Chamber and committees

Willie Coffey will now ask questions on what seems to be the hot topic of the day—data.

We discussed this in the previous session, but I would appreciate hearing what the witnesses think the list should be. Perhaps we could create that together now. Lisa Mallon was nodding enthusiastically, so I will put you on the spot.

Yes—the kind of data that councils would want to have.

The committee is certainly interested in quality.

In the previous session, Robin Blacklock mentioned the idea of rent per square foot. What do you think about that?

Derek McGowan, you seem to be interested in that.

On spot checks, what flags or signals do you get? How do you choose where to do spot checks?

You have gone on to my next question. However, I want to be clear that rent control areas will not be blanketed across Scotland. There will be a process whereby local authorities will review the situation, and the idea in the bill is that ministers will then consider whether it is appropriate to introduce such areas.

I go back to my initial question: what are your views on the bill’s provisions on rent control areas? Timothy Douglas has indicated that he wants to come in.

Thank you very much. I am sorry—I am just going to interrupt, because we do have lots of questions and my question initially was about the rent control area provision in the bill. If we could go there, it would be interesting to hear your perspective on that.

Thank you very much. My question was about how rent controls could be acceptable to institutional investors. Can I clarify that you are saying that we should link them to inflation?

Thanks very much for that. Gordon MacDonald, do you want to come in on a supplementary?