MSPs to get vote on Brexit deal before Westminster

1. The culture committee is taking evidence from Muriel Gray, chair of the GSA board
2. Nicola Sturgeon is quizzed by opposition party leaders during first minister's questions
3. An SNP MSP highlights the Day of the Imprisoned Writer
4. The Scottish government will give a statement on Brexit
5. MSPs debate exercise, diet and weight

That's all from Holyrood Live!

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Brexit Secretary Mike Russell

That's all from Holyrood Live on Thursday 15 November 2018.

Brexit Secretary Mike Russell has said that MSPs at Holyrood will get the chance to vote on the Brexit deal before the UK Parliament does.

He said that while Mrs May's deal was "essentially dead" after it prompted a string of resignations from her government, the Scottish Parliament would have a symbolic vote on it.

Mr Russell said: "The Scottish Government will bring the deal, if agreed at the Brussels Summit on November 25, to this chamber for a vote, before a vote takes place in the House of Commons."

Decision time....

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MSPs agree to the Lib Dem and Tory amendments but not to the Green and Labour ones.

The government motion on physical activity, diet and healthy weight, as amended by the Lib Dems and Scottish Conservatives, is agreeed to.

Background: Scots ministers plan crackdown on junk food promotion

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The government has a target of cutting childhood obesity in half by 2030

The Scottish government is planning a crackdown on junk food in a bid to turn around the country's "stubbornly unhealthy" diet.

Two thirds of adults in Scotland are overweight and 29% are obese, and this has not changed over the last 10 years.

Ministers have set out a new diet and health strategy, with a particular focus on cutting childhood obesity.

They are to consult on detailed plans to restrict the promotion and marketing of foods high in salt, sugar and fat.

Read more here.

Background: Lack of exercise puts one in four people at risk, WHO says

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The transition towards more sedentary jobs in wealthier countries is likely to be making people less active, experts say

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 here.

The scale of this issue is 'eye watering' says Lib Dem

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Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton

Lib Dem MSP Alex Cole-Hamilton says the challenge is huge as being overweight is the second biggest risk of death after cancer.

"The scale of this is eye watering," he says.

Mr Cole-Hamilton say the response to this has to be whole nation.

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Call for active travel funding to be raised to £25 per head

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Green MSP Alison Johnstone

Green MSP Alison Johnstone says poverty is a risk factor for poorer health.

Ms Johnstone says her amendment says it is urgent that we improve funding for walking and cycling.

She wants the funding to be raised to £25 per head.

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Lib Dem amendment

Clearly the lack of activity and obesity is a public health crisis

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Labour MSP David Stewart

Labour MSP David Stewart says clearly the lack of activity and obesity is a public health crisis.

The Labour MSP adds we all know obesity has been on the rise for decades.

He says the shift in eating habits has led to people taking in more salt, fat and sugar than we need.

The Labour MSP points out the result of this is a country with one of the worst records in the OECD.

Here's the Labour amendment................

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It is through teachers that paradigm shift required can be achieved says Tory MSP

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Tory MSP Brian Whittle

Tory MSP Brian Whittle says health inequailties spike in the school holidays.

Mr Whittle explains that we need to change the conversation and not address the symptoms but focus on the fact Scotland needs a better relationship with food, drink and physical activity.

He says connecting physical education with a community offer is vitally important.

The Tory MSP says it is through our teachers that the paradigm shift required can be achieved.

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Background: Daily Mile 'significantly improves health'

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Pupils are encouraged to walk or run a mile every day in addition to their existing PE lessons

An initiative to get schoolchildren to walk or run a mile every day leads to significant improvements in their health, according to a study.

The Daily Mile scheme was originally the brainchild of a Scottish head teacher who started it in 2012.

University researchers have compared the health of children at a primary school which takes part in the scheme with those at a school which does not.

They found it led to improved fitness and body composition.

It is the first quantitative research to back up anecdotal evidence about the benefits of the Daily Mile.

• Can a mile a day improve your health?
• Read more here

Government to roll out Daily Mile across Scotland

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Mr Fitzpatrick says if obesity can be brought down and activity can be raised our children will have happier, healthier lives and the burden no the NHS will be less.

The public health minister says there are 90 actions in the government's plan to get people more active.

He adds clearly local government is a partner in what the government is trying to do.

One of the actions is rolling out the Daily Mile across the country.

Background: Scots agree that food should be healthier

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Most people supported action that makes it easier to make healthier choices

Most Scots support action to reduce the levels of sugar, fat and salt in food, according to the latest Scottish Social Attitudes survey.

It said 82% of the people surveyed backed measures to make the food they liked better for them.

The study said nine out of 10 people thought cheap fast food was too easily available and 62% supported a tax on sugary fizzy drinks.

However, there was less support (47%) for taxation on foods high in fat.

Read more here.

'Tackling health inequalities is essential'

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Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick

Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick says tackling health inequalities is essential.

He points to six public health priorities published by the Scottish government in June.

The minister says one of these priorities is a Scotland where we eat well.

We are consistently failing to meet our dietary goals, he says.

Scottish Parliament

Background: Families 'can't afford to follow healthy diet guidance'

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Up to 3.7 million UK children live in homes struggling to afford enough meat, fruit and vegetables to meet healthy eating advice, research suggests.

The Food Foundation says the poorest fifth of homes with children would have to spend 42% of their disposable income (after housing costs) to meet guidance set out in the Eatwell Guide.

The guide, from Public Health England, aims to help people get a balance of "healthier and more sustainable food" and is estimated to cost £5.99 a day per adult or £41.93 a week.

The guide sets out how much of what individuals eat should come from five food groups:

• fruit and vegetables
• carbohydrates
• proteins
• dairy
• oils and spreads

The Food Foundation's research indicates that, on average, the poorest half of UK households would need to spend close to 30% of their disposable income to meet these official dietary recommendations.

Read more here.

'Physical Activity, Diet and Health Weight' debate

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The Scottish government will now lead a debate entitled 'Physical Activity, Diet and Health Weight'.