Seòmar agus comataidhean

To ask the Scottish Government what support is available this winter to people on low incomes, particularly as temperatures drop and in light of the reported predicted increase in energy prices. (S6O-04025)

The tragic death of Keith Rollinson following an assault at his workplace is a stark reminder of the dangers that our essential workers can face. Like my colleagues, I express my deepest sympathies for his family, his friends and his colleagues, who now bear the weight of such a senseless loss. I also pass on the condolences of my colleague Richard Lochhead, who, as the constituency MSP, has had many multi-agency meetings about this horrific incident.

Nobody should ever have to fear for their safety at work, and yet, for bus drivers, abuse and even violence can too often be a reality. That is utterly unacceptable. I hope that, as parliamentarians, we all see it as our duty to ensure that no one in Scotland faces such risks, particularly when they are simply doing their job and serving the public.

Our bus drivers connect communities. They link up our rural areas, our towns and our cities. They ensure that our children get to school safely, that workers can reach their jobs, and that people can stay connected. They keep our communities moving, often with acts of kindness that go unnoticed but that mean so much to people.

There is a road near my home that absolutely fills me with dread. Whenever my sons have to cross it, I have my heart in my mouth. Cars speed along at 60 mph—often above the limit—and there are no crossings. However, there is one bus driver in our area who knows my concerns and, when it is safe, she will drop my sons off at a point where they do not need to cross the road. That simple act of care is not part of her job description, but it reflects the responsibility and kindness that she feels towards her passengers.

Stories such as that one are not uncommon. Bus drivers often go above and beyond, whether it is in holding back while someone runs to catch the bus, helping an elderly or disabled passenger, or simply offering a smile or a kind word. It is even more heartbreaking, then, to hear that they are often the target of abuse and violence. The recent survey by Unite the union highlights that they are facing verbal abuse, physical threats and, in some cases, actual assaults, which is utterly appalling.

I welcome the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling antisocial behaviour, and I support Unite’s call for a transport safety summit. Bringing together unions, bus operators, local authorities and other stakeholders can help us to develop comprehensive solutions. However, we must also address the root causes of antisocial behaviour. Training for staff on handling difficult situations is important, but those situations should not be happening in the first place, so education and early intervention are key.

Most passengers, including young people, behave responsibly, and the introduction of free bus travel for under-22s has been transformative. However, with privilege comes responsibility, and although most young people use their bus passes appropriately, there is a small minority across all age ranges who engage in antisocial behaviour, which cannot be ignored. Young people also want to feel safe on our buses.

I support exploring some sanctions, such as the potential removal of bus passes from individuals who repeatedly behave inappropriately. However, that should happen regardless of age. Anyone engaging in repeated antisocial behaviour should face consequences.

In conclusion, I want to thank every bus driver in Scotland—you deserve to come home safely at the end of the working day. You are not just moving people from A to B; you are connecting lives and supporting communities, and I hope that we can all work with you to help build a society in which respect is the norm, not the exception.

One of the farming industry’s biggest fears was always the removal of ring fencing and the Barnettising of funding, and history will record that it was the Labour Party that did that. Farmers are fundamental to our food security and to the future of our rural economy. Does the minister agree that every party in the chamber should unite in calling on the UK Government to reinstate the ring-fenced multiyear funding that Scotland’s farmers used to have and should still have?

Jenny Miller would like to come in.

We move to questions from Pam Gosal.

I am sorry to interrupt, Maggie Chapman, but we have a supplementary from Tess White on the previous issue. I suggest that we suspend briefly at this point, for about five minutes, just to have a bit of a break. When we come back, Tess White can ask her question.

We move on to questions from Paul O’Kane.

I ask members whether they are content with everything that they have asked and our witnesses whether they would like to add anything that they feel they have not been able to get across. If everyone is content, that is a good sign.

That concludes our business in public. I thank the witnesses for attending. We expect to take evidence from Maree Todd, the Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, on the proposed bill at our meeting next week. The witnesses’ evidence has been very helpful in informing that session.

We move into private to discuss the final items on our agenda.

That brings us to the end of our pre-prepared questions. I recognise that some organisations may not have had time to think about the following questions, but if they want to respond in writing, that is perfectly fine. If you wish to speak, please indicate by raising your hand. We move to a question from Maggie Chapman.

What can the Scottish Government and public services do now to help support people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people?