Chamber and committees

That is helpful. I will not ask any more questions, but I will reflect briefly on what you say, Suzie.

I think that you suggested last week, convener, that whether this Parliament can put a statutory duty on an organisation to have that responsibility is one thing, but if we are involved, we should at least have a voluntary arrangement with organisations. We have heard about the Home Office and GPs, and Suzie mentioned the DWP. I will not come back with any more questions, but would you like to see any other organisations on the list in relation to the duty?

That was helpful. I am sure that colleagues will ask about resources and training later.

Moving on to Mike Callaghan, I am going to be a bit cheeky and roll my third question into what I have already asked and get Mr Callaghan to respond to all of them. Mr Callaghan, can you reflect on what you have heard from a COSLA perspective? Also, are there other bodies or individuals that should be added to the list? Suggestions that we have heard include the Home Office—that would be a voluntary partnership, of course—and, last week, general practitioners. I just want to get your reflections on what you have heard so far as well as on those suggestions.

Good morning, everyone. I have just a couple of brief questions. The bill lists specific bodies that will have the new statutory ask and act duties placed on them, but are they the right ones? What role is there for third sector organisations in helping to implement the duties? In short, are the right organisations in the list, and how can the third sector contribute?

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for your time in helping us to scrutinise the proposed legislation.

How do the relevant bodies that are listed in the bill in relation to the ask and act duty already work with local authority homelessness services to prevent homelessness? How will the new statutory duty to ask and act make a difference and improve things? I am conscious that some of the partner bodies that are listed in the bill are with us today. Maybe we could start with Susie Fitton to hear a housing association perspective.

And that is across all public bodies.

The Government will have to sharpen up its thoughts on how we do that. Suzie, do you have anything to add?

It is for anyone, because I will not get back in. It is an opportunity for any other organisation to come back in and to say something that will go into the Official Report. If no one wants to speak, that is fine.

That is helpful, because I think that the intention of the bill is that you look ahead.

Pat Togher, could you please answer both questions from an integration joint board point of view?

I know that there is a time constraint, but I will check one thing and ask that you answer briefly, although that might be difficult to do. What difference would the ask and act duty make to the best practice that you are sharing with us? Will it relate to housing associations themselves or to their relationship with other public bodies?

That is helpful. Before I bring Heather McCluskey in, I will throw in my next question, too, because of the time constraints. It would be helpful if you could reflect on this as well, and we would like to hear anything more that you have to say on the relevant bodies for the ask and act duty. How do we make sure that the enforcement and accountability framework is meaningful and substantive but not overly bureaucratic? I throw that in at the end, Heather. We might get very similar views on the bodies from all the witnesses.