A culture of fear in Scotland discourages people from speaking openly about their faith, the head of a bishops’ conference agency has said.

Anthony Horan, director of the bishops’ Catholic Parliamentary Office, told a committee at the Scottish Parliament: “My overriding concern is the culture of fear that runs right through society and which makes people feel at best uncomfortable and at worst totally frightened to be open about their faith.”

Mr Horan was speaking to MSPs on the equalities and human rights committee on the subject of bullying and harassment at schools and religious prejudice.