Chamber and committees

I acknowledge that restriction of supply can have an impact—that is true. I am making it clear that the issue is very complex. If Stephen Kerr and Liam Kerr really cared about the housing market, they would be calling for increased borrowing powers for the Scottish Government so that it can build more houses, and for more macroeconomic powers for the Scottish Parliament, so that we can take further action. That is the point that I am making. Conservative members want us to sit passively and leave those matters to the Tory Government in London, and we have seen where that has ended up.

It is worth noting that all those economic factors, and many more that I have not mentioned, are outwith the control of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government, which adds emphasis to my opening remarks. Housing providers are nervous because of uncertainty, and the vast majority of that uncertainty is because of macroeconomic policies that have been set in Westminster.

Any initiatives must look at the overarching housing sector in the round. Therefore, I would like to ask the minister what specific assessment has been carried out of the effect on the availability of housing supply of the proposed changes. Will there be check points on supply against demand?

We are in difficult times. With strictly limited powers, it is hugely difficult to extend tenant protections and to ensure that the environment for investment in new housing is optimum. The UK Government has used the property market to give the illusion of wealth and growth, leading to a bloated asset class.

Given what the member said about the consequences of flawed measures and lack of scrutiny, does he now regret the rush of blood to the head by his Tory chancellor and the impact that that has had on costs for housing providers?

I will carry on just now, because I am changing scene.

I sound a note of caution and quote Susan Aktemel of Homes For Good, who said on LinkedIn:

“The Scottish Government seems to be legislating against new housing supply in the midst of a housing crisis”.

Those remarks go to the heart of the difficult balancing act that the Scottish Government must undertake: how does it take action to protect tenants without cooling the underlying supply of housing?

I will open some areas for discussion. The mood music for institutional professionals in the housing market must be right. They must know that Scotland is open for business and that their long-term investment plans can proceed. Pension schemes, in particular, have a long-term focus on patient capital, which must be considered. I highlight the build-to-rent model, which offers a route for Scotland to reach the scale of the housing that is required against a backdrop of undersupply and overdemand.

Will Pam Gosal take an intervention?

I am sure that you have. [Laughter.]

I will just ask one more question, because I know that other people want to come in.

We have not talked all that much about conditionality yet, but it follows on naturally from data collection. If there is one or a few things that you would recommend about conditionality—assuming that the data is in place, which is a whole separate discussion—what specifically would you recommend for the budget? You can give me your top three, because there are quite a lot of things, I suspect.

In essence, you are utterly reframing the issue as an economic problem to be solved rather than an equalities problem to be pigeonholed. That is coming through quite clearly.

Good morning. You have touched on so many different areas. I will ask one open question now and I may want to come back in.

I am on the Finance and Public Administration Committee, which yesterday took evidence on the budget from Engender. It said it had concerns regarding the lack of attention that the Scottish budget process pays to structural gender equality. You have talked about data and outcomes, and you have given some specifics. How can our budget process move beyond having regard to systemic barriers for women and take the bold steps needed to effect real change? You are here today, so the question is: have you been to every other committee to give similar evidence that is aligned to them, given the cross-cutting issues that you have started to outline? Have you been invited to do so? What comment could you give about the actual process? That would be useful as well.

If you are really going to effect change, you could say, for example, that no public body should award any grant funding unless it is entirely equitable. It is more complex than that. We know that women may not apply for grants, for example, and that is a cultural barrier, but that is a very simple example. The issue is about effecting change, which goes back to the point about things being systemic. If I were a budget holder, I might be inclined to do that, particularly for women in business. I understand that the issue is complex. There has been tinkering thus far, which has been very well meaning, but maybe we need to be bolder. If you were in charge, what would you be doing about allocation of funding?

Carolyn, do you have anything to add?