recent survey showing that 90 per cent of parents and carers were satisfied that they had been offered the flexibility to use funded hours in a way that met their family’s needs. We know that there is more to do, and we will consider how best to ensure that childcare offers the flexibility that families need as we develop our plans to expand provision.

I am not sure of Katherine Sangster’s constituent’s situation or of whether it is between local authorities, which is one of the issues that was raised in the childcare debate several weeks ago. I am happy to take that on. As I said, we are still working on this, and I would hope that, moving forward, local authorities will work together to ensure that parents and families can get the childcare that they need.

Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer—I congratulate you on your new role.

I thank all members for their contributions today; it has been lovely to hear members speak about the upcoming summer of sports and the opportunities and outcomes that we hope that it will deliver. I welcome the amendments to the motion that have been lodged by colleagues across the chamber, which further emphasise the collective value and importance that we all place in the transformative power of sport in our communities.

I am happy to confirm that the Scottish Government will support all the amendments. However, in relation to the Green amendment, we should be clear that local governments are responsible for funding local facilities such as Aquatec Motherwell, which is mentioned in the Green amendment.

I know that there have been discussions—no doubt there will also be further discussions—regarding the ticketing cap. We absolutely recognise that sport should be affordable and accessible.

Football is the country’s most popular sport, and our leagues are the best attended in Europe per head of population. We will continue to work with local football authorities to maintain and grow those levels of attendance and to make football more affordable and enjoyable for fans. The summer of sport is an ambitious and inspiring programme that sits at the intersection of many of my responsibilities as Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise.

I absolutely support that suggestion.

The summer of sport connects to children’s rights and services and outdoor play, and to my work supporting looked-after children and young people and those with learning disabilities, autism and neurodivergence. This is not just a sports programme; it is a children’s rights programme and a wellbeing programme. Fundamentally, it is about equity, belonging and opportunity.

As we look ahead to what promises to be a truly exciting summer, we recognise that sport has a unique ability to unite people and to inspire the nation, and we are determined to harness that power.

Yes, absolutely. We also need to recognise the importance of highland games; they are not to be left out.

Crucially, activities within this programme will be free, targeted or low cost. That matters because, in the midst of a cost of living crisis, cost remains one of the biggest barriers to participation for too many children and young people. At a local level, we will see commitment in action, with funding distributed across all 32 local authorities, ensuring that every community in Scotland can benefit.

From my perspective as minister, what matters the most is who the programme is designed for. Yes, it is universal and open to all children and young people, but it is also deliberately targeted. The summer of sport will prioritise children who too often face structural barriers to participation: children living in poverty, children with additional support needs, care-experienced young people, young carers and those in rural and isolated communities. That is absolutely the right approach.

When we talk about children’s rights, we are talking not only about access in theory but about meaningful, equitable access in practice. That means recognising that some children need more support than others to participate. Inclusion is not simply an add-on in this programme—it is central to it. Although local authorities and national partners still have a few weeks to finalise plans, what we have seen so far has been extremely encouraging.

Across local authorities, national governing bodies and partner organisations, there is a strong and consistent focus on reaching underrepresented groups, creating accessible and welcoming environments, and removing barriers, whether they are financial, physical or psychological. Many of these plans are rooted in communities, delivered in familiar, trusted community spaces and supported by trained and inclusive workforces. That is particularly important for children with learning disabilities and neurodivergence.

Through community-based delivery and partnership with a third sector organisation, delivery will help to create spaces where children can take part, feel included and build relationships. For example, work in Glasgow will include an alternative engagement programme, class to clubs, which is designed as a targeted intervention for identified pupils who are currently disengaged and will use a progressive engagement model that begins with small-group support. The programme will focus on those who are least likely to participate in physical activity, helping to build confidence and create pathways for pupils into school-based and community sport.

I will take the member’s point on board. The detail of the programme is still being developed, but once it has been, I will be happy to share that with the member.

Alongside that, Glasgow Life will deliver a broad programme with a strong focus on removing barriers for care-experienced young people. That targeted support will sit alongside universal provision, ensuring that those who have the greatest need will receive tailored opportunities to engage and thrive. Similarly, in Aberdeen, care-experienced young people will be prioritised by expanding access to free or subsidised opportunities.

