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That's all from Holyrood Live on Thursday 25 April 2019.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the launch of an Advance Payment Scheme for those who were abused as a child in care in Scotland, and who have a terminal illness or are age 70 or over.

Mr Swinney confirmed the advanced scheme was now open for applications, with a telephone support line to open on Monday.

The payment will be an equal payment to all applicants who reach the eligibility criteria, with the level set at £10,000.

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Earlier today the Public Petitions Committee heard from petitioner Maryanne Pugsley who is calling on the Scottish government to endorse a public inquiry into the abuse of children within Scottish state schools, faith or otherwise, including a review of the law of corroboration.

In a powerful evidence session Ms Pugsley told MSPs: "I was sexually and emotionally abused by a teacher in a state school in Scotland."

She called for the voice of victims to be heard and said including state schools in an inquiry must be a priority.

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MSPs unanimously back the Labour and Tory amendments from the 'Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity' debate.

The government motion, as amended, is also unanimously agreed to.

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MSPs uanimously pass the Hutchesons’ Hospital Transfer and Dissolution (Scotland) Bill, external.

What is it?

Good question.

It's a bill to transfer the property, rights, interests and liabilities of The Royal Incorporation of Hutchesons’ Hospital in the City of Glasgow to a successor Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation; to dissolve the incorporation; and to repeal the Hutchesons’ Hospital Act 1872.

The editor-in-chief of Women's Health magazine says encouraging mothers from poorer communities to exercise could help tackle "an obesity crisis".

Claire Sanderson grew up in Abercynon in the south Wales valleys and is now part of a UK government taskforce for women's health issues.

She said women from lower socio-economic backgrounds are vital to any future change.

Ms Sanderson said mothers in particular should be told not to feel bad about keeping fit.

Read more.

"Sport inspires," begins Lib Dem MSP Tavish Scott.

He highlights how sport can impact young people's self esteem and backs other members' calls for more widely available sporting facilities.

Mr Scott praises recent success of the Shetland women's netball and rugby teams.

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The number of schoolchildren taking part in a project to encourage sport and physical activity is at an all-time high, according to Scotland's national sports agency.

SportScotland said its Active Schools initiative had seen a 5% increase in numbers over the past year, external.

The project provides schools and sports clubs with more, and better, sporting opportunities for young people.

More than seven million sessions were delivered in the past year.

Read more.

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Scotland's child obesity problem could be greater than expected as researchers said weight calculations may be inaccurate.

The University of Strathclyde experts said many young people who appear healthy have "high body fat content".

They also warned the current method of measuring weight - Body Mass Index (BMI) - risks underestimating the scale of the problem by as much as half.

Researchers estimated more than 100,000 young Scots are now obese.

Read more here.

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says sports facilities can be prohibitively expensive for families, if they are even accessible at all.

We have to sustain, maintain and invest in facilities or people will find it difficult to lead the healthy active lifestyles we want them too, she adds.

Greater investment in walking and cycling will particularly benefit the more deprived areas the Green MSP argues.

"We need to build activity in daily life," she states.

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While many in their 80s and 90s may be starting to take it easy, 85-year-old track star Irene Obera is at the other end of the spectrum.

Setting multiple world athletics records in her age category, she is one of a growing band of "master athletes" who represent the extreme end of what is physically possible later in life.

Another is John Starbrook, who at 87 became the oldest runner to complete the 2018 London Marathon.

Studies suggest regular exercise is more effective than any drug yet invented to prevent conditions facing older people, such as muscle loss, external.

To reap the full benefits, this pattern of behaviour should be laid down in a person's teens and early 20s.

Read more.

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Labour MSP David Stewart begins somewhat consensually saying: "The premise of the Scottish government motion is correct and yes presiding officer you won't hear me saying that often."

Mr Stewart says there are lower levels of activity in the most deprived areas.

He calls for this participation gap to be closed.

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle confirms his party will support the government's motion and Labour's amendment.

Mr Whittle says sport and physical activity is a good policy for health, education and social cohesion.

Yet the government spend only £14m on it out of the £18bn which goes to the wider health and education portfolios.

The Tory MSP suggests keeping schools open during holidays to ensure continued access to facilities.

He also calls for specialist PE teachers to be in every primary school.

Image source, Scottish Parliament

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Very little progress has been made in reducing levels of inactivity worldwide, experts have warned.

A WHO report estimates that more than a quarter of people worldwide - 1.4 billion - are not doing enough physical exercise, a figure that has barely improved since 2001.

Inactivity raises the risk of a raft of health problems, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes and some cancers.

High-income countries, including the UK, were among the least active.

Read more.

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Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick begins: "Sport has the power to change lives and we know that being physically active is one of the best things we can do for our physical and mental health."

Mr Fitzpatrick insists we need to have a clear focus on what change needs to be delivered to ensure more participation in sport and physical activity.

The public health minister points out barriers to participating in either can be complex and varied, including a lack of confidence.

He says the aim should be to provide everyone with the chance to get involved.

The minister calls for more family sessions and person centred approaches in communities

Image source, Scottish Parliament

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The Scottish government is leading a debate entitled 'Changing Lives Through Sport and Physical Activity'.

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MSPs participated in the preliminary stage debate on the Hutchesons’ Hospital Transfer and Dissolution (Scotland) Bill, external.

What is it?

Good question.

It's a bill to transfer the property, rights, interests and liabilities of The Royal Incorporation of Hutchesons’ Hospital in the City of Glasgow to a successor Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation; to dissolve the incorporation; and to repeal the Hutchesons’ Hospital Act 1872.

We'll bring you more at decision time.

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Deputy First Minister John Swinney confirmed the launch of an Advance Payment Scheme for those who were abused as a child in care in Scotland, and who have a terminal illness or are age 70 or over.

He also told MSPs the Scottish government remains committed to introducing a bill relating to the the statutory redress scheme by March 2021.

The deputy first minister confirmed the advanced scheme was now open for applications, with a telephone support line to open on Monday.

It will be administered within the Scottish government by specially trained caseworkers.

The payment will be an equal payment to all applicants who reach the eligibility criteria, with the level set at £10,000.

To be eligible, applicants must have a terminal illness or be aged 70 and over, and have been subject to abuse in Scotland before December 2004.

The free telephone support line for applicants to the Advance Payment Scheme will be operated by specially trained staff.

They will be available to help survivors with their applications from 10am on Monday 29 April .

The advance payments team can be reached on 0808 169 9740.

Application packs are available online., external