Seòmar agus comataidhean

Are there any other views on the proposed lower limit of 6 per cent and upper limit of 12 per cent for rent increases, or on the taper mechanism?

If not, that is fine.

I am the MSP for Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.

I have a broader question for the panel about overall quality standards in our new builds. Are they fit for purpose? Do they meet the demands and needs of the 21st century? Earlier, Brian Whittle talked about the green impact and designing our homes to be greener. There are digital requirements, too—homes should be digitally enabled. In this committee, you have probably heard us discussing the materials that are used to build our houses. We are talking about cladding, principally for higher buildings. Should we be thinking about the adequacy of good materials in our build standards? Are they fit for purpose for the modern home?

Jane, would you care to offer a view on broad quality standards and new-build quality?

I see that there are no other views.

I will get as close to the microphone as I can, and I will shout.

In your initial remarks, you also mentioned the importance of human protection schemes. Do you see there being an increasing reliance on those schemes in order to help with the problem at that level?

Thank you very much.

John, you indicated that you wanted to contribute.

Are there any other views on quality?

All the governance issues are the subject of the committee’s concerns and focus this morning, but what about the commission’s overall performance? What is expected of it as a commission? You have said that it is quite profitable in some of its engagements, but how is it judged on its performance and what it does? Who is looking after its performance, outcomes and targets? Where are we with that?

Had you not done that, no one would have sought retrospective approval and we would never have heard anything about the matter.

My questions are about the impact of all this on the commission’s ability to carry out its functions properly, and a little bit on the reserves and surpluses that you mentioned a wee minute ago. First, what is your assessment of the impact of the situation on the commission’s ability to carry out its duties and functions since the section 22 report revealed it?