Chamber and committees

Given the challenges that Christine Grahame outlined and the Scottish Government’s commitment to a just transition, how can the Government support investment in biofuels and anaerobic digestion to reduce reliance on heating oil and provide greener, more secure energy for rural industries such as those in Dumfries and Galloway and the Borders?

I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling child poverty and its investment through the whole family support third sector delivery fund. Will the cabinet secretary say more about how the delivery model will work alongside existing local partnerships? In particular, will the Government consider ensuring that there are locally led, place-based approaches in the delivery model for the fund, such as those in Dumfries and Galloway, so that local partnerships can be supported to ensure the best possible outcomes for families?

I thank Brian Whittle for bringing this important debate to the chamber. Mr Whittle’s motion rightly highlights that sport and physical activity are about far more than physical health. I commend him—as others have done—on his commitment to raising those issues in Parliament over the past 10 years. I have always had respectful and positive engagement with Mr Whittle, whether in the chamber or at committee.

Colleagues have also mentioned that the issues that we are highlighting relate to not only physical health, but mental wellbeing, confidence and strength in our communities. I will focus my remarks on an area where, although progress has been made, barriers still remain: the participation of women and girls in sport. As a member of the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, I had the privilege of contributing to our inquiry on female participation in sport and physical activity. What we heard was clear. Although the benefits of sport are universal, access to those benefits is not. The evidence shows that a great gap in participation opens early, often around puberty, and continues into adulthood. That is not because girls and women value sport any less, but because the system too often does not work for them.

For teenage girls, the barriers can be immediate. Puberty brings physical change, along with increased self-consciousness, concerns about body image and practical challenges such as managing periods. Too often, those challenges are made worse by unsuitable facilities, a lack of privacy and clothing that does not meet teenage girls’ needs. However, the barriers are not only physical, but also cultural: we heard consistent evidence of negative attitudes from boys, girls being sidelined in physical education and playgrounds being dominated by boys’ activities. Those experiences matter, because they shape whether a young person feels that sport is for them, and that feeling can last a lifetime. Even when girls stay involved, they are often offered a narrower range of activities, which are still shaped by outdated assumptions about what girls will or should enjoy.

However, it is important to recognise that there has been progress. The Scottish Government’s women’s health plan is helping to normalise conversations about menstrual health, which is key to breaking down stigma. Programmes such as active schools are widening access and introducing girls to a broader range of sports. I have a wee shout-out here: Mr Carson mentioned the St Cuthbert Wanderers’ walking football group in Kirkcudbright; I had the joy to participate and play there. There is also a walking football group in Stranraer, which invited me to join in on a game. Although I did not score any goals, Presiding Officer, I was credited with a couple of assists.

The commitment to increase investment in sport and physical activity to £100 million a year provides a strong foundation to build on. Elena Whitham mentioned community—I want to give another wee shout-out. I welcome the fact that the minister visited Let’s Get Sporty in Dumfries last November. It is a social enterprise that has broadened its community involvement over 14 years to now include programmes such as let’s get mentored, let’s get training, let’s get heard, let’s get driving, let’s get ready and let’s get employed. There is a real community initiative going on there.

We cannot ignore the impact of cost. Fees rise when access to facilities is limited and, when equipment is expensive, participation becomes a privilege rather than something that everyone can enjoy. If we are serious about sport as a force for good, access must be genuinely universal; for sport to realise its full potential as a force for good, it must be a force for everyone. It means designing systems that work for women and girls, not expecting them to fit into systems that were never built with them in mind, and tackling cultural barriers as well as practical ones. If we get that right, we will not only improve participation but also improve health, strengthen our communities and unlock Scotland’s full potential.

I am really chuffed to speak in support of today’s motion, which recognises the serious harm that is caused by animal cruelty, neglect and illegal breeding. Across Scotland, including in the South Scotland region, which I represent, people care deeply about the welfare of pets, farm animals and wildlife, yet we continue to have cases in which cruelty goes unpunished or sentencing does not reflect the severity of the harm that is caused.

Animal welfare organisations consistently raise concerns about inconsistencies in sentencing, the limitations of cases being dealt with under summary procedure and the lack of specific sentencing guidelines under the Animals and Wildlife (Penalties, Protections and Powers) (Scotland) Act 2020. When penalties are capped or guidance is unclear, justice cannot always be delivered in a way that matches public expectations or the seriousness of a crime. Strengthening sentencing is not about being punitive for its own sake; it is about proportionality, consistency and, above all, better protection for animals and the public. Clearer guidance and greater awareness of existing powers would support more robust and consistent decision making across Scotland’s courts.

