Chamber and committees

I can hear that you are over it.

Good morning. We have spoken a lot about the lack of co-ordination between services, and you have helpfully given us some pointers on how that situation can be improved. We have touched on the fact that the Scottish Government is developing its first national transitions to adulthood strategy, which is focused on five priority areas. Are the five priority areas the correct priority areas to be focused on? Those areas are empowerment for the young person; clear and coherent information; co-ordination of individual support; consistency of practice and support; and data to measure progress. Are those the right priorities for the strategy, or is there anything that you would want to change?

Charlotte, you mentioned the unusual way in which Scotland is approaching the issue. Tracey Francis mentioned Finland. Is there anywhere that we can learn lessons from that is doing such transitions work better than we are?

I have another question about vacant and derelict land. It has been suggested that more than half of that land can be developed over the next 10 years, but as we know, some of it has previously been used for manufacturing, for instance, and will need an awful lot of remedial work. Previously, we have had the vacant and derelict land fund, and we now have the low-carbon vacant and derelict land investment programme. What incentives are available to support developers in reusing brownfield sites?

I have one other question about local place plans. In previous evidence sessions, we have heard that only a handful of plans have been registered. In my constituency, some communities have the professional expertise to bring them forward, while others do not. Are there any plans to support communities in developing such plans?

Okay—thanks very much.

In my constituency and in constituencies in and around Edinburgh, there has been an awful lot of development on good-quality arable land. Having a policy of brownfield first is great, but is there anything in planning that can halt the building of housing on good-quality arable land when brownfield sites are available—and sometimes pretty close to the arable land that is being built on?

I have a quick question about the delay in land coming into use. Is there any evidence of land banking by local authorities or developers?

Thanks.

I am looking for a bit of clarification. Obviously, the housing emergency that has been declared is predominantly because of the lack of affordable housing. However, in 2022-23, we built the highest number of affordable homes since the year 2000, so I am keen to understand what is within the gift of the Scottish Government.

The housing allowance for private renters has been frozen, and the cost of buy-to-let mortgages has gone through the roof, which has pushed up private rents. In addition, payments have tripled for home owners who have renewed their mortgages.

First, bearing in mind that any housing emergency is about supply and demand, how much of that is within the remit of the Scottish Government?

Secondly, is there still a requirement for private housing developers to provide 25 per cent of affordable homes?