The summer of sport will not just deliver activity for young people; it will create opportunities for them to shape and lead it. For example, Youth Scotland is developing proposals to support young people who are facing barriers such as poverty, rural isolation, disability or low confidence. Through its network of more than 600 youth organisations, it will deliver inclusive, informal and locally tailored activities in trusted settings, shaped by young people and with opportunities for leadership and peer mentoring roles. The emphasis on young voices is a strength of the programme.

Because much of the delivery will take place outside, the wider summer of sport programme is also significant from an outdoor play perspective. We know that outdoor activity brings distinct benefits, from mental health to supporting risk taking and resilience and fostering a connection to a place and community.

What I find particularly powerful about the programme is its place-based, partnership-driven delivery approach. Across Scotland, local authorities will work alongside active schools networks, leisure trusts, clubs, community organisations and the third sector to design the programme; it is not a one-size-fits-all model. Local plans will be shaped by local needs.

We are beginning to see proposals that offer universal discounts and free access to existing programmes, targeted outreach into communities and leadership and employability pathways for young people. All that reflects a system that is working together to maximise reach and impact. Importantly, those programmes are being designed with pathways in mind—it will not just be a single-summer experience but a bridge into long-term participation. The investment in workforce and capacity building is vital to that. That matters because the legacy of the programme will not just be for this summer; it will be for the stronger systems and workforce that remain afterwards.

I will touch on a few speeches that were made during the debate. I recognise the first-time speeches and contributions from Victor Currie, Colm Merrick, Irshad Ahmed, Alyn Smith, Steven Bonnar, Adam Harley, Jenny Young and Jamie Langan.

I will also touch on a few points that Jackie Baillie made in her amendment. I acknowledge that there are some concerns regarding the roll-out of national swimming lessons, but we all agree that it is vital for our youngsters to learn to swim—it is a core skill that can save lives. That point was also made by Jack Middleton and Colm Merrick.

A school swimming working group has been set up with the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, which will consider how swimming lessons will be rolled out across Scotland. I know that the Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs will be happy to meet with Ms Baillie to discuss that further.

In her speech, Gillian Mackay raised the issue of sponsorship. We recognise that the Commonwealth games was required to secure sponsorship because it was not given any Scottish Government funding. However, we are working with the organising committee and Team Scotland to ensure that healthy products are promoted wherever possible.

I thank Miles Briggs for his wise words for all the new members. Rachael Hamilton’s suggestion about having an event at Holyrood is a good idea; I do not know how it could be organised in the next couple of weeks, but maybe it could be organised after recess.

Colm Merrick asked about the evaluation and monitoring of the programme. An evaluation and monitoring plan has been agreed with partners and it will be arranged through sportscotland. Sportscotland is also contracting an independent evaluation of the fund to evidence the impact of the additional public investment.

Adam Harley mentioned the potential closure of Ayr Diving Club, which is at the only facility that offers diving on the west coast of Scotland. I recently met a constituent who was concerned about that local closure. She told me about her son, who did not have much confidence. She said that when he is on the diving boards, she sees him turn into a different boy—he is on top of the world, and he has all the confidence in the world. That really echoed with me. That decision is for the local authority, South Ayrshire Council, but I know that conversations are ongoing there.

That brings me to my final point. This programme is not about a moment—it is about a legacy. It is about making this summer a summer to remember, but more importantly, it is about creating habits that last, building confidence that stays with young people and embedding participation in communities for the longer term. We want a child who attends a free session this summer to still be active 10 years from now. We want those children to join clubs, become coaches, volunteer in their community club or simply carry a love of movement through their lives.

When I look at the summer of sport, I see a lasting commitment. I see a commitment to children’s rights, to equity, to inclusion and also to opportunity. I see a commitment that no child—regardless of background, circumstances or need—should be excluded from the joy, the benefits and the belonging that sport and physical activity can bring. I see a country coming together, across Government, communities and partners, with a shared purpose to make this not just a great summer but a transformative one.

I, Siobhian Brown, do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare and affirm, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to His Majesty King Charles, his heirs and successors, according to law.