To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that it is not currently on track to meet its target to reduce child poverty to less than 10 per cent by 2031, what its response is to children’s charities stating that its child poverty plan is “timid” and does not go far enough. (S6O-05709)

As this is the last time that I will speak in the Parliament, I thank all my colleagues for all the help and support that they have given me in the past five years. It was an honour to serve as an MSP.

Given that the City of Edinburgh Council housed 42 per cent of Scotland’s children who live in temporary accommodation in 2025 and given that rough sleeping has doubled in three years, what action is being taken urgently to eradicate child homelessness and poverty in Lothian and nationwide?

First, I thank Brian Whittle for securing this much-anticipated members’ business debate and for championing sports throughout this parliamentary session. As members might know, I was a restaurateur in my former life, and it did not make me much of a morning person. However, sport has a way of changing people’s habits—so here I am for this unique early chamber business. I could not miss this debate.

As a teenager growing up in Edinburgh, sport was the highlight of my day. I would come back from school, throw my bag into the house and run to our local council-run open space to play football. Sport brought us all together, regardless of our social or cultural backgrounds. Our differences were set aside, and we connected.

Sport supports children’s mental wellbeing and improves discipline and performance in the classroom, and team sports help young people grow into better adults by teaching co-operation, respect and how to both win and lose with dignity. Research consistently shows that active children are far more likely to lead healthier lives as adults. I can certainly attest to that, and I have passed those values on to my own children.

Today, however, it is a different story from when I was a teenager. Many children and young people no longer have equal access to sports. The cost of booking pitches in Edinburgh is rising and many struggling families across the city have told me that they cannot afford to keep their children active.

One of my very first visits as an MSP in 2021 was to a summer basketball session at Tynecastle high school. Some of the young people told me that, without access to school facilities, they did not know how they would spend their summer and that they might start to get involved with things that they should not be getting involved with. That reflects a wider reality. We know the transformative power of sport: it not only builds friendships but keeps young people away from antisocial behaviour and reduces the risk of involvement with harmful substances.

Community initiatives are already using sport as a prevention tool to make neighbourhoods safer and more inclusive. A groundbreaking example is the Friday night lights project in Leith, which is delivered by the Leith community sport hub in partnership with Hibernian Community Foundation. It provides safe and engaging activities such as basketball, football, rugby and fencing as well as vital support to vulnerable young people.

Youth sport should also be a long-term priority, to ensure that Scotland finds its sporting talent and builds home-grown champions to compete in international games. That message should be sent across Scotland with full force, with the world cup and the Commonwealth games in Glasgow coming up and the Tour de France grand départ in Edinburgh next year.

In recent years, vital facilities have been closed due to funding pressures, such as swimming pools in West Lothian, which are lifelines for many constituents. We must do more, and local authorities need greater support to maintain and expand facilities.

Sport also plays a vital role in community cohesion. Through groups such as Scot Bangla sporting club and Scot Nepal club in Edinburgh, sport helps to integrate newcomers and celebrate diversity. Community organisations are doing remarkable work, but they cannot do it alone—they need sustained nationwide support.

Quite simply, sport is one of the most effective and affordable solutions to many of the societal challenges that we face today. If we are serious about improving mental health, reducing pressure on the national health service, tackling youth crime and strengthening communities, sport must be at the heart of our approach. Sport is not a luxury; it is a necessity in building a healthier, more connected and resilient Scotland.

10:26

What analysis has been conducted of the potential change in response times for the north-east of the city of Edinburgh should the proposed closure of Marionville fire station proceed?

To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to formally define “green” to ensure alignment with net zero targets in its designation of data centres as a “national priority”. (S6O-05679)

What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the potential impact of hyperscale data centres on Scotland’s statutory climate targets and consumer energy bills? Will it consider an immediate moratorium on such projects until a clear definition of green data centres is established?

With NHS Lothian and local social care services under real pressure from staff shortages and rising demands, can the cabinet secretary set out how the budget helps us to move towards properly resourced and publicly delivered care, rather than continually relying on overstretched staff and the private sector to fill the gaps?

Given the recent report that hundreds of school support workers in Edinburgh have quit within months of starting due to a surge in pupils’ violence, and given the survey by the Educational Institute of Scotland and Unison that shows that there have been 5,200 violent incidents against teachers in Scotland over the past five years, what action will the Scottish Government take with local authorities to protect school staff and reduce violence in schools?

In the light of the launch of the 2026 Edinburgh international festival today, what steps is the Scottish Government taking to work with local authorities to support local artists and maximise the cultural and economic output of the festival for our communities in Edinburgh and across Scotland?

What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the impact that social care package reductions will have on unpaid carers, in light of concerns from Carers UK that the current budget is insufficient to allow unpaid carers and support services to thrive?