Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 09 December 2020
There is a wider debate to be had about how we can build back the Scottish economy, and specifically about the renewable energy sector, on which the country has been let down. We need to be more ambitious in our approach to building back.
I return to the motion and the amendments that are before us today. This morning, I read a report about Unite the union’s survey of taxi drivers. I also heard a BBC interview with a lady who is a taxi driver from Edinburgh, who explained the situation in which drivers currently find themselves. The Government’s move to announce support for that industry is good, but we need to speed up the process, because people are desperate.
Unite Scotland surveyed more than 200 taxi drivers. The results, which were issued this morning, showed that 37 per cent reported that the support represents less than 25 per cent of their average earnings; 18 per cent reported that it represents between 25 and 50 per cent; and 20 per cent reported that it represents between 50 and 75 per cent. Whether they are self-employed or work in firms, many drivers have just been left to their own devices. The same is true of quite a number of sectors in the Scottish economy. Therefore, more than anything else, my plea is that we must work with the trade unions and listen to all those sectors. We must be able to respond as quickly as we can.