Summary

  • The Scottish FA gives evidence to the Sport Committee on child protection in sport

  • Topical questions will see queries about teaching staff levels and families in emergency accommodation

  • The Scottish government lead a debate on Article 50

  • Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles leads this evening's member's debate entitled 'Blackhillock to Kintore Transmission Line'

  1. PFA Scotland submissionpublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    The Professional Football Association Scotland, external used their submission to say that when the stories began to break they spoke to the Scottish FA and were initially in regular dialogue with the Association and NSPCC. 

    PFA Scotland has since been in contact with Police Scotland as their investigations move forward.

    PFA ScotlandImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    PFA Scotland

    PFA Scotland has received a small number of calls from ex professionals who have been victims of historic abuse but we have heard anecdotally that there are more ex professionals who are victims but not willing to come forward.  

    PFA Scotland welcomes the Scottish FA’s decision to hold an Independent Review, the remit of which will be of vital importance.  

    It says the Scottish FA’s review should not only look at historic abuse but also look at the current provision, particularly how to provide further support to clubs with regard to safeguarding and protection of children within football.   

    Read more of the PFA Scotland submission here, external.

  2. More and more parents have been looking for advicepublished at 10:29 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Professional Football Association Scotland chief executive Fraser WishartImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Professional Football Association Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart

    Professional Football Association Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart says he represents professional footballers.

    Mr Wishart says more and more parents have been looking for advice.

    He says the PFA have a Youth Football Advisory Service and it is right the organisation is involved in sport.

    Mr Wishart says the stories coming out of football have been "horrific" and he says if the PFA can offer an alternative route or some comfort then that is important.

    tewart, White, Walters and Woodward (left to right) have waived their right to anonymityImage source, GETTY/PA/REX
    Image caption,

    Stewart, White, Walters and Woodward (left to right) have waived their right to anonymity

    He points to the SFA review and says the playes who came forward in England showed huge bravery.

    Mr Wishart says we have not had that in Scotland.

    He highlights  the NSPCC hotline and says we can only guess how deep it goes.

    NSPCCImage source, NSPCC
    Image caption,

    NSPCC

  3. SFA and Police Scotland encouraging victims to come forwardpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Andrew McKinlay from the SFA

    Ms Johnstone asks if the policies that have been put in place would allow victims to come forward quicker.

    Andrew McKinlay from the SFA says he can "only imagine what these people have been through". 

    Mr McKinlay says the SFA and Police Scotland have encouraged those who have not already come forward to do so.

  4. Ms Johnstone asks about what awareness is being raised in children about the dangers?published at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Scottish Green MSP Alison JohnstoneImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Scottish Green MSP Alison Johnstone

    Ms Johnstone asks about what awareness is being raised in children about the dangers.

    Donna Martin from the SFA says the next stage has been delivering training to young players.

    Ms Martin says there is also face to face consultation on a yearly basis.

    Ms Johnstone says the youth side of football seems to have a relaxed approach to ensuring all the young people are safe.

  5. 'People don't want the responsibility of taking the wrong action for children'published at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Scottish Greens MSP Alison Johnstone says there are concerns that there are gaps in the checks. 

    Ms Johnstone asks for assurances that action is being taken to change the culture.

    Donna Martin from the SFA

    Donna Martin from the SFA says there have been reviews carried out into child protection. 

    Ms Martin says policies and procedures have been updated "to give people confidence".

    "People don't want the responsibility of taking the wrong action for children," she says.

    She says the policies and procedures have now been written from a child rights based approach.

  6. Labour MSP with 1000 unregistered coaches at youth level then compliance is not workingpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    CommitteeImage source, bbc

    Labour MSP and committee convener Neil Findlay says if there are 1000 unregistered coaches at youth level then compliance is not working.

    Andrew McKinlay from the Scottish Football Association says prior to last November the SFA had offered to assist the SYFA.

    Mr McKinlay says the directive in November gave the SFA greater powers.

  7. SFA says 100% of the coaches under his organisation are PVG complianpublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Andrew McKinlay from the SFA says 100% of the coaches under his organisation are PVG compliant.

  8. A PVG check does not mean the person is safe 'it may be they haven't been caught yet'published at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Donna Martin from the Scottish Football Association

    Donna Martin from the Scottish Football Association says there has been a lot of progress in working with children checks across sporting organisations and that things have improved.

    A PVG check does not mean the person is safe "it may be they haven't been caught yet," she says.

    Ms Martin says that there are a number of additional checks for coaches working with the SFA, including a self declaration form that those working with children must sign. 

    "We are trying to get consistency," she says. 

  9. Postpublished at 10:14 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    PVG checksImage source, bbc
  10. PVG checks in sportpublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Almost a third of sports in Scotland could have active coaches working with children without full background checks, BBC Scotland has learned.

