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One factor that is driving cost increases and that came up in the evidence is Brexit. Professor Ken Gibb, from the University of Glasgow, highlighted concern about the

“economic change associated with Brexit.”

He said that Brexit is a “contributory factor” to the negative impact on labour supply and on the cost and shortages of materials. Do you share that concern? How is the Scottish Government considering the impact that Brexit is having?

My first question has been touched on, but I will ask it to see whether anything further needs to be said. What impact will the reported rise in insolvencies among small and medium-sized house builders have on the local delivery of affordable homes? I put that question to Fionna Kell first, and then to anyone else who would like to add anything.

Fionna Kell’s submission says:

“some home builders have and will consider projects unviable.”

You touched on that earlier, but will you provide a bit more detail on it? What can the Scottish Government do to address the issue?

Thank you.

I direct my next question to Ailsa Raeburn. Your submission states:

“There are unnecessary complexities in the funding and planning processes which, if addressed, could speed up the process and enable more communities to deliver hyper local schemes that meet local need.”

You touched on that in an earlier response, but will you expand on it and suggest any improvements that could be made?

Thank you.

I have a final question. Professor Gibb, in your submission, you put the scale of the challenge in context, including

“the working through of economic change associated with Brexit”.

Will you expand on that and say a bit more about the impact of Brexit?

Thank you.

Good morning. In the past two years, a massive amount of Covid-related support—approximately £4.6 billion—was channelled through local authorities at impressive speed. How confident is the commission that that money has been spent effectively and transparently?

Does anyone else want to come in on that, or can I move on to my next question?

Yes—a lot more services are being shared across East Dunbartonshire and West Dunbartonshire, which are the councils in my area.

I have a final question. The issue of reserves is covered in the financial overview. Given that the report was published in March, is there a more recent assessment of how much of local authorities’ £3.8 billion in reserves has been used up since March 2021?