 M reminding me that the public gallery is leaving us to do so quietly. The next item of business is members' business debate on motion 6006, in the name of Tavish Scot, on Island Games' support Scotland's athletes. The debate will be concluded without any questions being put, and members who wish to participate will press the request-to-speak I call on Tavish Scott to open the debate around seven minutes please Mr Scott. Thank you very much Presiding Officer. There is nothing quite like a relay race. The four by one hundred women's final at the Nat West Games in Jersey was breathtaking. As the baton reached Shetland's Sophie Moore, the team was fighting for a medal. Sophie turned on the afterburners, screamed down the home straight and brought that gold home for team Shetland. The convener of Shetland Islands Council and I lost our voices during the last 11 seconds. Shetland went home from Jersey two years ago with 23 medals, our second best haul at an island games. Those are an athletic and sporting occasion that brings 4,000 athletes together from 24 islands as far apart as the Falklands and Fero. This Saturday, the next biannual games begins in the beautiful surroundings of Gotland. It is my honour to support Shetland at those, just as Liam McArthur will do the same for Orkney. Yes, it is a bit like Everton versus Liverpool or Cali versus Ross County. As long as we beat Orkney, everything else is a bonus. Sporting rivalry is in the best traditions of personal and team commitment, dedication and belief. That is the island games, the camaraderie of athletes from across the globe brought together for a week. Shetland is sending 130 ambassadors to Gotland, covering 11 sports. 37 are in full-time education and 23 are under 18. They are sportsmen and sportswomen, but they are so much more than that. They are representing their islands. The island's game has become so much more than just sport from that first gathering in the Isle of Man in 1985. Two years ago, in Jersey, I met political colleagues from islands across the world from self-governing legislatures, crown dependencies and sub-states of national states. The Jersey First Minister described his relationship with Whitehall to me, and at that same meeting, the council's convener from Shetland noted the similarities and differences with Lerwick's relationship to St Andrew's house. So just one minor political observation. There are no responsibilities that places like the Isle of Man have that we in Shetland could not undertake. Taking our own decisions is not just about Edinburgh. Shetland hosted the games in 2005, and just as with Glasgow 2014, the home team excelled, 46 medals and we won the football. Half the population of the islands was at the Gilbertson Park back then, the other half claimed to be. The full match is a video in every Shetland home. The winning players are recognised in local supermarkets as much as Scotland's 1967 Wembley team are. Shetland 2005 brought £7 million into the island's economy. It created a sense of belonging, of community spirit, of identity and pride for local people. 700 islanders volunteered. The media coverage was positive. There was, to put it mildly, a vast social programme. Money was of course spent on sporting infrastructure. Hosting such games grows sport. That is real legacy. Competing at successive island games leads to greater numbers of young people at local club training sessions. Success means greater participation, not just in top-level sport, but in recreational sport and in healthier, active lifestyles. In Shetland, we built a sports development programme on coaching, with technical officials and training for volunteers. Is that not what legacy should be all about? Emma Leeske was 12 in 2005. She was inspired by the athletics at the Clickerman track. She told her mum, Janice, that she would run for Shetland. She has, and is now, a multiple gold medal winner at successive games. We now have ladies football. Gymnastics has grown enormously. Now a 200-member club and growing. Linda Flaws was part of Team Scotland in Glasgow 2014 at table tennis. Linda's success grew out of hosting the island games. Volleyball, a great sport for Shetland, given our weather, is a massive success story. Local leagues now mean a Shetland team competing in the Scottish national leagues. There are more examples. Shetland should, and I'm sure, will host the games again. I have one request today for ministers. I want to thank the sports minister for what she's done to try and make an island's athletes travel fund happen. I want to thank her and Stuart Harris, the chief executive of Sports Scotland. However, we need to turn those supportive words into a practical scheme that would allow the best of island athletes to be part of Scotland-wide development squads across many sporting disciplines. It is a scheme long overdue. Liam McArthur I'm very grateful to my fellow Liverpool-supporting colleague, Tavish Scott, for giving way, and I certainly echo the points that he's made about the travel fund. As he'll be aware, Orkney has already intimated its determination to bid for the games in 2023. I declare an interest as somebody who's helping with those efforts. I put on record the gratitude of the bid committee to Event Scotland and Sports Scotland for their engagement today. From the experience of Shetland in 2005, could Tavish Scott perhaps comment on the importance of direct Scottish Government engagement and support in that process? Tavish Scott That's a fair point for any of our islands who want to embark on hosting the games. The support that we got in 2005 was important both from Sports Scotland, from Government agencies and indeed from central government as well. Indeed, the then First Minister, Jack McConnell, came and opened the games that I have to confess on a briskly wet day in July at that time. Nevertheless, central government support is essential. I'm sure that the island's minister absolutely takes that point about the role that government can play in the future in the context of Orkney. Gotland is costing every local athlete from Shetland £1,200 each. Sponsorship from Malikov Ltd and others help with 10 per cent of the overall transport