    Of 45 governing bodies responding, 14 said they may have unchecked coaches.

    Swimming had 170 out of 915 coaches working with children who have not been checked as part of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

    Overall, there were 1,882 unchecked coaches out of 31,175 according to figures provided by Sportscotland.

  11. SFA submission to the committeepublished at 10:13 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Among other actions in response to the child abuse allegations in football, the SFA , external announced that it would commission an independent review into the historical allegations.

    The terms of reference for this review will be considered and approved by the Scottish FA Board in February and, once this has been done and an appropriate independent chair has been agreed this review will commence.   

    SFAImage source, SFA
    Image caption,

    SFA

    In early 2014 the Scottish FA commissioned Dr Sue Hamilton an Independent Child Protection Consultant to carry out a review and audit of child protection and provide recommendations for best practice for the Scottish FA. 

    The key recommendation from this review was that the Scottish FA should appoint an individual with sole responsibility for this area and, to this end Donna Martin (previously with Children 1st and NSPCC Scotland) took on the role of Child Wellbeing and Protection Manager in August 2014.   

    Read more of the SFA submission here., external

  12. What are the barriers to disclosure and PVG checks?published at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Andrew McKinlay from the SFAImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Andrew McKinlay from the SFA

    SNP MSP Maree Todd asks what the barriers to disclosure are and what the problems may be in getting a PGV check.

    Andrew McKinlay from the Scottish Football Association says the SFA issued a directive on compliance on PGV checks last year.

    Mr McKinlay says clubs have been fully audited to make sure they are fully compliant.

    He says Scottish Youth Football Association chief executive David Little should respond to the ones linked with the Scotttish YFA. 

  13. And we're off again.......published at 10:07 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Committee convener Neil Findlay gets us underway again, introducing: 

    • Professional Football Association Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart
    • Andrew McKinlay from the Scottish Football Association
    • Donna Martin from the Scottish Football Association
    Witnesses

    Scottish Youth Football Association chief executive David Little "is stuck on the M8 somewhere"  says Mr Findlay.

  14. The committee suspends brieflypublished at 10:01 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Committee

    Committee convener Neil Findlay says one of the witnesses has been delayed so the committee is suspended briefly.

  15. Child Protection in Sport evidence session gets underwaypublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    The Health and Sport Committee will now get underway: 

    • Professional Football Association Scotland chief executive Fraser Wishart
    • Andrew McKinlay from the Scottish Football Association
    • Donna Martin from the Scottish Football Association
    • Scottish Youth Football Association chief executive David Little 
  16. Postpublished at 10:00 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

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  17. Background: Scottish sports fall short in background checks for coaching childrenpublished at 09:53 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    Almost a third of sports in Scotland could have active coaches working with children without full background checks, BBC Scotland has learned.

    Of 45 governing bodies responding, 14 said they may have unchecked coaches.

    Swimming had 170 out of 915 coaches working with children who have not been checked as part of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

    Overall, there were 1,882 unchecked coaches out of 31,175 according to figures provided by Sportscotland.

    Coach with football team
    Image caption,

    There are a number of coaches without PVG checks working with children in Scotland

  18. Postpublished at 09:52 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    PGVsImage source, bbc
  19. Background: SFA to establish football abuse reviewpublished at 09:47 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    The Scottish Football Association is to set up "independent review" of child abuse allegations in football. .

    Several former players have come forward to say they were abused by people in positions of authority.

    The SFA said it wanted to reassure people that football was a "safe and enjoyable environment for children".

    FootballImage source, THINKSTOCK

    It said the review would focus on "processes and procedures" in place both currently and historically in Scottish football.

    Police forces across the UK, including Police Scotland, are investigating more than 80 potential suspects and 98 clubs in the abuse scandal that has rocked the game.

    The SFA said it was "imperative that we take the necessary time and guidance" to ensure its review complemented the work of the police.

  20. First minister rejects call to widen abuse inquirypublished at 09:43 Greenwich Mean Time 7 February 2017

    The first minister wants the inquiry to concentrate on children in careImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The first minister wants the inquiry to concentrate on children in care

    First Minister Nicola Sturgeon rejected calls for the Scottish inquiry into historical child sexual abuse to be widened to include football clubs, on December 8 2016.

    Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale had asked her during first minister's questions about revelations of abuse in Scottish football clubs.

    But Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish government did not intend to widen the inquiry's remit.

    The inquiry under judge Lady Smith will examine the abuse of children in care.

    Speaking at First Minister's Questions, Ms Sturgeon said: "To widen the remit of that inquiry would mean that it would take perhaps many years longer to conclude its investigations and would risk it becoming completely unwieldy.

    The Scottish Labour leader fears some survivors of abuse will be denied justiceImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    The Scottish Labour leader fears some survivors of abuse will be denied justice