Chamber and committees

Okay.

I propose Clare Haughey as convener.

Thank you and good morning. It is nice to be here. I have no interests to declare.

I was reading over the weekend that the Norwegian beach handball team was fined for not wearing the regulation bikini, because they came out to play in shorts. The bottom line was that they had campaigned for 15 years not to wear bikinis, because sometimes they fall down or slip up and are not comfortable.

There have been issues with regard to the uniforms that are supposed to be worn and what might be available. I have also been reading about sports hijabs for women and allowing women to choose what to wear so that they can be comfortable and participate in sport. That sort of thing seems to be growing among women who, for instance, want to align with the teachings of Islam.

Lee Craigie talked earlier about how clothing is only pink, purple or some colour in between. What are your thoughts on the availability, comfort and sizing of clothing, and what we need to support the participation of women and girls, especially adolescent girls, in sport?

I am interested in the use of social media in that regard. For instance, when the Dumfries Ice Bowl recently hosted an ice hockey world championship, I put stuff up on Facebook about the Solway Sharks Ladies ice hockey team. I am interested in Lee Craigie’s perspective on that, particularly in relation to the gravel championships, which are not as tough as mountain-biking events but are still pretty tough. What are your thoughts on the use of social media as a way to widen the visibility of women in sport?

I will go specifically to Connie Ramsay because she is fae Tain, which is pretty rural, and because Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, which are in my region, are outside the central belt. My simple question is: what are the challenges in getting young women and girls to participate in sport in rural parts of Scotland?

I am not sure who will want to answer that. I will go to Eilidh Doyle first.

Sure. I want to ask about the clothing issue that Lee Craigie brought up, but I can come back to that.

What are your thoughts on that from personal experience? How would you like to see that taken forward?

I often talk about the instruments that we approve regarding food additives, food flavourings and novel foods; indeed, I am interested in the issue and I have mentioned it previously. I just want to raise awareness of it, because it is important that people are aware that novel foods exist. It is not just about eating insects—it is about additives, flavourings and food enhancing with dietary supplements. This instrument, for example, refers to vitamin D₂ mushroom powder, which is an interesting dietary supplement, because of the claims that it can enhance focus, reduce anxiety and help people be calm. I just wanted to say that it is an interesting subject that is worth highlighting.