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Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie says where there is money agents will try to make some money from themselves.

Mr Baillie says a year ago he wrote to the SFA about concerns about agents and child protection and it took no action.

He says Mr McKinlay has now indicated such action will be taken.   

Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie says despite the procedures the SFA have put in place, the culture is that the players belong to the individual clubs they play for.

Mr Baillie says the power the clubs have over the children who play for them has not changed and that they have their dreams "in the palm of their hand".

He says some clubs hold children to unfair contractual obligations. 

He says it requires external regulation because the current structure does not allow proper self-regulation. 

Children and Young People's Commissioner , externalTam Baillie points to his experience of being involved in the one of the longest running petitions PE1319 Improvming Youth Football in Scotland and he points to his report: Improving youth football in Scotland 'I would like to have control over my life and do what I want to do', external.

The report made a series of recommendations: 

1. Taking account of children’s rights 

2. Changes to the youth registration process 

3. Changes to the process of reimbursing training costs 

4. Independent regulation and monitoring of registration process 

5. Individual complaint mechanism

Read more of Mr Baillie's submission here., external

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Children and Young People's Commissioner Tam Baillie says he got involved with football through children who were contracted to clubs not being allowed to play for their school team or not.

Mr Baillie says it took years to resolve the issue and last year the SFA finally said children in that position could play for their schools.

He says: "The power imbalance between children and football clubs remains, because it is in the vested interest of the football club to have complete control." 

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Labour MSP Colin Smyth asks about the minimum operating requirements and what sanctions are available.

John Lunn from Sportscotland says MORs are done on a quarterly basis.

Mr Lunn says they are the starting point for addressing bullying.

Mr Lunn says there are a number of supports to get organisations back into compliance, rather than delivering a heavy sanction.  

Scottish Conservative MSP Donald Cameron asks how long PVG and disclosure checks take.

George Thomson says Volunteer Scotland puts through 50,000 PVG checks per year and there is no current backlog.

Mr Thomson says it is very unlikely a coach would come into sport with the intent to harm and there were failings in the system 30 years ago but it is not the same system today.

SportsScotland , externaluses its submission to say: "The horrific allegations of historic abuse in youth football have a significant impact on sportscotland and Scottish sport more widely. 

"The safety and wellbeing of children taking part in sport and physical activity is a priority for us and all of our partners. 

Image source, Getty Images

"These allegations have raised awareness amongst practitioners across sport about the need for appropriate practices, procedures and policies to respond to and manage any form of child abuse allegations.

"For many years we have worked with Children 1st, Scotland’s national children’s charity, SGBs, local authorities, leisure trusts and clubs, and, collectively, we have developed a comprehensive and robust child protection system in Scottish sport."

Read more of SportScotland's submission to the committee here, external.

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John Lunn from Sportscotland says there are a number of coaches who are not in a regulated position and do not need to be checked.

Mr Lunn also highlights the lag which leads to gaps.

He says there is nothing like the gap in the SYFA in the other sports.

Mr Lunn says the PVG is only one aspect of a robust system. 

Forbes Dunlop from Scottish Swimming gives assurances that staff are not working alone with children but under a qualified coach in children's welfare who is PVG checked.

Mr Dunlop says some clubs will not allow people to help out unless they are PVG checked. 

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole Hamilton says some sports are getting this right but some are not. 

Mr Cole-Hamilton points to the BBC story on PVGs in sport.

Forbes Dunlop from Scottish Swimming says the number of coaches not checked is down to a lag and he is confident they will be checked. 

Ms Johnstone asks what impact the allegations have had on the work of the NSPCC.

Mr Forde says the biggest impact has been on the phone lines and the organisation had to increase its resources to deal with the "unprecedented demand". 

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Ms Johnstone says coaches are not covered by the "position of trust" as teachers are in the current legislation.

Mr Forde says coaches and others involved, including scouts, in the life of the young football player are in a position of trust and there is also an imbalance of power.

He says the law must be clear and positions of trust should be reivewed.

Matt Forde from the NSPCC says most of the allegations, he is aware of, date back to before the PVG system was in place but "there is no room for complacency".

"It is important to reflect on what can be done further to protect children in sport," he says.

 In late 2016, following the emergence of allegations of non-recent sexual abuse in football, the NSPCC set up a dedicated Helpline to support victims to come forward.  

•  0800 023 2642

Image source, NSPCC

The charity points out that "most of the allegations which have emerged date back to a time when the current Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) system was not in operation. 

"We have come a long way in ensuring we have sufficient processes in place to ensure that individuals who pose a risk to children are banned from working with them, in sports or other settings. 

"All children have a right to be safe when they participate in sport."

As outlined above, while progress has been made, we feel there is more to do to ensure sport and similar settings create a fully safe and supportive environment for children.   

For more from the NSPCC submission click here, external. 

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Green MSP Alison Johnstone directs her first questions to Matt Forde with the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Scotland.

Ms Johnstone says Mr Forde has called for post legislative scrutiny to ascertain how the system is working.

He says the NSPCC has been very concerned about the allegations that have come to light about abuse in football.

Mr Forde says a culture must be built across sport with children's wellbeing at its heart and everyone must be aware of the responsibility to keep children safe.

Committee convener Neil Findlay gets us underway.

The Health and Sport Committee will now hold a roundtable evidence session on the protection of children in sport.

• Mary Glasgow from Children 1st
• Lauren Bruce from COSLA; 
• Children and Young People’s Commissioner Tam Baillie  
• Matt Forde with theNational Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Scotland
• Assistant Chief Constable John Hawkins with Police Scotland
• Kim Atkinson from the Scottish Sports Association
• Forbes Dunlop from Scottish Swimming
• John Lunn from sportscotland 
• George Thomson from Volunteer Scotland