Chamber and committees

Let me pick up on something that you said earlier. You talked about insurers carrying out work, such as repairs. What is the role of the insurance industry in the transition to net zero? For example, does that include handling claims and repairs more sustainably, or having sustainable sourcing in supply chains?

I understand. Thank you.

Good morning, panel.

I direct my first question to Emma Harvey. In your answer to my colleague Natalie Don, you talked about owner-occupiers in particular. How would you increase the attractiveness of the products and measures that you are talking about among those who would not see a return on their investment? I am thinking, for example, of buy-to-let landlords or those who do not have the ability, or indeed the inclination in the current climate, to take on additional borrowing.

My next question is for Ben Howarth. You talked about skills and about local authorities co-ordinating with insurers and pension funds to ensure that investments go where they need to. Is there the sufficient skill set and integrated thinking across and within our 32 local authorities to achieve that? If not, what should happen and who should lead it?

Does anyone else on the panel want to come in on effective partnerships or funding for local authorities?

Tom Norris, on a point that you made to the convener, is there adequate funding for social landlords to meet retrofitting costs, EESSH2 and the energy performance certificate B rating? If not, where would be a realistic place to get that funding? Will it come from central Government or local authorities, or will you need to leverage private finance?

I have a question for Niall Robertson. The Scottish Government is proposing regulations that require new homes to use zero-emission heating systems from 2024. Is that realistic not just in cost terms but in the light of the skills and supply chains that will be required to install and maintain such systems?

I am grateful to you all. I have no further questions, convener.

Good morning. I will direct several questions to specific people.

Fionna Kell, on the point that you made just now and in an earlier answer to the convener, the Scottish Government, in its heat in buildings strategy, puts a cost of £33 billion on decarbonising heating. From what I have heard from you so far, that figure might already be out of date. Is that a fair conclusion?

Fionna Kell, what do you think about that? Is the deadline of 2024 for zero-emission heating systems in new builds realistic not only from a cost perspective but in terms of skills and supply chains?