Chamber and committees

Ross Greer is scaremongering. The measures will not contravene the ECHR, and Mercedes Villalba will address that point in more detail when she closes.

An emergency rent freeze is not radical or dangerous; it is reasonable and is the very least that we should be doing to make Covid recovery a reality for tenants.

I rather admired what the Scottish Greens brought to the table back in 2020. Their amendments were good. Amendments 72 and 73 today are very similar, but have been strengthened. Something has happened to the Scottish Greens that should concern us all. The Scottish Greens were invited into Government after proposing those amendments but have somehow managed to lose their way since they entered Bute house. That is indeed worrying.

I read a blog on social media today by the Green MSP Ariane Burgess, who led the charge against universal free school meals just a couple of weeks ago. She says that the amendments are not fit for purpose and talks them down, but she also says that the Greens are “blazing a trail” in Government. I am afraid that it is a trail of broken promises; it is not good enough.

Members have made not unreasonable points in expressing concerns about landlords. Mercedes Villalba has addressed those points. Her amendments are balanced and proportionate. We know that landlords in Scotland cannot evict tenants simply because they want to put the rent up.

Ross Greer might want to think about the comments made today by the anti-poverty campaigner Ashley McLean, who has taken to social media to say:

“As one of the people who helped write the housing section of the @scottishgreens manifesto, I’m hugely disappointed in their decision to vote down @LabourMercedes rent freeze proposals.”

Others have said that rent controls are desperately needed by 2025, but that tenants need protection in the interim.

Perhaps we need to have a referendum on a rent freeze. I think that Mercedes Villalba has brought competent, proportionate and reasonable amendments to the chamber. It will be more than a shame if we see a pattern developing in which the Greens leave their principles at the door, come into the chamber and frighten people by saying that the bar is too high or that they see a legal challenge.

I thank Living Rent for its campaign and the STUC for its briefing and for reminding us that the issue affects workers in all our constituencies. I thank Mercedes Villalba and I hope that colleagues will think for themselves today, look beyond their whip sheets and absolutely back the amendments.

I speak in support of amendments 72 and 73, because tenants, including those who live in my Central Scotland region, need urgent protection now. I am grateful to Mercedes Villalba for lodging amendments at stage 2 and for bringing revised proposals to the chamber today, because Government and Parliament should be taking every opportunity to protect tenants. That is what Mercedes Villalba is attempting to do, and thanks to her we all have the opportunity to vote for the workable and proportionate measures in front of us today.

Rent is one of the greatest costs facing our constituents. Renters are among the people who were worst hit by the pandemic, and they are now at the sharp end of the cost of living crisis. I am not sure what world Ross Greer is living in, but I point out to him that the emergency is not over—it is now on steroids.

The summit was constructive and I pay tribute to all who took part, and welcome the First Minister’s commitment to a follow-up summit.

Unfortunately, during the summit, Mr Mason MSP continued his dangerous disinformation campaign. His comments are not just his views; they are disinformation. He is talking down healthcare workers and claiming that women do not have informed consent. We have already heard from the chief medical officer that there is no evidence to back that up. What will the Scottish Government do to tackle disinformation to ensure that all MSPs have the facts in front of them? It is not about our views; it is about the facts. What will the SNP do to ensure that Mr Mason does not continue with his dangerous disinformation?

I will continue, if the member does not mind.

The promise of rent pressure zones and rent controls is, of course, welcome. However, action is needed now to protect tenants from the type of rip-off rents that we have heard about from Living Rent’s members. I listened carefully to those testimonies at stage 2. It is regrettable that Green members did not bring forward any proposals. They criticise Mercedes Villalba for having a proposal. Where is their proposal?

Is the member really on the side of landlords and not his constituents?

I ask Graham Simpson, for the record, whether he would ever be in favour of a rent freeze. When would be the right time to bring in a rent freeze?

At the weekend, Roz Foyer, the general secretary of the Scottish Trades Union Congress, said:

“Child hunger is a political choice. We need to see the political will to fix it.”

Will the cabinet secretary give any further indication of the level of investment that is being made available to expand access to universal free school meals for primary 6 and 7 pupils and into secondary schools? Child hunger and child poverty do not stop at the gates of primary schools.

To ask the Scottish Government how its resource spending review publication, “Investing in Scotland’s Future”, will ensure that children and young people’s rights to food, education and fun will be met. (S6O-01264)

That is helpful. One of the challenges that we have heard about during the inquiry is about time and capacity—having time to learn, exchange practice and network, not just within Scotland but internationally.

I briefly mentioned national planning framework 4 in a question to Julie Waldron earlier. NPF4 emphasises climate change and biodiversity loss and sets out policies that local development plans should support, such as the use of nature-based solutions and natural infrastructure. Has recent local policy and decision-making reflected that direction of travel? I put that question to John Cunningham first and then other witnesses can come in.