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Oh my God! Have we lost everybody?

I will try again. I was hoping that Tony Cain could comment on the progress that has been made with the “Ending Homelessness Together” action plan and the implementation of councils’ rapid rehousing action plans.

In looking at the matter from another angle, the Electoral Reform Society has said that more emphasis needs to be placed on local community needs than on electoral parity among diverse wards in a local authority area. What are your views on that?

Since Ellinore is not yet with us, I direct that question to Tony Cain from ALACHO, if he does not mind kicking off.

Thank you. Since no one else has indicated that they want to come in on that, I move to my second question, which I will direct to Stacey Dingwall from the SFHA. How have tenants been affected by the pandemic? Are you concerned about increases in arrears and potential increases in eviction action and homelessness? If so, does the Scottish Government need to consider any further protections?

Thank you. I understand that Tony Cain wants to come in.

Hi. I can hear you now.

Thank you very much for that, Tony. You mentioned the registered social landlords sector and housing associations, so perhaps we could hear from Stacey Dingwall about SFHA’s perspective on the partnership role that it plays in the ending homelessness together action plan.

Good morning, Deputy First Minister.

I want to explore how Boundaries Scotland calculates total and ward councillor allocations. What are the benefits of having similar voter to councillor ratios across all wards in a council area? Would variations in the voter to councillor ratio have an impact on effective and convenient local government?

Good morning and welcome, to everybody on the panel. Before I get started, I refer members to my entry in the register of members’ interests and declare that I am still a serving councillor on East Ayrshire Council.

I will explore some issues under theme 1, which is, as the convener said, about tenants’ rights, homelessness and housing quality. I direct my first question to Ellinore Folkesson of Living Rent. Do you agree that tenants’ rights need to be improved, and what would you like to see in the Scottish Government’s forthcoming rented sector strategy? If anybody wants to come in after Ellinore, I ask them to type R in the chat box.