Chamber and committees

We have lost the connection. Perhaps someone else can answer the question until we get Aaron Hill back.

After Stephen Good responds, we will move on to our second theme, which is a just transition.

My understanding is that we are basing everything on energy performance certificate C rating—that is where we are trying to get to. Shortly after being elected, I learned that that rating is based on the benchmark for a house in Milton Keynes—I am not sure if I have got that right. I understand that in the building industry there are questions about whether we should be working towards that rating. What are your thoughts on that?

That is an area for further exploration, either for our committee or for the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee.

That is interesting. I asked about wood fibre insulation because I was wondering whether we could start manufacturing it in Scotland. Is it already manufactured in Scotland?

I and a few others who are here today went to the Niddrie Road project, and it was great to see the work that is being done and the care in keeping the exterior at the front of the building. I also got the impression that a good deal of consideration had been given to making the interior environment more pleasant not just through the use of insulation but through the use of the space itself, and it was really great to see that there was an opportunity to do that.

Ken Gibb, do you have anything to add with regard to the purpose of the Niddrie Road project? You do not have to, but there might be something else that needs to be said.

Thank you. The next question is for Derek Logie. Please put an R in the chat box if I skip over anyone who wants to come in.

Are there specific cost implications for retrofit projects in rural and island areas? I am sure that there are, so I would love to hear more about those. How do the costs compare? Are the implications recognised sufficiently in existing funding?

I represent the Highlands and Islands region. Are you aware of anything that is happening in more rural areas, or have we not gone there yet?

It is good to know that other things are happening. It feels as though we have so much work to do, so it is good to hear that there are examples out there. Thank you for drawing our attention to that other standard as well.

That is all that we have time for this morning. Clearly, we could talk more, but it was very good to see the building and the work that was being done, and I hope that people will have great homes when the project is done. Thank you for arranging the visit. It was good to meet you both.

I will suspend the meeting to allow a changeover of witnesses.

Welcome back. We continue to take evidence on retrofitting housing for net zero. We welcome our second panel. Bruce Cuthbertson is the chairperson of East Ayrshire Tenants and Residents Federation, Aaron Hill is director of policy and membership at the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Bryan Leask is the chief executive of Hjaltland Housing Association Ltd and Derek Logie is the chief executive of Rural Housing Scotland. Thank you for joining us.

If you wish to respond to questions or to contribute to the discussion, please put an R in the chat box to indicate that. Unfortunately, we only have 45 minutes together, so we will probably direct our questions to specific witnesses. If you feel that something has not been said in response to a question, please come in, but do not feel that you all have to come in on every question. Clearly, we could speak to you all day on the issues, but we have a time limit.

I will start on costs and financing. I direct my question to Aaron Hill. Do you believe that the Scottish Government is sufficiently aware of the costs of retrofitting homes at the national level?