Chamber and committees

The research focuses entirely on candidates. Is any follow-up work planned to survey those who were successfully elected to get a picture of how many female councillors there are and how many councillors there are, according to age bracket, education level and socioeconomic background? Is any follow-up work planned for the councillor cohort so that we can get a picture of what that looks like?

I will move on to another area. You have touched on the MATHLR figures. I want to bring it back to a stage before that, and to the housing need and demand assessment tool that informs those figures. Last week at committee, we heard contrasting evidence from witnesses who said that the HNDA tool was not fit for purpose because it both underestimated and overestimated figures. I am also concerned that it does not fully take into account the number of concealed households out there, which is a potential obstruction for young people who, clearly, have both a need and a demand to go out and make their own way. I wonder whether, given those conflicting views from witnesses, there is enough confidence in that tool and whether the work that has informed the MATHLR figures is robust enough.

Trade unions and local authorities have expressed concerns about a potential wholesale transfer of staff and assets to a new directorate, essentially. However, the minister set out a different direction of travel when he was at the committee. He said that any transfer of assets or staff to the provider of last resort would be only in the event of a care home failure or a service failure.

What is the current situation in terms of the provider of last resort? How would the national care service change that in light of how the minister set things out? I will come to Mike Burns first.

Thanks for that.

This is my second question. The review of adult social care reported that

“Trust is not currently in plentiful supply in social care support”.

Do the witnesses agree, and do you feel that the situation is the same when it comes to national health service provision and, if not, why there might be a disparity in terms of trust not being there in social care settings but being there in health settings? That is for Sophie Lawson, first.

We have heard concerns from local authorities and trade unions about the prospect of a wholesale transfer of staff and assets to a new national service. Last week, the minister tried to allay those concerns by saying that it would only be a provider of last resort, in the event of a failure. What has led to that level of confusion? Why was there such concern in the sector about a wholesale transfer of staff? What would be your view on that if it came to pass?

Yes. Thanks.

My other question is about trust. The review report said:

“Trust is not currently in plentiful supply in social care support”.

Do you agree with that? Do you recognise that there is a difference between trust in social care and trust in the NHS? Why do you think that might be?

In previous meetings, the committee raised issues around a potential capital investment plan. Essentially, that was to allow us to scrutinise how the ambitions of NPF4 could be met. Will the minister set out why a decision has been taken not to include a capital investment plan? Might the Government reconsider that?

I will ask about local engagement with the various planning authorities. Did they all engage fully, or were there various levels of interaction with your department?

Good morning. Given the economic turmoil, it is understandable that there has been a lot of focus on economic growth on the part of the Government and the Parliament. Are you confident that the draft NPF4 will encourage, enable and, indeed, drive sustainable economic growth?

There has been a lot of focus from Government and Parliament on economic growth, which is understandable given the recent turmoil. Is there enough emphasis on economic growth within the draft planning framework? Are you confident that the planning framework will enable and drive economic growth in Scotland? Is it compatible with that focus?