Seòmar agus comataidhean

We have agreed to take the next item in private, so I close the public part of the meeting.

I really appreciate your emphasising numerous times that the instrument applies to new-build houses, because one aspect of the confusion around the first iteration of this SSI was whether it would affect existing homes.

You have talked about the number of such houses in cities, but certainly in the sort of small town where I live, there could be new-build housing on the edges where there is a rural atmosphere and people might seek to have a wood-burning stove. Indeed, I think that that is starting to happen. I hope that the work that is being done on heat in buildings will ensure that we have such high standards and such warm homes that people will not seek to have these things, but I just want to ensure that you are aware that this sort of thing can happen not just in cities. I take your point about the opportunity that is presented by the cleaner air for Scotland 2 strategy review to address some of the air and health issues.

Do we also need to look at planning and ensure that, with any housing projects that come forward, we are not getting this sort of thing happening with a whole lot of housing that is not necessarily in a city but which might be on the edge of a town? After all, something that came across to me in the evidence from the four organisations that got in touch with us was the cumulative effect. You could have, say, a temperature inversion; when a number of people have their wood-burning stoves on, the smoke gets held down and neighbours start to experience health impacts.

Good evening, and welcome to the 35th meeting in 2024 of the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee. I remind all members and witnesses to ensure that their devices are on silent.

The first item on our agenda is a decision on whether to take item 3 in private. Do members agree to take that item in private?

Members indicated agreement.

Thank you very much. I think that that opening statement was very helpful in giving us a sense of the direction, your understanding of the issues and, indeed, the reason for our calling this additional meeting. I certainly have questions, and I think that colleagues might well come in, too, on the back of what you have said.

I hear what you have said, minister, but the health impact of wood-burning stoves has come to light as we have been considering this SSI. I was wondering whether, in the development of the instrument and during the review process, any work was done or health impact assessment carried out on removing the restrictions on people who live in urban areas.

Thank you for joining us. We have completed our questions. It has been reassuring to hear the minister’s statement and your responses to our questions.

As the SSI is a negative instrument, there is no requirement for the committee to make any recommendations on it. As members have no further comments on the instrument, does the committee agree to make no recommendations on the instrument?

Members indicated agreement.

In urban areas.

To reassure committee members, what kind of monitoring will you be doing on the SSI’s impact if we agree to it?

Thank you very much. Do any colleagues want to come in?

The next item on our agenda is to take evidence on the Building (Scotland) Amendment (No 2) Regulations 2024 from the Acting Minister for Climate Action, who is joined, from the Scottish Government, by Madeleine Plater, the head of domestic regulation and enforcement in the heat in buildings division, and Neal Rafferty, the head of the heat strategy and consumer policy unit. I welcome the minister and his officials to the meeting.

I invite the minister to give a brief opening statement.

I will bring in Mark Griffin, who joins us online.