Chamber and committees

Do you want to add anything, Jonathan?

Jonathan, do you want to add anything before I hand back to the convener?

Thank you. Donna, do you want to comment?

I welcome this debate and the opportunity, which the cabinet secretary mentioned, for Parliament to reaffirm in the strongest possible terms our solidarity with the people and Government of Ukraine. The United Nations human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine has estimated that, since President Putin and the Russian military launched their full-scale armed attack against Ukraine on 24 February 2022, at least 10,000 civilians have been killed, including more than 360 children, and over 18,500 have been injured. As we prepare for Christmas and think about a peaceful time here in Scotland and across the UK, I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the scale of the horror that is being faced by men, women and children in Ukraine at the moment.

It is estimated that around a quarter of civilian casualties have occurred not on the front line, but due to attacks with missiles and loitering munitions predominantly launched by Russian armed forces. In the deadliest such attack this year, a missile that was launched by Russian armed forces struck a funeral reception in Hroza village in Kharkiv Oblast on 5 October, killing 59 civilians, in total violation of international humanitarian law. That attack, although it was more lethal, aligns with a pattern of several attacks in which powerful missiles have struck populated areas that are under the control of Ukraine, resulting in multiple civilian casualties and significant damage to civilian property and infrastructure.

It has been estimated that the number of Ukrainian and Russian troops who have been killed or wounded since the war began is nearing half a million. The situation in Ukraine remains appalling, and the brutality that has been visited on its people defies belief. It is important that we stand with the people of Ukraine and ensure that their concerns are heard in our Parliament today. Humanitarian concerns over events in other parts of the world at this moment must not detract from the situation in Ukraine or diminish our complete support for its Government and the country.

I am proud of the fact that, from the outset, the United Kingdom has stood shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine and been at the forefront of helping its people and Government. We were—and continue to be—one of the main countries that have provided military equipment and training after the Russians seized Crimea, and we have supported Ukraine through the build-up to the war as they have resisted the invasion. It is vital that we continue to provide that support for as long as it takes.

As I have stated, the human impact of the war is stark. Around 6 million people—a record—have been displaced from Ukraine across Europe, and 5.1 million are displaced within the country. Poland has had the highest number cross its border from Ukraine, at around 13 million; Russia is hosting around 1.3 million people; and Germany is hosting around 1.1 million.

As has been mentioned, the United Kingdom has also offered sanctuary. Around 209,000 displaced people from Ukraine are in the UK. The Scottish Government’s latest statistics suggest that around 26,000 of those are here in Scotland for sanctuary.

Across our public services, we have stepped up to provide that in all our communities. As the cabinet secretary has done, I pay specific tribute to those who have put in that work across our local government. From the outset, Edinburgh members who have undertaken visits to various schools and to the ship that was in Leith have seen that in action.

I especially want to pay tribute to the schools that have supported young people. A lasting legacy of the conflict will be the friendships that have been forged between Ukrainian and Scottish children. That will last forever.

Councils have worked closely with their partners across the public, voluntary and community sectors to provide that support, and I want them to be highlighted in the debate as well, because there has been a community uprising in providing that support. Often, many people do not take the support that the Government offers, but communities raise funds and make sure that individuals are supported. We should acknowledge that.

However, as my amendment notes, specific concerns have been expressed by charities and organisations about the housing issues that are faced by many displaced Ukrainians—and Scots—who, currently, are placed in temporary accommodation. Finding sustainable solutions to that problem is critical, as other debates on the issue have highlighted. I hope that the consensus that the cabinet secretary has asked for will mean that all the motions in the debate are supported across the parties, because it is important that we register that we need to continue to focus on the housing element, for Ukrainians and also Scots who are in temporary accommodation.

As the cabinet secretary has said, it is important that there is recognition of the work that is undertaken by local support groups the length and breadth of the country. In addition, as the cabinet secretary has done, I put on record the fact that the Scottish Parliament has finally established a cross-party group on Ukraine. Those of us who were at its first meeting saw the passion of those who were involved. I was very much taken by the full support for Ukraine of the other consuls general who attended that event. I welcome the establishment of the cross-party group. I am not sure whether Colin Beattie will speak in the debate, but I put on record my tribute to him as a catalyst for the creation of the group. Colin Beattie, Paul O’Kane, Alex Cole-Hamilton and I will co-chair that group, but I hope that other members from across the Parliament will join it, because, for as long as the war continues, it will, I hope, give the concerns and voices of people from Ukraine who live in Scotland the opportunity to be heard at the heart of Parliament.

