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I want to get some more detail on the issue. Were any promises made at the time? Did you feel that the money was going to be in the settlement and was that stressed to the cabinet secretary? What were the responses? Can you give a bit more detail on how this will be funded?

Good morning, cabinet secretary, and good morning, Fiona.

It is clear that SLARC was set up as a joint review by COSLA and the Scottish Government. That was echoed earlier by the COSLA chief executive, Jane O’Donnell. Also mentioned in the evidence session was that the relationship between COSLA and the Scottish Government started positively but that, as time went on, especially around April, attendance by Scottish Government officials fell, especially around the time when the council tax freeze came in, with relationships worsening. Therefore, could the cabinet secretary explain why the Scottish Government is now saying that it is up to local government to fund the salary changes for councillors, which account for a total of £4.6 million, when it started with a joint partnership between the Scottish Government and COSLA?

I echo the point that representation of communities is important. I was one of the first women of colour to come in to the Parliament, along with Kaukab Stewart, and was the first Indian woman. It took a long time—until 2021—for that to happen. It is important that we spread that through our councils to ensure that they represent communities in the right way, with the right people as councillors, so I absolutely agree with you.

If the Scottish Government refuses the request to pay for the SLARC recommendations, is it COSLA’s view that regulations should not be introduced early next year? I know that we have talked a little about timings.

When will that report come out?

I will pick up on the local authority working group. Minister, you have probably heard the earlier evidence sessions on the bill. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities spoke about having a national approach, because a collective approach would ensure that no legal challenges come through. Witnesses have also said that resources are very important. Are you looking at that in the bill? Council budgets are already cut, so looking to them to collect the data will put more of a burden on them. Where will you address the need for local authorities to have the right resources and support mechanisms in place?

What are your thoughts on the national approach?

Thank you, convener, and good morning, minister and supporting officials.

In previous evidence sessions, witnesses raised concerns that the Housing (Scotland) Bill could shrink the market and lead to a further reduction in the number of homes available. Witnesses emphasised the importance of giving confidence to investors in the build-to-rent market, and they believe that changes are required in the bill. Does the Scottish Government accept that those are valid concerns? If so, what changes to the bill does it believe are necessary?

In your answer to the first question, you said that a task force had been set up. Is that task force working? You told me that investors and banks are on the task force and are giving you guidance, but over the weeks that the committee has been taking evidence on the bill, we have heard that there is a big issue with certainty in investment and the fact that people do not want to invest in the housing market any more. People who have given evidence to the committee have said clearly that there is an issue.

Previous witnesses told us that there is a lack of robust data, which could leave councils liable to legal action should they decide to enforce a rent control area. In fact, data on the private rented sector is so poor that we cannot reliably tell whether it is growing or shrinking. Witnesses are sceptical about whether a robust data set will be in place by 2026. Do you share those concerns? If so, what action is the Scottish Government taking to improve data on the private rented sector? I also have a question about the national side of the matter, but I will let you answer that right now.

My supplementary question is about a huge issue that is driving up rents. We all know that we simply do not have enough homes in Scotland. Has the Scottish Government taken any action to better understand the resource constraints associated with tradespeople in the private rented sector?