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All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 971 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
I open up that question—
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
I know that, two or three months ago, there was a demonstration by the National Union of Students on this matter, but do you have any evidence of rent rises in that sector? A figure of around 30 per cent was mentioned, particularly in the Edinburgh area. Do you have any evidence to back that up?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
Okay. Does anybody else wish to comment?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
Thank you.
My next question is for Aaron Hill, first of all, then John Kerr and perhaps Timothy Douglas. How can tenants and landlords best be informed of any changes to legislation to ensure that the policy has maximum effect?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
What is the local authority point of view, John?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
I understand that John Blackwood wants to come in on that point, too.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
I hope that those stakeholders will include the committee, because we should not have to wait until the end of this six-month period before we can discuss and make decisions on our view of those things. I was going to raise this at the end of the meeting anyway, but it would be useful and helpful for the committee to be kept up to date with what is going on so that we can have discussions at that stage instead of at the end of the six months. It would be good to get your commitment on that, minister.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
Rhiannon, can you respond to the question?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
I am aware of the time, so I ask people to be brief on my final question, which is an important one. Everybody has touched on this issue. How should the Scottish Government monitor the impact of the rent freeze? What factors does it need to consider when it decides whether to extend the freeze beyond the end of March 2023? We have touched on how to develop longer-term legislative change.
I will go to Rhiannon Sims first and then open things up. People should be brief, if possible.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 4 October 2022
Paul McLennan
There is an onus on the Scottish Government, too, to do that general messaging. The minister is in next, and we will certainly ask him that question.
What is your members’ perspective, Timothy?