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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Reprieve for national sports body | Reprieve for national sports body |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Scotland's national sports agency is set to win a partial reprieve after MSPs voted overwhelmingly to keep it. | |
| Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. | Sportscotland was due to be scrapped under a cull of quangos promised by the SNP when it took power in May. |
| But ministers were impressed by the argument that Scottish sport needs a single organisation to drive forward improvements. | |
| BBC Scotland understands a scaled-down agency will be retained to co-ordinate sport around the country. | |
| Sports Minister Stewart Maxwell told MSPs the outcome of a review into the future of sportscotland would be known in weeks. | |
| MSPs debated the issue at the Scottish Parliament, ahead of the government decision in the New Year. | |
| We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean Johann LamontLabour communities spokeswoman | We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean Johann LamontLabour communities spokeswoman |
| The Liberal Democrats used the Holyrood debate to call for the agency to be retained, claiming it was crucial in advising, co-ordinating and investing in sport. | |
| MSPs backed their motion by 81 votes to 44. | |
| Sportscotland invests millions from the Scottish Government and the lottery to improve facilities and boost sport in communities - but has faced challenges over its budgeting and missed targets. | |
| It has been argued that, with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should be kept. | It has been argued that, with the Commonwealth Games due to be held in Glasgow and the London Olympics soaking up available cash, a national body should be kept. |
| Raised concern | |
| Mr Maxwell told Holyrood: "We are committed to improving sport in Scotland, the needs of sport are central to our decision-making process. | |
| "I believe that we are beginning to get the building blocks into place which will enable sport to enhance the quality of young people's lives, aid their educational and social development and reinforce Scotland's place as a truly sporting nation." | "I believe that we are beginning to get the building blocks into place which will enable sport to enhance the quality of young people's lives, aid their educational and social development and reinforce Scotland's place as a truly sporting nation." |
| Liberal Democrat health spokesman Ross Finnie raised concern that the agency was "in limbo". | |
| He added: "It is the law that there must be an independent organisation to oversee the distribution of Lottery funds. | He added: "It is the law that there must be an independent organisation to oversee the distribution of Lottery funds. |
| "It cannot be done by government, nor can it be done by local authorities." | "It cannot be done by government, nor can it be done by local authorities." |
| 'Unfair execution' | |
| Tory communities and sport spokesman, Jamie McGrigor, accused the Nationalists of wanting to "execute sportscotland without a fair trial". | Tory communities and sport spokesman, Jamie McGrigor, accused the Nationalists of wanting to "execute sportscotland without a fair trial". |
| He said: "The abolition of the expertise that has been built up and which has coincided with a successful period for Scottish sport, to be replaced by an as yet undefined organisation that might see sports policy centralised within the Scottish civil service is simply not what our grass roots sports organisations want." | He said: "The abolition of the expertise that has been built up and which has coincided with a successful period for Scottish sport, to be replaced by an as yet undefined organisation that might see sports policy centralised within the Scottish civil service is simply not what our grass roots sports organisations want." |
| Johann Lamont, the Labour communities spokeswoman, claimed there was uncertainty over what would happen to the sportscotland's key functions if it was abolished. | Johann Lamont, the Labour communities spokeswoman, claimed there was uncertainty over what would happen to the sportscotland's key functions if it was abolished. |
| "We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean," she added. | "We have a minister who is the Humpty Dumpty of the Scottish Parliament - words are what he wants them to mean," she added. |
| "I look forward to the minister having the grace to announce a proper timetable to discuss the future of sportscotland and the courage to ask genuine questions about the genuine options available." | "I look forward to the minister having the grace to announce a proper timetable to discuss the future of sportscotland and the courage to ask genuine questions about the genuine options available." |