Chamber and committees

Perhaps we could have brief responses. If the land management plans make it into the bill, how will we ensure that consultation of communities is meaningful? What should it look like and how do we manage public expectations around it? Andy Wightman has looked at me first.

The bill includes provisions for land management plans, which have been mentioned. Those are required to set out how the land is being managed in a way that contributes to achieving net zero, adapting to climate change and increasing or sustaining biodiversity. I am keen to understand whether that level of detail is sufficient, or whether other criteria should be included.

I will go to Andy Wightman first.

[Made a request to intervene.]

Will the minister take an intervention?

I join colleagues in expressing my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Keith Rollinson.

A lot has been said in the debate already, and it has been good to hear lots of points of agreement. I will try not to be repetitive, but it is good that we realise the seriousness of the challenge. Too many of our bus drivers and other front-line workers are experiencing abuse and violence, which is not acceptable. It affects those in the workforce and people who want to get on the bus to get to work, access education, go to see their friends or spend money on our high streets. It is a serious issue, and it is good to see that there is a lot of agreement in the chamber.

I thank Unite the union for its role in lobbying MSPs and getting people to take the issue seriously. I remind members that I am a member of Unite the union. I also declare an interest as the parent of a child who has a young person’s bus pass and uses it regularly. I want her and all young people to feel safe when they are travelling on public transport up and down the country.

However, listening to our constituents and to people who have raised concerns, we hear that not everyone feels safe. That cuts across different ages and backgrounds. We need people to feel confident about using public transport, and we need people to feel that we are on their side.

I again draw attention to Unite the union’s 15-point plan. There are some really good points in it. Sue Webber talked about CCTV, and Mark Ruskell mentioned the plan. It offers solutions, and there is stuff in it that bus operators could get on and do. My colleague Alex Rowley made some important points that I hope the Scottish Government will reflect on, such as on conditionality and the fact that many operators receive public funds.

It is not just about bus travel; it is also about the wider public transport network. I am thinking about Hamilton, where the rail and bus stations are co-located. I am concerned about ScotRail’s proposal to reduce the hours of operation of our ticket offices. My colleague Richard Leonard raised that issue, but it also concerns me and other colleagues. We have to look at such things holistically. We are in a climate and nature emergency, and we need to get our economy working for our communities. Every pound that we invest in public transport makes a difference, and we all care about that.

I am grateful to Mark Ruskell, who talked about gender-based violence. Colleagues are aware that we are now in the 16 days of activism to end violence against women and girls. Misogyny, sexism and sexual assault happen on our buses, at bus stations and across our public transport system.

I looked to see what young people are saying. Members of the Scottish Youth Parliament say that they want safer public spaces and transport. Part of the solution is early intervention through better education, and not just in schools, but through youth work, too. Colleagues have not pointed the finger only at young people, because we would not want to do that. We have to look for holistic solutions. My colleague Martin Whitfield proposed a member’s bill on youth work. We need to ensure that we do not demonise young people and that we do not defund public services. We need to invest in our young people, and that includes investing in youth work.

It was in March of this year.

I will hand back to the convener. If I can pull out the relevant dates to help to jog your memory, I will send a note to the convener.

Yes.

In that case, I have one final question for Andrew Miller. Are you able to explain for what reasons the board was unhappy with David Tydeman’s previous evidence to this committee? There are board papers that seem to suggest that the board was unhappy with unsubstantiated opinions that he had given to the committee. I want to understand what is behind that.

Okay, but, in terms of the Glen Sannox, has everything been completed that was in the original design and specification?

Thank you. I appreciate the limitations of your knowledge on that. I will put the question to Andrew Miller as chairman, because it is really important that we are confident that all lessons that can possibly be learned have been learned. Are you able to say whether the board is satisfied that the specifications were appropriate and correct? Were they over the top or overambitious?

Malcolm Combe, do you agree with Calum MacLeod? I note that your written evidence says that your inclination would be to reduce the trigger value to 1,000 hectares. Have I got that correct?