Call for larger fashion mannequins
An MSP whose daughter died from anorexia has called on retailers to use larger-sized fashion mannequins.
Shop mannequins are usually a size eight or 10 but last week Debenhams announced it would introduce a size 16 dummy to reflect the size of many of its customers.
SNP MSP Dennis Robertson used his member's debate to urge others to do the same.
He has campaigned on the issue since his 18-year-old daughter Caroline died.
During the debate, the member for Aberdeenshire West said: "People who have eating disorders, it's not caused by the mannequins, it's not caused by seeing the fashion within the magazines but it exacerbates a condition for people who are predisposed or who have an eating disorder and it hinders, it puts barriers, obstacles, up for those people who are going through the pathway of recovery.
"I urge the retail industry to get real and show us the images which reflect people and reflect the shapes and sizes of the community we live in."
Equality minister Jo Swinson said last week that the decision by Debenhams to introduce a plus-size mannequin went some way towards tackling the "important" issue of body-confidence that affects some women.