and accommodation burden. However, as with travelling to the Scottish mainland from Shetland, the financial and time commitment is huge, hence the need for that travel scheme. I ask the Government to look at that. Let me finish with two sporting moments. Andrew Strachan swam for Scotland in the 100m breaststroke at the Commonwealth Games. A year later, she won four golds in Jersey. I saw her swim the 100m final in Glasgow as I supported Team Scotland and in Jersey when she won medal after medal. Nothing makes me prouder than to see shuttlers compete and win, including, I have to say, my daughter playing Inter-County Hulk against Orkney or when my son scored the crucial goal when we beat Orkney 4-1 on the football park. Again, my apologies, Liam McArthur, for those slight observations. This weekend, I will do my bit, not just in supporting Team Shetland, not just meeting political friends from across the islands around the world, but carrying Grant Wiseman's golf bag as he competes for our golf team in this year's net west island games. Truly the mini Olympics. I personally cannot wait. I call Miles Briggs to be followed by Marie Todd. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to start by congratulating Tavish Scott on securing today's members' debate. I was going to highlight the fact that, with the election of Jamie Halcro Johnston, there are now two Orcadians in this chamber, so he has kind of outnumbered on that, but I will put that to one side. As Tavish Scott has set out the biannual net west island games, they are an important event in the international sporting calendar and have gone from strength to strength since they began in the 1980s. I am delighted that many athletes from Shetland and other island communities in Scotland will be joining others from 21 further island groups in the games, which begin on 24 June. I joined with other MSPs across the chamber in wishing these teams and every competitor every success in the games. I also commend the event sponsors, which are an important side of having the games in the first place, including that west for the generous financial support that allows the games to take place. Tavish Scott is entirely right to raise the specific challenges faced by island-based athletes in terms of the additional travel costs that they face for training and competition. Those are significant and unreal potential barriers to competing. It is right that the Scottish Government agencies look at what more can be done to support those athletes and allow them to compete on a level playing field without being disadvantaged due to where they or their families live. The health and sport committee heard directly from a number of people over the past year who live in the Highlands and Islands, including some of our members here, who have been in that situation. The travel challenges that they face to take their children and budding athletes around Scotland, be it for training or competitions, as well as access in sports therapists and career development opportunities. I hope that, in closing, the minister will outline some of the work that the Scottish Government is undertaking to examine whether it can take forward an island transport fund for athletes, an issue that I know that Tavish Scott has been pursuing for some years now and which could make a real difference to many athletes across Scotland. Most people are aware of the huge physical health benefits that athletics and sport bring, but I believe that it is also important to highlight the improvement in mental health, which can also be achieved in sport. I am very clear that participation in team sports and activities can help to play a huge part in maintaining good mental health. In addition, encouraging our young people to take part in team sports can help them to develop the skills that build resilience in later life and life circumstances that may put them at risk of mental ill health. Social isolation is such a strong driver of mental health problems. A particular concern to many rural and island communities is supporting athletes from those areas and allowing them to meet other athletes at competitions and excel at what they do is also especially important. Events such as the island games play an important role in bringing athletes together, developing friendships and connections, and giving athletes a tangible goal to aim towards. To conclude, I again welcome today's debate and wish all those taking part in the games an enjoyable and I hope successful time. I hope that by the time of the next games in Gibraltar in the summer of 2019 we will be able to make more progress in terms of how we support island-based athletes and ensure that they are just as able to take part in international competitions as those based in our Scottish cities and on the mainland. Every two years, athletes from across the globe come together to compete in the west island games. This year—in fact, starting this weekend—the island games are taking place in Scotland, in Sweden. As the motion mentions, there will be 21 island groups competing, including athletes from the western isles, Orkney and Shetland in my region, and I wish them all the very best of luck. The exceptional standard of competition in the island games is a testament that small communities can achieve great things. From friends in the western isles who have participated for many years, I have some idea of the level of training and the logistical effort required to compete. I agree that there are distinct challenges that face our island communities, but our islands consistently rise above those challenges in order to punch above their weight. Arguably, the most successful island in the games—I do not want to enter too much of the competition going on—is the tiny sark, which is clearly not in my region. It has a population of just 600 people, and up until now it has won 20 medals. That is one medal for every 30 people on the island. That is something that every remote and rural community can admire. Thanks to those games, island athletes no longer have to head to the mainland to compete at an international level. Instead, they have the chance to represent their own community and raise the profile