That is why calls for improved monitoring of disqualification orders are so important. A national animal offenders register, which would allow agencies to share information more effectively, deserves consideration. If someone has demonstrated that they are a risk to animals, the system must be equipped to prevent reoffending. That is in the interests of animal welfare organisations, police officers, local authorities and, ultimately, the public.

Although today’s motion rightly focuses on the future direction of policy, I also want to highlight the contribution of someone whose commitment to animal welfare has shaped this Parliament for nearly three decades: my friend and colleague Christine Grahame. I feel as though I am at the coo’s tail, though, because everybody has done an excellent job of describing her work.

Christine has served in Parliament since 1999, where she has been one of the most consistent, passionate and influential voices for animal welfare. By leading campaigns, championing reforms and scrutinising legislation with determination, she has made a tangible difference to animals across Scotland. Her work has never been about making short-term headlines; it has been about achieving long-term change founded on compassion and justice. During this parliamentary session, Christine introduced her member’s bill, the Welfare of Dogs (Scotland) Bill, which strengthened protections for animals and built on years of advocacy on issues such as puppy farming, cat and dog welfare, wildlife protection and tougher penalties for cruelty. The issue of puppy trafficking is a shared concern. It was one of the first issues that I addressed when I was elected 10 years ago, because puppies continue to be trafficked through the port of Cairnryan.

Christine has always been generous in providing me with guidance, which has sometimes been very direct and always sound, and supporting me in navigating the complex aspects of parliamentary work. More than once, we have found ourselves speaking at short notice in response to the lodging of motions on challenging issues by Opposition members. In those moments, Christine’s calm and measured approach, sharp thinking and wit have made those tasks much easier.

As we debate how to strengthen sentencing, improve consistency and better protect animals across Scotland, it is only right that we recognise the foundations that have been laid by Christine Grahame. Her contribution over 27 years has changed Scotland for the better and will continue to influence policy long after her time in the Parliament.

I fully support the calls in the motion for clearer sentencing guidance, improved consistency across the justice system and stronger enforcement to prevent repeat offending. When we work together—the Scottish Government, the justice agencies, Police Scotland and the many dedicated animal welfare organisations—we can build a system that offers the strongest possible protection for Scotland’s animals. It is vital that we continue to do so, inspired by the work of Christine Grahame MSP.

I welcome the climate change plan and its focus on a fair and just transition. Given the importance of rural economies, can the cabinet secretary outline how the plan will support regions such as Dumfries and Galloway through, for instance, the dairy sector, with technologies such as biogas, while also strengthening Scotland’s long-term food security?

While Westminster parties are lurching to the right and their policies on immigration are having a catastrophic impact on Scotland’s care homes and social care sector, will the First Minister set out what further steps his Government is taking to support the sector at this time and ensure that Scotland’s care homes do not feel the brunt of Westminster’s cruel policies?

Almost 40 per cent of households in Dumfries and Galloway rely on heating oil and are therefore particularly exposed to global price volatility. Does the cabinet secretary agree that, in the light of the pressures caused by international events while we are shackled to a Westminster Government that is offering an equivalent of £35 per household, it is absolutely vital that we in Scotland continue to enhance our own energy security through the development of sustainable fuels, including biofuels and renewables?

Yesterday, it was mentioned in the chamber that the education on coercion that is provided in Western Australia takes five minutes and comprises a couple of PowerPoint slides. I followed that up with a former Western Australia MP, Dr Sally Talbot, who got back to me at 11.05 last night after I messaged her at 11 o’clock. She told me that Western Australia’s coercion education consists of up to 10 hours of training, including nine e‑modules. She also mentioned that those participating are already experienced doctors and that those taking the exam must achieve a 90 per cent score.

I wanted to highlight that to show that coercion is taken really seriously in Australia. However, a broader issue is including the wider multidisciplinary team in that. Does Fulton MacGregor agree and acknowledge that coercion is not taken lightly in the Western Australia model?

The comprehensive training of staff working in services such as Skye house is essential to supporting patients. I ask, as a former clinical nurse educator for the NHS, how is the Scottish Government working to ensure that full staff training is a priority and that patients’ welfare is at the core of their care?

That was pretty much all that I had to ask. Thank you.