I am delighted to contribute to this important debate celebrating 300 years of the Black Watch, and I thank my friend and colleague Liz Smith for bringing it to the chamber.

Seven generations of my family have been born and raised in Perthshire, and some of them have served in the ranks of the Black Watch during its history. Growing up in Perthshire, I was aware of the Black Watch from an early age and recognised the regiment’s cultural significance across many areas of Scotland. That awareness only grew stronger with age, as many local families had a connection and, often, lifelong involvement with the regiment.

Liz Smith spoke about the regiment’s reputation for fearlessness in many conflicts, which is renowned. Those sentiments are shared among all Black Watch families from many areas across Perthshire, Fife, Dundee and Angus. Each family has a strong story to tell about the bravery and dedication of individuals who served in the regiment.

Liz Smith also spoke about the Black Watch museum at Balhousie castle. I pay tribute to all the volunteers who keep that venue open. I am a regular attendee at Balhousie castle, and I was pleased that the museum marked its 10th anniversary in 2023. More than a million people have visited the museum since it opened, and the site has received multiple industry awards since the £3.5 million development was completed in 2013. I was privileged to serve as a councillor on Perth and Kinross Council when the museum was being developed, which I supported. The museum’s trustees and success remind us of the importance of showcasing local history. That legacy is alive, and we must ensure that it remains for future generations. The Black Watch certainly plays its role in that regard.

Many individuals visit the facility through the education programme that it provides. Our military history is vital and plays a huge part in maintaining our Scottish traditions. We should all ensure that there are opportunities for young people to learn about the hard work and the sacrifice of regiments such as the Black Watch, including in our classrooms.

In the four minutes that I have for my speech, I cannot even scratch the surface of the Black Watch’s history. Many members will impart their views, opinions and stories throughout the debate, and I look forward to hearing them.

It is important to reflect on the spirit, honour and dedication that have been fundamental to the regiment. A Black Watch historian once said:

“In a Highland Regiment every individual feels that his conduct is the subject of observation ... independently of his duty”.

I pay tribute to each and every individual who has served, has given their time and talent and has made sacrifices, including those who have lost their lives for the regiment. The Black Watch continues its historic legacy, and I wish it continued success. The regiment’s dedication and past reputation are still very relevant today, as they will be in the future.

Without clear adjustment, discretionary funding in capital figures risks appearing stable or even increased when the reality is that it is being artificially inflated. That undermines transparency and hampers scrutiny of the Scottish Government’s investment record. Will the cabinet secretary provide spending figures that are published on a like-for-like basis? If she does not do that, it can confuse Parliament and mislead the public.

They will not have the opportunity, because of the delay in things happening. That will have a knock-on effect on what can be achieved. For you, that will create a bigger backlog and a system failure, which will be primarily in the process.

Is the situation the same in Dundee and Edinburgh?

The Scottish Government has said that it will not progress with its proposed heat in buildings bill until it is satisfied that the interventions in it will decrease fuel poverty. If the bill does not go forward and the issue is not progressed to the same level, that is a problem. What impact, if any, do you think that that might have on preventing damp and mould in homes? What should be included in the bill to alleviate the problem? The delay to the bill might mean that some of the solutions that are in it happen later on. Who wants to jump in?

Sorry about that.

What will be the knock-on effect on mixed-tenure properties in Edinburgh?

Absolutely.

We have already touched on the cost of living and how that is impacting on individuals and how they manage their properties. That is having an impact on dampness and mould, because they are not using the heating in their homes effectively or efficiently, because they are afraid of the cost of doing so. Susie Fitton mentioned that. It would be good to get a flavour of whether other councils are finding that that is happening—that individuals are struggling and, because they are struggling, they are not keeping their heating on at certain times or they are switching things off, and that is having an impact on the process of looking after the property. I will come to Murray Sharp first.

Susie Fitton mentioned the provision of support, including on income maximisation. How do you ensure that tenants get information about that and that they act on it? Does that help to prevent issues from happening, and does it assist tenants?