Chamber and committees

That is a hugely important aspect, and it is relevant to the whole of my heat in buildings portfolio. The Passivhaus concept and improvements to building standards are one important aspect of delivering this in new builds. However, if we are going to achieve what we need to on the wider heat in buildings side, the supply chain and the skills are absolutely critical.

We need to see that as an opportunity and not just a challenge. I believe that there is not just work to be done, but long-term, high-quality careers to be had in delivering the transformation in our built environment that we require, whether in insulating zero-emission heating systems, retrofitting existing buildings for energy efficiency or improving the way in which we deliver new-build housing.

I absolutely agree that the Government’s work on the supply chain delivery plan for heat in buildings and other aspects of the work that we are doing to support skills in that area will be critical to the issue of Passivhaus-equivalent standards, but they will be equally critical to the rest of our heat in buildings agenda.

We do need to continue what we are doing, which is carrying out our ambitious approach to accelerating the retrofit agenda as part of the wider heat in buildings programme.

I reinforce what I said in my opening remarks: the commitment to the Bute house agreement in August 2021, which included explicit support for Passivhaus, was part of a much wider set of policy priorities to accelerate Scotland’s move towards zero-emission heating, high levels of energy efficiency and the heat in buildings agenda.

It has never been clearer than it has been over the past year or two that this is not just about reducing carbon emissions, critical though addressing the climate emergency is; it is also essential if we are to meet the cost of living challenge and remove the vulnerability that people are exposed to through high and volatile fossil fuel prices. The Passivhaus standard and improving the way in which we deliver new builds can teach us valuable lessons about how we can systematise some retrofit approaches, too.

We continue to do a huge amount to accelerate work in this area. I am grateful that we have the political support of a good number of members across the chamber, and I look forward to that continuing.

The cost of living crisis is, of course, also a cost of doing business and cost of construction crisis. We know that, not just in Scotland but across Europe, the cost of delivering new buildings of any kind, including housing, has increased dramatically. The situation has been exacerbated in the UK as a result of some of the skills impacts of Brexit, and I know that we will continue to debate those issues long and hard.

I emphasise that the Scottish Government believes that the regulations that we will consult on later this year will set a long-term direction of travel and give the industry confidence that Scotland is serious about the heat in buildings transformation. We should see this as an opportunity for investment. Trying to muddle through, year to year, would be the wrong way to go. We need to give the construction sector the confidence that Scotland is serious about having a highly energy efficient, zero-carbon approach to our buildings. That will drive investment in skills and capacity. I hope that we will have the support of Conservative colleagues when we consult on the regulations.

Unlike the position 10 or 20 years ago, when the construction industry was telling us that we should not gold plate the building regulations, it is now saying that change is coming. The industry sees that a net zero future provides it and its members with an opportunity, so we need to work constructively with it.

As the measures were being developed, there was significant debate across the Parliament and a growing understanding that those are separate provisions. The licensing scheme is principally about safety and standards, whereas control areas, which are local authority planning powers, have more to do with provision and ensuring that properties are not lost as homes due to being siphoned off by people running, in effect, hotel businesses. It is understandable that the schemes operate separately and are used for different purposes. I am sure that all local authorities seek to strike the right balance in how they use the powers in future.

I thank Paul Sweeney for his very sincere concern about the issue, and I am sure that I or the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government will be happy to engage with him on it.

The Scottish Housing Regulator is of course an independent regulator of social landlords, and its statutory objective is to protect the interests of service users and tenants. It uses its powers to monitor, assess, report and intervene, where appropriate.

I am aware of the situation in relation to Reidvale. The management committee has commissioned options on its future and has agreed to a recommendation to seek expressions of interest from organisations that wish to become a transfer partner. However, it is important to recognise that the proposed transfer will not proceed unless it is supported by tenants in an independent ballot. Therefore, the community has the final say.

Again, I look forward to further opportunities to engage with Mr Sweeney on the issue.

If the member wants to write to me or the cabinet secretary about any specific local instance, I am sure that we can look into the details of that situation and get back to him.

However, it is clear that the licensing scheme is intended to address the very real consequences of an unregulated market, which have involved issues ranging from antisocial behaviour to a lack of safety, for either the community or people who use short-term lets. Responsible operators have absolutely nothing to worry about, because they are already managing to achieve high standards. We should all want to raise the sector up to those standards as we continue to work with local authorities around their wider powers on planning.

Again, if the member is unhappy, I would urge him to write to me or the cabinet secretary about the specific local situation.

We have regular engagement with the independent Scottish Housing Regulator on how it contributes to supporting the delivery of our national outcomes.

We very much value the diversity of the housing association sector in Scotland. One of the key strengths of community housing associations is their unique position in delivering local, democratically accountable housing and services. We want a Scotland in which everyone can play a full part in society, with empowered communities that are able to shape their individual and collective futures. Community housing associations have been doing that for decades in many parts of Scotland and will continue to do so.

The licensing scheme seeks to ensure that short-term lets are safe and well managed. We do not believe that there will be adverse consequences. We are working with local authorities to resolve any implementation concerns that have been raised since the scheme went live in October.

On 7 December, we announced plans to extend the transition period that existing hosts have to apply for a licence by six months, in recognition of the economic circumstances of the cost crisis. The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government is therefore considering the timing of the review and will update Parliament in due course.

Across the wider economy, we expect hydrogen to play an important role in achieving net zero ambitions, particularly in sectors that are otherwise hard to decarbonise. Although it is possible that hydrogen might play some role in reducing emissions from heating buildings in Scotland, we do not expect that to be a central role. If demonstration and safety trials prove successful, blending of hydrogen and the conversion and repurposing of parts of the network to carry 100 per cent hydrogen might take place. However, at present, those are decisions for the United Kingdom Government, and we urge it to make those decisions soon.

I am not sure whether I need to declare an interest as a resident in one of the tenements in Kaukab Stewart’s constituency that she referred to.

We are, of course, aware that stakeholders have raised valid concerns about the existing tenant management scheme, which is set out in the Tenements (Scotland) Act 2004. The independently chaired tenement short-life working group has been empowered to consider the issue and, as the member mentioned, we await its recommendations. I am sure that Kaukab Stewart will be keen to discuss that with the Government once the recommendations are available.

To meet what is in our ambitious heat and buildings strategy and in “Housing to 2040” we need communal work in tenements to be carried out in a way that is fair and effective. We will, therefore, fully consider any changes to the TMS before making legislative change.