Chamber and committees

Does anyone else want to come in?

Thank you for that, but I suppose that my point was really about the workforce in rural communities. For example, is the Government looking at an uplift in the low-carbon heat skills grant for rural apprenticeships and specifically for small to medium-sized enterprises, which will potentially have to let individuals go and do training and will therefore need to get extra cover or to find out how that will work for them and their business? What work is going on in that respect, given that the once-for-Scotland approach does not necessarily seem to be working for SMEs and for rural Scotland? What about the additional costs of transport for students going to rural colleges or, indeed, places such as Edinburgh where capacity seems to be building quickly?

My question is on a completely separate point regarding the cost implications for consumers—in particular, the estimate of an additional £30,000 on the cost of a new-build home with a heat pump. The Scottish Government has taken away much of what was in the help-to-buy schemes. Is there a need to develop something completely new in that respect to support people—potentially to cover that part of the additional cost of housing for people who are getting on to the property ladder?

Good morning, everyone. I am a Conservative MSP for the Lothian region.

Thanks. Does anyone else want to come in on that point?

On two occasions, ministers, when both of you have been at the committee, you have outlined how important the third sector is in our communities, and how much of a role it played during the pandemic. However, in an evidence session, the community planning minister acknowledged that there are places in Scotland where third sector involvement “is not happening”. The committee’s report recommended a new requirement for CPPs to invite the third sector to engage in community planning. The Government has not accepted that recommendation. What do you intend to do to try to make sure that our third sector is part of the conversation, going forward?

Thank you. It would be useful if we had a flow chart to show how all those strands connect.

The Verity house agreement reiterates the commitment to incorporate the European charter of local self-government into Scots law. Could you outline the timescale in which you expect that work to be completed and any parliamentary timescales that will be needed?

That is helpful. It would be helpful if you could keep the committee updated on that.

Thank you.

On the single authority model, when we were up in Orkney, we had very constructive discussions with the council about its plans in that respect, but I did not think that it was quite clear where, if councils were to move towards such a model, any future discussions on a funding formula would take place, especially with regard to health and council funding. Is any work taking place on what that might look like?