The Official Report is a written record of public meetings of the Parliament and committees.
All Official Reports of meetings in the Debating Chamber of the Scottish Parliament.
All Official Reports of public meetings of committees.
Displaying 581 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
Convener, I know that time is tight, so I am content with that.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
What role do you see councils having?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
You have touched on the actions that are required in the medium and long term and on what the housing system should look like to try to prevent homelessness and housing emergencies.
It would be useful to get a flavour of how effective you think that local authorities’ and the Scottish Government’s current actions are in working to achieve a housing system that is fit for the long term. It would also be useful to highlight areas of good practice that are already moving us towards the goal of achieving something that is more sustainable, as well as the foundations that local authorities and the Scottish Government are putting in that will help manage the crisis. Are there areas in local authorities’ and the Scottish Government’s work where we need to see more progress to ensure that long-term change?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
Professor Gibb, do you have anything to add?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
In our discussion with the previous panel, we touched on some of the medium and long-term issues to do with the housing system and how it is managed. A number of actions in the Scottish Government’s housing to 2040 strategy are about ensuring that the housing market operates fairly and provides affordable housing options and choices in all communities. It is a huge ask of councils to manage and implement some of those actions.
Do you think that any progress has been made on that aim? What else needs to be done to ensure that progress can be made? As councils, what role do you have in supporting that action? Do you think that that is not achievable as part of your role as councils? Perhaps we can start with Derek McGowan, then move round.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee [Draft]
Meeting date: 5 November 2024
Alexander Stewart
That is excellent.
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2024
Alexander Stewart
Dr Anderson, did you want to answer?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2024
Alexander Stewart
In that case, what suggestions would your organisations make for what should happen next? Yes, timescales have been short, but we have to make progress for the future. Some of the barriers are being managed better, and the relationship has improved in some locations. What are your wants and needs for the future to ensure that what the legal profession has—and continues to have—is relatively seamless in terms of what you want to achieve?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2024
Alexander Stewart
Does our legal profession find that it can work with some of the 27 member states? Are certain countries more amenable? If that is the case, which are they and why are they more amenable or why does the legal profession find working with them easier? Are some just not used at all, because of the complexities? You talked about a situation with Luxembourg that has now been resolved. Do the majority of the member states have such capacity, or do you find it easier to negotiate with some of them because they are some more favourable to working with you?
Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee
Meeting date: 31 October 2024
Alexander Stewart
Professor Collins, is there anything that you would like to add?