Chamber and committees

Given your title—which is a long title; let us be honest—net zero is one of the key projects that you have been working on and that Parliament has been discussing. Most of the social housing sector is already warning that rewriting its 10-year plans will impact on investment in net zero. Where do you think it will now be impacted? If the sector cannot bring in the income and plan that expenditure, the first casualty of the rent freeze could be that those projects to retrofit, decarbonise and work towards net zero do not take place.

In terms of exemptions, I think that we need more clarity on what “substantial rent arrears” means in law, specifically with regard to where ministers would see that sitting. Is it three months of non-payment of rent, which I think is what I think is outlined in the bill?

During the pandemic, many landlords reduced rents to help to sustain tenancies. Does the legislation cover the rents that were reduced, or does it cover the contracted levels of rent? For example, for people who have received a 20 per cent discount on rent, do you expect the contracted level of their rent to be covered, or the reduced level?

I agree with that, but it also feels as though the horse might have bolted in relation to what the bill provides us with in relation to people withdrawing private rented properties in the future.

I want to move on to the exemptions in the bill, which we have now seen. What is your view on that quite substantial set of exemptions, which include “substantial rent arrears”? What potential impact might they have? With regard to, for example, repossession of a rental property by a bank, would that result in the property being able to be sold but not allow an individual to remain in it?

I am asking about the concerns that were expressed previously about Labour’s proposals.

Given the concerns that you have expressed previously about the unworkability of such a bill, do you expect a legal challenge to the bill?

What revisions will be in the bill for housing associations that are providing supported accommodation for vulnerable groups? They have additional costs that are associated with supporting residents, and those costs are often built into rent increases. Has there been a discussion with the sector about any additional costs that they will be facing?

Good morning. I will ask a few short questions; first, about legal competence. Can the minister confirm whether the legislation is compliant with article 1 of the European convention of human rights?

Thank you, convener. Further to Elena Whitham’s line of questioning, my question relates to the 26,000 households that are in the homelessness system. When is the proposed housing bill likely to be introduced, and what impact will the homelessness situation have on it? Will it include prevention duties? As we heard from the previous panel, homelessness services are being pushed to breaking point, and any unintended consequences of the legislation will only add further pressure. Given the record number of children in temporary accommodation, that would be unacceptable. Can the minister give an assurance as to when the housing bill will be introduced and what it will include that is not covered by the emergency legislation?