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Just for clarity, then, it is the Government’s view that rent rises can legally go ahead up until 5 December.

Again, just for clarity, my understanding is that the effective rent cap period runs from 6 December to 1 July, as long as no provisions are repealed.

I just want to move to the other end of the freeze. Is it the Government’s understanding that a rent increase notice cannot be issued up to and including 31 March, which means that no rent rise can take effect until 1 July? In other words, does the effective rent cap period run from 6 December to 1 July? Have I understood that correctly?

I am asking the questions purely on the basis of what a tenant’s practical experience would be. I think that I have clarity from the minister.

The grant subsidy benchmark system exists, and the cabinet secretary will know that there is some flexibility in it to allow the approval of projects beyond the benchmark. Given the level of inflation in the construction industry, has the Government given any consideration to increasing benchmark levels in advance of the formal process in April 2023, to avoid the delays that can happen when applications are subject to an extra level of scrutiny?

The cabinet secretary said that roughly half of approvals are at or below benchmark and roughly half are over it. When the programme started, were such proportions expected? Is that a sign that the benchmark system is working? Is it generating more work than was expected because the applications that are over benchmark need more detailed scrutiny?

You mentioned the Scottish social housing tender price index. Given everything else that is going on in the world and with UK interest rates and inflation, is that index robust enough? Does it provide a data set that is robust enough for RSLs and councils to be confident that they will be able to meet the costs of building the homes that we know that we need?

The differential in benchmarks between RSLs and councils has been a sore point for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for a long time. Last year, you told the committee that the differential was there because of differences in the availability of borrowing to RSLs and councils. Will that ever be resolved to councils’ satisfaction? Will there ever be parity in benchmarking?

The Accounts Commission and, to be fair, other organisations have highlighted issues relating to the lack of multiyear financial settlements, including issues that that has caused for long-term planning and financial management. Putting aside the impact of some of the drastic cuts in the resource spending review, does the five-year plan give local authorities the certainty that they need to plan services over the next five years? I will go to Bill Moyes first on that.

That is helpful. Thank you.