Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison The point about workplace interventions is a good one. Many workplaces are trying to organise walking groups and activity groups at lunch times. However, the life transitions period is important, too, because when many young people go to college or university, some of their sport and physical activi...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison I am happy to agree to that. There could be some interesting conversations along those routes. We should lead by example, and that is perhaps one way of doing it. I note, too, the comments about the use of the gym. That issue may need to be revisited over time.
Margaret McDougall talked a...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison As many others have said, the debate has been largely consensual, so I will deal with the disagreements first and get them out of the way before I talk about members’ contributions.
A number of Labour members mentioned the target of two hours of physical education a week in primary school...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison Does the member recognise that Dundee City Council is one of the best performing councils when it comes to the delivery of the PE targets? Also, we have to rely on classroom teachers to deliver PE in primary schools because, with the best will in the world, six specialists across 38 schools are not ...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison Will the member give way?
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison) I am pleased to open the debate by exploring the significant challenge that obesity presents to Scotland and the Scottish people. I will also set out how physical activity contributes to tackling the problem.
Obesity levels are rising internationally, and Scotland is not alone in facing w...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison I was fortunate enough to visit the pool just before it reopened. It is a fantastic state-of-the-art facility of international quality. I look forward to the Commonwealth pool playing an extremely important role in the Commonwealth games in two years. I am sure that it will also attract a number of ...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport (Shona Robison) The Scottish Government is committed to creating a lasting legacy and maximising the benefits for the whole of Scotland from Glasgow hosting the 2014 Commonwealth games. Edinburgh’s refurbished Royal Commonwealth pool reopened on 20 March 2012. It will host the diving events for the Commonwealth gam...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison Not for the first time, the member is being very economical with the truth. It has not been abandoned at all; in fact, it has been mainstreamed into the work of health boards. As the member knows as well as I do, not every health board used counterweight. We have allowed allow health boards to choos...
Meeting of the Parliament 17 May 2012 : Thursday, May 17, 2012
Shona Robison I thank Elaine Smith for her question, and for her long-standing efforts in that area. She is right: the evidence is clear that the earlier the intervention, the better, and that—as we set out in our route map—breastfeeding is an important part of preventing obesity.
Health professionals ...