Watt walks into trouble

ANNABEL Goldie, the leader of the Scottish Conservatives, yesterday demanded to know if Maureen Watt would remain as schools minister, following confusion over the government's PE policy.

The Tories and Liberal Democrats challenged Alex Salmond, the First Minister, after she suggested walking to school could count towards a weekly target for physical exercise.

Nicol Stephen, the Lib Dem leader, accused the government of "evasion and contortion", while Miss Goldie claimed the schools minister had been performing "U-turns and acrobatics over PE in schools".

The SNP manifesto pledged to "ensure" every pupil has two hours of quality PE each week delivered by specialist teachers.

But Ms Watt told BBC Radio Scotland: "We're going to make sure children have two hours of good physical exercise every week. Now that could involve, as you say, walking to school."