Chamber and committees

Thank you—that is helpful.

An issue that I have brought up previously is that of how we can raise awareness of the distance aware scheme. I will share my experience. After raising the issue in the committee, I went to Asda in my constituency and was told that it no longer does the scheme. When I went to Morrisons, the staff did not know what I was talking about. I then went to one of the local libraries. The staff found a box, said, “I think this is what you’re talking about,” and gave me a lanyard. When I asked whether there was a pass or a badge to go with it, they said, “No—you just get the lanyard.” Therefore, I think that there is still a lot of work to be done, especially for those people who want other people to keep their distance and still have concerns about going out among the general public. We need to raise the general public’s awareness of the need to respect the space of such people.

How can the Scottish Government raise the profile of the distance aware scheme?

That is great—thank you. I appreciate that.

What is the Scottish Government’s assessment of current and forthcoming pressures on public services such as the health, police, fire and education services as a result of Covid-related absences?

Lateral flow tests will be provided free only when there is a requirement to test. Who funds that—is it the Scottish Government or the United Kingdom Government—and what is the projected cost?

I am sorry, Mr Rowley, but we are running out of time, and two members have still to ask questions.

Good morning, and welcome to the 13th meeting in 2022 of the COVID-19 Recovery Committee. I have received apologies from Brian Whittle MSP.

Agenda item 1 was taken in private. Item 2 is a decision on whether to take in private item 6, under which we will consider our approach to the committee’s communication of public health information inquiry. Do members agree to take item 6 in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Under item 3, the committee will take evidence from the Scottish Government on a Covid-19 update, two-monthly reports to the Scottish Parliament and subordinate legislation. I warmly welcome to the meeting our witnesses from the Scottish Government: the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery, John Swinney; Professor Jason Leitch, national clinical director; and Elizabeth Blair, Covid co-ordination unit head. Thank you for your attendance this morning.

Deputy First Minister, would you like to make any remarks before we move on to questions?

Thank you very much, Deputy First Minister.

We have around 50 minutes for this agenda item, so members have approximately 10 minutes each for questions and answers. Everybody should keep that in mind, please.

I will ask the first question. Yesterday, it was announced that the highest-risk list is to close on 31 May. I appreciate that the success of the vaccination roll-out means that the vast majority of people on the list are at no greater risk than the general public, but there are still people out there who will be concerned by that announcement. Was any public consultation done on that?

What is the Scottish Government’s response to the UK Government failing to replace European Union funding, as promised, which will see South Ayrshire short-changed by £3.1 million?

I begin by congratulating Joe FitzPatrick on securing the debate. This is an important issue and I am glad that it is being raised in Parliament this evening.

In order to prepare properly for today, I thought that it would be beneficial to meet with the best women’s team in Scotland at the best club in Scotland, Ayr United Football Club.

Thank you. I would like to take this chance to thank Ayr United ladies team and assistant head coach, Clare Docherty, for allowing me to meet them to learn more about women in football and hear their stories. Needless to say, I do not think that I will be joining them to train soon.

When I read to the team the motion that is being debated tonight, it really resonated with them. Each and every woman and girl had faced sexism in football in some shape or form. One girl told me that when she was playing at an away game, a member of the men’s away team shouted at her, “Get back to the kitchen”—a disgraceful comment.

Sexism in women’s football is not always so obvious. For example, the women’s team at Ayr United always had to pay for and fundraise for their own kits. When Clare first started, she was handed a box of men’s hand-me-down kits and told to make do. Some of the shorts were three sizes too big. Currently, the kit that the women’s team is using is mismatched with an old sponsor. When speaking to the women, they highlighted to me that they felt that, when a man plays football, he signs his contract and just turns up to train and play. Everything gets handed to him. Meanwhile, the ladies have to fundraise and work for just about everything.

The good news is that, next season, the ladies team at Ayr United will wear the same kit as the men, which will present the team as a professional and serious force. Under the new owner and chairman, David Smith, the future is bright for the ladies team and Ayr United as a whole.

Last Saturday, for the first time ever, the women and men came together for a joint awards night that recognised the achievements of both groups. I congratulate Clare Docherty, Katie Patterson and Jodie Barbour on the awards that they won last Saturday.

Under David Smith, there have been much closer links between the players and the club, with bold and ambitious goals for growth and more support. The club is now offering to pay for a head coach for the ladies team. Previously this was a voluntary role that required no experience. Now Scottish Women’s Football has put in place guidelines that require all coaches to meet certain criteria.

During the Easter break, Ayr United academy ran a football camp to encourage more young people to take up the sport. There was an excellent turnout of girls. It is clear that they are the next generation who will lead women’s sport to a bright future. A player who has been at the club for 15 years told me that what is happening now is the most change that has ever happened and that it always felt like the boys were the priority and the ladies got whatever was left over. Put simply, all those positive developments would not have happened without Clare Docherty in charge. I hope that all clubs across Scotland will follow Ayr’s example.

There is still so much work to be done. People will often say that women are just not as good as men at football, or that they are not as entertaining to watch as the men. Well, of course, they would think that with all the structural barriers that are put in the way of girls and the lack of attention that women’s football receives. The amount of money in men’s football is not even comparable with that in women’s.

As I say, things are improving. People are tuning in to watch the Scotland women’s team play, and conversations have started about ticket sales and pay. Women do not want special treatment or recognition. They just want the same chances that the men get on a level playing field. Women’s and men’s football teams are an important source of local and national pride, so let us make Scotland a world leader in sporting equality and success.