of their island. One of my staff members from Orkney competed in the games in Guernsey in 1987. He told me that there are great social and cultural events, as well as sporting competitions. Loads of friendships are made as islanders from different countries meet up, and many of the sportsmen and women from other islands are of common wealth or even Olympic standard, so it is highly competitive. The International Island Games Association has always encouraged its member islands to not only take part in the games but to consider becoming a host island, so I am delighted that Orkney is bidding to host the games in 2023. The legacy that follows such a decision very often creates a stronger local sporting society than ever before. Shetland, Guernsey and the island man are all good examples of how the games developed sport both within the islands and beyond. I want to address the issue of cost of travel for our athletes that is mentioned in the motion. Northlink gives good sponsorship deals to many sporting groups in Orkney and Shetland, helping them to reduce the cost of travel to the Scottish mainland. As well as Shetland, I will also represent Orkney and the Western Isles, and constituents from the Western Isles and Orkney are at pains to point out that the cost of travel is also expensive for them. The Western Isles clearly have already benefited from RET, and we, the SNP, made a clear commitment in our 2016 manifesto to take action to reduce ferry fares on services to Orkney and Shetland as well. I know that work on that is well under way. Of course, I am delighted to see ferry fares to the Northern Isles frozen for the second year, but we need to ensure that we deliver on this manifesto promise. I can assure my constituents that I am first in line to hold the Government to account on that. That fair reduction will benefit everyone, not just the athletes travelling from the islands, but it will make it easier for specialist coaches and physios to reach the islands for training purposes. I want to finish by highlighting that the islands have had some fantastic sporting successes and are home to some dedicated staff. The island games showcase the very best of our islands' will and determination to train hard, defy the odds and reach for gold. The last of the open debate speeches is Maurice Corry. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. I would like to send my thanks to Tavish Scott for securing this debate today and bringing the attention to the issue of financial difficulties faced by athletes when attempting to compete in their chosen field. I would also join Tavish Scott in recognising the efforts of all our athletes, all the athletes from Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles, who are going to the island games in Scotland, and I wish them all the very best of success. It is an appropriate week to be discussing sport in Scotland after the past week's sporting successes with Scotland's senior men's rugby team beating Australia down under with the under-20 side following suit a few days later. Also, the men's cricket team beats Zimbabwe in an ODI and the first time a team for Scotland has beaten the full test nation in an official ODI. The island games and sales has existed since 1985 with the island man hosting the first games and subsequently taking place every two years in different locations throughout Europe. Shetland even hosted the games in 2005 and has been regularly in the medal tables along with Orkney and the Western Isles. However, as Tavish Scott quite rightly noted in his motion, higher costs are a regular issue facing athletes from Shetland and the islands. To preserve the sporting success that Scotland has enjoyed over the years, action is urgently required to combat this issue to prevent the possibility of athletes being unable to compete in events and even to the extent of being cancelled due to cost. The Shetland Times estimated that total costs for athletes from Shetland to participate in the 2017 island games was over £1,000 per person, well beyond that what athletes can afford. We have already seen numerous athletes from Shetland withdrawing from the games due to the exorbitant cost, with the men's half-marathon team pulling out entirely. However, those are not isolated incidents, with expenses for athletes in all rural and remote areas in Scotland being higher and acting as a barrier to participation for those in rural areas. That consequently limits opportunities to benefit from the significant health and social advantages that taking part in sport can provide. Those financial issues are however not just confined to the islands of Scotland. In the region of West Scotland, which I represent, there is great financial hardship on those attempting to host traditional Highland games. Indeed, there are examples that I know in my region of organising themselves being forced to put their own money into the games to allow them to go ahead. For example, the chairman of Roseneith Highland Games, Robert McIntyre, put in £3,000 personally last year to allow the 2016 games to take place. Such a scenario has been repeated across Scotland many times and is destined to continue until funding by the Scottish Government is put in place to ensure the survival of Highland games and the continued participation of Scottish teams in competitions across the globe. In conclusion, I thank Tavish Scott again for securing this debate and for the opportunity to shine a light on the financial difficulties of athletes attempting to compete. I wish all the athletes competing in the Highland games the very best of luck and look forward to hearing about their inevitable successes. I now call Hamza Yousaf to respond to this debate around seven minutes, please, minister. Thank you, Presiding Officer. I want to, of course, congratulate Tavish Scott for bringing this debate to the Parliament that the excellent contributions made right across the chamber. I thought I knew my sporting rivalry as well as the Celtic man, Celtic versus Rangers. Of course, last weekend I was cheering on Pakistan and the cricket versus India, but nothing clearly compares to the sporting rivalry between Orkney and Shetland. So, disparaging