Seòmar agus comataidhean

I will make no such declaration, convener.

Minister, I want to pick up on what you said about young people and those in education telling you that the scheme has been a game changer for them and that they really value it. As we know, the scheme is about opening up opportunities for young people, as well as changing behaviours; indeed, you said that it was habit forming. In the conversations that you are having, are you open to the scheme being expanded so that young people who go over the age of 22 but who are still in education and training can continue to benefit from it? At the moment, just as they have started to get used to the bus they no longer have the benefit of the card. Where do you sit on that issue?

Committees are always curious about ministers’ views. You have had these conversations with young people, and you have said that they are talking about the benefits of the scheme. We are exploring what more could be done in policy terms. Would the sort of extension that I have referred to be desirable, if the funding were available?

Thank you.

That is helpful.

Given the serious nature of some of the questions about serious types of crime and antisocial behaviour that have been asked in this meeting, it is regrettable that there has been a lot of mansplaining at the committee today. Two former transport ministers have come to your rescue to some extent, minister.

I tried earlier to get clarity on the Government’s policy intention. I understand the scope of the statutory instrument and I understand what the Parliament will be asked to vote on. However, as someone who has sat in a room in this Parliament with you, minister, and with other stakeholders who want urgent action taken to reduce and tackle violence on our buses, I am asking about the Scottish Government’s position and your position as the minister. I am not asking what you will do about wider societal violence or gender-based violence; my question is about buses. You have now been asked about holding discussions with justice colleagues on what could be done through sentencing. My question is whether, before getting to this point today, the Scottish Government considered what other action could be taken to provide for a situation in which violent criminals who have committed crimes on buses in Scotland would face the automatic removal of their bus pass—that is, would lose the privilege of having one. Was that considered? If so, why was it dismissed as an action that could be taken during this parliamentary session?

The minister perhaps knows the answer.

On the same theme, I want to drill down into the governance arrangements and what you anticipate the role of NatureScot will be.

You have said that it is complex and that sites in England and other areas outwith Scotland are not within your jurisdiction. Let us say that an offshore wind farm has been consented, the compensation measures have been agreed and they are set out in conditions or legal agreements. Oversight of that would involve ensuring that the compensation measures are implemented properly and that the project is monitored and evaluated. How would the governance around all of that look?

I want to briefly ask something that is supplementary to the deputy convener’s question. Nick, in your opening comments, you talked about the complexity of your organisation’s work but also said that, at times, it can be contentious. It is important that we see in writing some of the data behind what has just been discussed. I am going back a long time to when I worked as a planning officer but, often, the quality of information determines how quickly a decision can be made or a response given. It will be important to see that in writing. Given what you said about some of the abuse that has been levelled at your staff, we need to take the heat out of the issue and deal in facts.

I turn to the biodiversity delivery plan. We have heard about the nature and climate emergency and the need to halt the decline of biodiversity by 2030. You did not sound entirely confident that targets would be met in relation to woodlands. Will you talk us generally through the key milestones that need to be delivered early in the next parliamentary session if Scotland is to have a chance of halting the decline of biodiversity by 2030?

You are saying “likelihood”. I do not know whether victims and families affected by crimes that have happened on buses feel that the Government fully has their back on this.

Yes, it does. Thank you, Pete. Some of the earlier comments from Nick were obviously important for us to hear today, and they are now on record for the next Parliament to pick up the baton. It is clear what the ambition is and what the milestones are, but there are a number of risks that could hold us back.

I will ask you about skills. We have talked a lot about people in your organisation and about people who work in various industries in Scotland in both the public and private sectors. Is there a risk around skills? Do we have the right people doing the right jobs, and do they have the skills to take us forward to 2030 and beyond?