The people of Ukraine are fighting not only for their freedom but for the cause of freedom, and we must make sure that they prevail. I hope that the debate—just before Christmas—has given the Parliament the opportunity once again to put on record our full-hearted support for the people of Ukraine, their Government, and the sanctuary that Scotland will continue to offer.

I move amendment S6M-11696.2, to insert at end:

“; expresses concern for the situation being faced by many thousands of displaced Ukrainians and other people living in Scotland, who are currently placed into temporary accommodation; commends the work done by local support groups, which have been established to help support Ukrainians living in Scotland; welcomes the establishment of the Scottish Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Ukraine, and further welcomes the UK Government’s unwavering support for Ukraine by issuing visas for almost 250,000 displaced Ukrainians, and by pledging to providing Ukraine with £4.6 billion in military aid, £347 million in humanitarian assistance and £100 million to support the Ukrainian economy.”

In recent months, both the City of Edinburgh Council and Glasgow City Council have declared housing emergencies. Under the SNP-Green Government, we see a record number of homeless people in Scotland and children living in temporary accommodation. Will the Deputy First Minister explain to Parliament why cutting our housing budget by more than a third will help to address that situation?

As has been stated, in Scotland only one such programme of works has been progressed. A huge amount of detail is not in the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill, including on the single building assessment, the cladding assurance register and the responsible developers scheme. Does the cabinet secretary acknowledge that the continued absence of that detail in the bill creates risks for those who are affected, including residents and home builders, and that it has the potential to prolong uncertainty for residents who are impacted?

I rise to speak against the motion on the draft Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023.

When the First Minister announced the policy in April, he stated that it would improve the availability of sustainable long-term housing opportunities. In the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee’s deliberations, we have heard very little evidence to suggest that the policy will provide any additional homes or that it will encourage people who have second homes in Scotland to change how they use their properties.

There are also significant concerns about the policy in relation to potential behavioural change. The committee heard that there has been a decline in second home ownership and that there are, in Scotland, existing taxes on second homes, including the additional dwelling supplement, which is added to land and buildings transaction tax.

Witnesses to the committee also explained that they believe that the regulations could have unintended consequences. In particular, second home owners might instead increase the availability of their properties for holiday letting in order to become eligible for non-domestic rates, instead of paying council tax. The small business bonus provides relief from NDR of up to 100 per cent, which means that, in practice, many holiday-let owners currently pay no council tax or NDR.

We are all acutely aware of the pressures that local government in Scotland faces after a decade of SNP and Green ministers targeting them with budget cuts. Many councils will see the potential of a new revenue stream to fill that black hole, assuming that we see no behavioural change taking place. However, the policy presents no expectations on how councils should use that additional income—for example, in applying it to providing more affordable housing and addressing the housing crisis in Scotland.

Therefore, at decision time, the Scottish Conservatives will not support the motion.

Okay. Many organisations that have influenced our work still have a lot of questions about the buildings that are not being included and about how that will be dealt with as the bill progresses.

One aspect to consider when undertaking remedial work is economies of scale. Will work to retrofit buildings be co-ordinated to try to ensure that economies of scale can be realised?

I have raised concerns with the previous minister, Tom Arthur, about charging points that are attached to buildings. Specific concerns have been raised with us with regard to electric bikes and electric cars. That is not covered in the bill currently. Are you mindful to look at the issue and include that aspect in the bill, given some of the incidents that have happened?

That is helpful.

I would hope that individual council officials need to be held to account in very few cases. However, the code has given them additional protection so that councillors feel that they cannot raise concerns. Maybe it needs to be reviewed to look at that. It might be useful for you and the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland to speak to councillors who have raised those concerns so that you can see why they feel that the code is holding them back in their scrutiny role.