Chamber and committees

To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to protect the allocation of funding to third sector organisations in its forthcoming budget. (S6O-03986)

I congratulate Gordon MacDonald on bringing the debate to the chamber.

The housing emergency is undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges that we face. As the motion states, the empty homes issue in Edinburgh is particularly critical. A total of 7,200 homes, with a worth estimated by Admiral of £1.8 billion, are sitting empty; that is enough space in which to house every single person living in temporary accommodation in Edinburgh. Bringing those homes back into use is key if we want to tackle the housing emergency.

That is why I join other members in welcoming the work of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership. After all, bringing 1,800 homes back into use is worthy of praise. In the partnership’s most recent annual impact report—for 2024—there are numerous examples of empty homes leading to antisocial behaviour, increased fire risk and water ingress damaging neighbouring properties. By bringing homes back into use, we can mitigate those risks and make communities more welcoming.

I note, too, the low climate impact of bringing homes back into use. I recently sponsored an event with Historic Environment Scotland, which said that

“The Greenest building is the one that already exists”,

and nowhere is that clearer than in the work of the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership.

One example is Barns house in the Borders. It was named best environmental retrofit, having sat empty for 25 years before being brought back into use with full energy efficiency. That project was completed through the work of an empty homes officer. The empty homes audit report, “Bringing empty homes back into use: an audit of privately owned empty homes in Scotland”, found that empty homes officers were

“the most effective means of bringing properties back into use”.

I am pleased to note that, at the time of the report’s publication, the City of Edinburgh Council was in the process of hiring a second empty homes officer.

Although the partnership’s work is necessary and welcome, the Scottish National Party cannot simply pat itself on the back for a job well done. The number of empty homes has still increased over the past 10 years, and there are record numbers of people in temporary accommodation. Moreover, earlier this year, the affordable housing supply budget was cut by almost £200 million. That is a direct hit on our ability to tackle the housing emergency, and it is not the action of a Government that is fulfilling its ambition of tackling the housing emergency.

Following the UK Government’s budget, the Scottish Government has the money to tackle these issues, and it must now deliver. It should begin by reinstating the cut to the affordable housing supply programme and empowering councils to take more action on empty homes.

I am pleased to close the debate for Scottish Labour. I join other members in thanking the committee for its work in publishing the report, and the stakeholders who gave evidence. As we move further into the post-Brexit world, it is right that we work to understand the implications of the new rules created by the “Conservative Brexit”, as Martin Whitfield called it.

The report outlines how the current trade and co-operation agreement is affecting our businesses, as well as the opportunities that we have to improve it. However, if we are to renegotiate the agreement, we must have a positive relationship with Europe. I am pleased that members of other parties welcomed the Labour Government’s reset of European relations. Although renegotiation of the agreement will not take place until 2026, the work on rebuilding Britain’s relationship with the EU and repairing the damage that was done by the previous Conservative Government is already under way.

I join the cabinet secretary in welcoming the joint statement by Keir Starmer and Ursula von der Leyen, which reaffirms our shared values and agrees to strengthen the relationship between the UK and the EU. I hope that today’s spirit of co-operation can extend to relations between Governments across the UK.

I note that the UK Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations will be discussing the report with the committee, which shows how the new Labour Government has reset relations with Scotland as well.

The report makes clear how we can improve the deal. I highlight the issue of guidance to businesses to deal with changing regulations. Evidence given to the committee shows that the Conservatives failed to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules. Logistics UK said that the guidance, information and technical details that were provided were “Too little, too late” throughout the process of the Windsor framework. [Interruption.] I am sorry, but I have a lot to get through in limited time. In addition, the Agricultural Industries Confederation said that support from Government to address market access issues was “limited”.

Willie Rennie mentioned a business in his constituency that had stopped trading with Europe as there was too much red tape, and George Adam discussed the struggles that SMEs are having. Offering businesses assistance to make sense of the new regulations will boost existing exporters and attract others to start trading with Europe. The committee’s recommendation for an accessible summary of divergence between the UK and EU is welcome in that regard.

Clare Adamson said that agrifood exporters in particular are being held back. The requirement for an export health certificate adds extra costs and increases complexity. The British Chambers of Commerce said that the checks have added “vast amounts of bureaucracy”. The increased delays are felt in particular for items with a shorter shelf life, which lose value the longer that they are in transit. My colleague Neil Bibby mentioned Innovative Foods Ltd and a border dispute holding up products, causing them to melt by the time that they reached their destination, which led the company to stop shipping to Europe. Although I do not share the affinity for chilli cheese nuggets, I understand that that is a major issue. Patrick Harvie rightly said that this is not just about red tape; it is impacting people’s wellbeing, jobs and the cost of living.

We also need a veterinary agreement. Research from Aston University found that a veterinary agreement could increase exports by at least 22.5 per cent. The new Labour Government was elected on a manifesto to negotiate such an agreement. I am glad that members, including my colleague Martin Whitfield, agree on its significance.

Members are largely in agreement that the TCA should be renegotiated. We have a number of opportunities to improve that bad Conservative deal. The committee’s report makes clear what we need to do to make it work.

The new Labour Government at Westminster is rebuilding our relationship with Europe, making it one of co-operation rather than opposition. I look forward to seeing the Scottish and UK Governments working together to achieve that and to seeing any further work by the committee.

Today is world diabetes day. In October, I hosted a round-table diabetes technology event, at which I heard at first hand about the difference that technology can make to the quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes. However, even with the new funding, waiting lists are too long. Lothian alone is forecast to have 1,200 adults waiting for a closed-loop system by 2025. England and Wales have five-year plans to get that technology to those who need it. Where is the Scottish Government’s long-term plan?

I do not think that we have asked the current First Minister about the petition, so we should get him involved. We could also write to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to see whether we can continue to keep the petition open.

I am happy with that.

Are you worried that something might come as a surprise?

Can we also write to the City of Edinburgh Council to see whether there is any concern about the issues that the petitioners have raised?

To establish whether there are any concerns for the council about the issue that the petitioner is raising. If we close the petition, that is the end of it, but if there are some concerns that are—

Good morning. The Scottish Government proposes to make changes to the national parks legislation in a bill that is due to be introduced later this parliamentary year. Does the fact that that process is running alongside your investigation create any challenges—for example, in enabling you to tell the community what a Galloway national park might look like?