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That is very helpful. It is concerning to hear that there is a lot of worry and wondering about the system and processes.

You talked about it being possible to offer a mortgage at the EWS1 point but there being the SBA in the background. How could we move forward from that?

So, a bit more nuance is needed.

Thanks very much, Willie. I was just going to say that.

Marie McNair has questions for Chris. We will then come to Fionna, so if there is anything that you want to say at that point, you are welcome to do so.

We now turn to item 2, which is to take evidence on building safety, focusing in particular on progress over the past year on the single building assessment pilot programme, responses to the zero valuation of flats in blocks with potentially flammable cladding systems stemming from the external wall system 1 process, and the Scottish safer buildings accord. We are joined for our first panel by Chris Ashurst, who is group co-ordinator at the High Rise Scotland Action Group, and Fionna Kell, who is director of policy at Homes for Scotland.

I will begin. Chris—I will start with a question for you, and then I will come to other committee members. Are home owners and buyers still experiencing problems in moving or obtaining mortgages due to the zero valuation of homes that has been caused by concerns about fire safety? If so, what impact does that have on the people who are affected?

Do you want to say a bit more about that and unpack it a little bit for us so that we can understand it?

Thanks very much. As I said, I would be interested to hear an update on the single building assessment programme.

The Minister for Housing will be on the next panel, of course. The committee is glad that we have a housing minister to address that part of our remit. I agree with Chris Ashurst. I hope that we will see something more of the momentum that he talked about.

I thank both of you very much for coming in and sharing your perspectives on the work that you have been doing. That has been really helpful to us in our work.

I now suspend the meeting to allow for a changeover of witnesses.

For panel 2, we are joined by Paul McLennan, the Minister for Housing. Mr McLennan is accompanied by Government officials. Stephen Garvin is deputy director for building standards, and Rachel Sunderland is deputy director at the cladding remediation unit. Good morning and welcome.

Minister, can you provide an update on the single building assessment programme?

I made a note about Chris Ashurst’s comment on regular communication with people even if we do not have anything new to tell them, so I am glad that you picked up on that.

Is there something that we need to look at around tenure? I hear that we have a problem with a different tenure system. We have to sort out the current issues but, looking to the future, do we have a tenure system that causes problems?