Chamber and committees

That is helpful. We have been hearing about that in different contexts, such as in planning departments, in the work that we have been doing.

I want to move on to a question about why many of the cases that are escalated to the SPSO are then subsequently closed by you, with the conclusion that they had been well handled by the public body. I believe that 908 cases were closed for that reason in 2021. What route would you recommend to complainants who feel that the door has been closed on their concerns?

That is helpful. Have you seen the increase because people have been asked to provide evidence through email, for example, or have not been able to get hold of documents from their general practitioner, because they have not been able to see them?

What would be the average time to do deal with one of those cases?

I mean the number of reviews of decisions on crisis grants, including applications being rejected by local authorities.

Thank you. That was helpful.

How do you use the charter to drive performance? Probably every MSP is used to hearing complaints about repairs and the very poor living conditions that people are sometimes in. As an MSP, I have had cases in which mould in people’s homes has not been fixed for years, so I have gone to the council to fight to have that rectified. How can the charter drive performance? Are there examples of interventions in which the charter has led you to take up such issues?

The committee has received a number of submissions in relation to our scrutiny of the revised charter. Living Rent argues that the current process for landlords self-assessing against the charter indicators is not suitable and it would like a more robust and accountable regulatory approach to delivery of the charter outcomes. What are your views on that concern? Is what you have outlined almost a toothless tiger in relation to your ability to go after individual landlords to try to improve outcomes?

How often have those powers been used by the regulator?

What were the circumstances of those cases? I understand that you may not have the detail of that to hand, in which case you could write to us.

Good morning, Mr Walker and Mr Cameron. Thank you for joining us. How do you monitor social landlords on progress against the Scottish social housing charter, and how is that information used within your regulatory framework? We can start with that, then move on to a few other points.

Before I ask David Phillips to respond, I will expand the question a little bit. From your experience, which budget lines are likely to be targeted? The budget has cut £120 million from local government. Is the national health service budget, which has increased above inflation every year since the Parliament was established, one that we might look to? Where do you think ministers will look to find the money?