was Tavish Scott to his colleague, who seems to have left the Parliamentary Chamber in disgust. However, I am very happy to support the motion's positive comments about the many benefits of Highlands games and extend my very best wishes, as others have done, to all Scottish athletes who will be participating in Scotland between 24 June and 30 June. In terms of support from Sports Scotland, the national agency for sport, I understand that there may be as many as six current or previously supported sports Scotland's institute athletes competing at the games, and up to 25 current or previously supported performance development programme athletes as well. The motion rightly refers to the important issue of travel costs, and I will spend some time talking about that, if I may. The points that have been made across the chamber by every single speaker here focus on the expense and the cost that, for example, athletes from the mainland having to compete in international competitions would not have to face to the same degree. I would like to recognise that from a Government perspective. I am aware that there have been many discussions over a period of time between Sports Scotland-Cosla and the Scottish Government on the issue of support for athletes with the travel costs that they had. I know that Tavish Scott has shown an interest in that for many years. Indeed, in 2015, I raised the issue with Jamie Hepburn, who was the Minister for Sport and Health Improvement and Mental Health. A survey undertaken by Sports Scotland prior to that meeting indicated that, encouragingly, 28 out of the 32 local authorities provided some level of assistance to athletes. I believe that it is very important that councils, including Shetland Island Council, continue to do what they can. Notwithstanding that, I understand the calls for a scheme in Tavish Scott, Morish Corry, Midi Todd, all imploring the Government—and of course, Miles Briggs imploring the Government—to come forward with some sort of scheme. Perhaps I can give a little bit of detail on the discussions that have been taking place. Over the past two years, Sports Scotland has been having conversations with Cosla and the three holy island authorities, including Shetland. Those discussions resulted in agreement at the Highlands and Islands regional sporting partnership meeting in August 2016 of a programme that builds on Sports Scotland's current provision to the islands through its local performance development programme and the Sports Scotland Institute of Sport Network. In particular, I can confirm that Sports Scotland has been discussing with the relevant local authorities the development of a programme that is targeted at supporting travel costs for identified performance or performance development athletes from the Highlands and Islands to assist with travel costs for an agreed training and competition schedule. Once the scheme is finalised—I can tell members that, from the Sports Scotland side of things, finance has been identified for this—it will contribute to performance targets, as identified by the local authorities in their respective sport strategies. That is something that I think will be welcomed. I am sorry at this stage that I do not have the full detail of that, but once I have the detail of that, perhaps the Sports Minister, Aileen Campbell, will furnish the members who are interested with the full detail. We will keep you updated, but it is very welcome that there is a development of a scheme. The money is being discussed and negotiated. Once we have all the eyes dotted and the teeth crossed, we will make sure that members are fully informed of that. In terms of the various schemes that already exist, it should be said that support to Tidland communities for travel exists. Marie Todd mentioned the road equivalent tariff on the west coast, and she rightly mentioned her manifesto commitment to reduce ferry fares to the Northern Isles. Like she said, her contribution to work on that is well under way. Again, if any member wants a briefing on where that is and the likely steps forward, I would be happy to provide that to members after the debate in some time in the future. It is also worth highlighting what Marie Todd said about Circle Northlink and the sponsorship scheme that they already provide, not just for sports groups, but for the many good charitable organisations. I think that Tavish Scott, who is here, would recognise that. I know that he has a good relationship with Stuart Garrett and the team at Northlink Ferries. They provided hundreds of thousands of pounds, in fact, when you total some of the sponsorship that they provided. I would encourage them to continue to do that. I should also say that Tavish Scott will be aware that I wrote to him setting out how Northern Isles teams for the island games could benefit from the air discount scheme if they had managed their travel slightly differently. For example, in the Western Isles, the Western Isles team contacted Transport Scotland. We gave them advice on how they could avoid, for example, airport APD but also benefit from the ADS discount scheme that we have as well. As far as I am aware, there was not an approach to Transport Scotland from the Shell and Isles team, but, if there is in the future, we would be more than happy to work with them to assist them on how they could arrange their travel differently to see whether or not that would save athletes in the future. In conclusion, I would like to extend my very best wishes to athletes in the highlands and islands across Scotland, including those that are just about to compete in the games. I hope that Tavish Scott and others are encouraged by the initiatives that I have mentioned, but I realise that they need some firmer details. Once those details are available, I will ensure that either myself or the Sports Minister furnishes them. We are all looking forward to, hopefully, soon celebrating the success of our island communities, representing their islands, of course, but perhaps in the wider context representing this country at Scotland. I wish them all the success in the world. That concludes the debate, and I suspend this meeting until half-past 2 this afternoon.