Chamber and committees

I have listened to what the minister has said. The Government is currently consulting on a learning disability, autism and neurodiversity bill, and I note that there has recently been a letter from many organisations to all ministers with regard to improvements. Although the minister did not mention that, I hope that the provision will be in a future bill, as it is something that needs to be taken forward. I will not move amendment 119.

Amendment 119 not moved.

Amendments 120 and 121 not moved.

That is helpful, but I wonder how many developers have a mixed portfolio of developments—not just home building.

On the impact of taking a different approach, some of my case work—which all members will have—around rebuilding confidence in the insurance industry and getting a solution shows that there are concerns about a different approach potentially being taken at the end of this process and having the situation that has been outlined around high-risk and low-risk buildings. We will have representatives of the insurance industry at the committee in the future. What concerns are there about that approach creating two very different situations north and south of the border, and have you fed those back to the Scottish Government?

Good morning, everyone. I am an MSP for the Lothian region.

I have a couple of questions, the first of which is about the scope. Why do you feel that the Scottish Government has excluded student accommodation, hotels and care homes? We know from the conversation that England seems to be way ahead in getting work on those properties taken forward. I think that 21 per cent of them are now having remedial works done, whereas the figure is just 1 per cent in Scotland. Why do you think the Scottish Government has taken that decision in the legislation?

Finally, I want to go back to Stephen Andrew’s point, from the very beginning—it was also raised by the previous panel—about communication. The bill does not necessarily capture this, because it probably sits within a factors bill on the future management of risk.

A lot of people who are currently in buildings do not feel that there is that standard communication with them. We have heard feedback loops mentioned, which, for people in social rented properties, are the responsibility of the housing association or the council. Looking specifically at how that communication should be improved under the bill, what suggestions do you have? Although it is not your area of responsibility—it may be for the factor who has been appointed, or there are often connections between developers and factors—do you have any suggestions of what that should look like in any potential amendments to suggest to Government? I think that that is at the heart of what a lot of people are frustrated about—not having proper communication over this period and not knowing what is going on, even if good work is sometimes taking place.

I mentioned Stephen Andrew, so I will bring you back in.

I am an MSP for Lothian region.

Scottish Government figures have shown that the number of affordable homes being started decreased by 24 per cent in the quarter from July to September. No one in the housing sector now believes that the Scottish Government is on track to meet its housing targets. What review is being undertaken of the targets that the Government has set?

As Paul O’Kane has highlighted, they are really important in councils and housing associations meeting housing demands. Given the number of policies that have destabilised the housing sector—including the rent freeze, with many housing associations reporting that that has meant that they have had to completely look again at their funding packages for future development—what conversations are now happening with housing associations to ensure that projects take place?

We need to find solutions, and part of that is about looking at our land supply issues in the capital. Will the Scottish Government agree to audit all public land—not just council land and Scottish Government agency land, but national health service land as well—to see what development sites might be available to help to significantly reduce the cost of affordable housing development? We know that many sites across the Edinburgh area will not necessarily be developed as part of the local plan. I hope that the opportunity to undertake a proper audit will be taken up and that that is a positive suggestion.

I do not praise the cabinet secretary very often, so she may enjoy this moment. During her time as health secretary, it was very welcome that a five-year funding framework for child hospices in Scotland was developed, which has now come to an end. This year, the hospice sector is reporting that it has been destabilised by rising staffing costs, especially as a result of the agenda for change NHS pay awards. In future budget discussions, will the Scottish Government agree to ensure that a sustainable funding model for hospices has an in-built mechanism for future NHS pay awards to recognise the knock-on effects on pay pressures for the hospice sector? Will she agree to meet the sector to discuss that further?