Seòmar agus comataidhean

It is important to look at the issue in the round.

Finally, I have a more generic question for all panel members. What is the biggest blocker to the delivery of new homes? That could be in the social setting or of course in the private rented sector.

Thank you, convener—I appreciate the opportunity to come in with a last-minute question.

I note that, similarly to Fulton MacGregor, I regularly work alongside Stephen Llewellyn in relation to local housing casework.

My question is on housing waiting lists and the points-based system that operates in council areas up and down the country. Based on what we have heard today in relation to needs, wants and aspirations, will there come a point when we have to adapt the points-based system to meet modern-day housing challenges?

I will kick off with Stephen Llewellyn, given the vast amount of people who are on housing waiting lists in North Lanarkshire just now.

Good morning. My question relates to rural areas, which we know are in danger of being left behind when it comes to Scotland’s housing emergency. Many jobs in rural Scotland tend to be lower paid, with wages in general not keeping pace with inflation. There is also less local infrastructure and less access to public services, which makes it less likely that young people will stay, so they often move to other parts of the country. How do we tackle depopulation? Could addressing that issue be the answer to tackling Scotland’s housing emergency in our rural areas?

I do not have a question at the moment, convener.

Thank you. It is great to be back on the committee and I look forward to working with you all once more. My only declaration of interest at present is that I was a serving councillor on North Lanarkshire Council between 2017 and 2021. Of course, if there are any future declarations of interest, I will update the committee as and when appropriate.

I associate myself with Paul O’Kane’s comments about the fact that access to legal services is vitally important to everyone. We have been speaking about human rights this morning. We need to ensure that people can access legal services when they need to. I share the concerns about the annulment as it is presented in the motion. That is not because I do not believe that the matter should be looked into. It absolutely should be looked into.

I seek reassurance from the minister with regard to the review of legal fees, which she touched on briefly in her opening statement. The committee could explore that or the Scottish Government could pursue it directly on the back of what we have discussed today. It would be helpful if the minister could address that when she sums up. I sympathise with the points that have been raised about ensuring that people can get access to justice support when they need it.

We can take that point, and we can look to work together on these important issues, but the human rights bill is not coming into place so that we can scrutinise, debate and inform it. The right to food and the right to housing have been mentioned by other colleagues. Are you disappointed that we cannot have discussions about the right to housing and the right to food, which could have been incorporated in the bill?

It is about looking at what the Scottish Government can do in relation to issues here in Scotland that are within its devolved remit. That is where I think the cabinet secretary should focus her interest regarding housing or the right to food. However, we do not have a bill where we can stack that up.

I thank the cabinet secretary for her time this morning.

Good morning, cabinet secretary and officials. The Scottish Parliament is one of the most powerful devolved Governments in the world, but there have been issues in relation to the Scottish Government acting outwith devolved competence when it comes to particular legislation that has gone through the Parliament. On the stakeholder engagement that has happened on the human rights bill over the past 10 years, has the Scottish Government overpromised and underdelivered when it comes to the bill’s timeframe and what the Government can do within its competence?

I disagree with that completely when it comes to what this Parliament can do within its devolved scope. We talk about issues such as the housing crisis and the right to food, with reference to the human rights bill. Those areas come under devolved competence and are therefore the responsibility of the Scottish Government.

Looking ahead, does the Scottish Government intend to bring the bill back before the next election in 2026, or will it hang on until after that election?