 The next item of business is portfolio questions. The portfolio questions today is social justice, housing and local government. If a member wishes to request a supplementary question, they should press the request-to-speak button during the relevant question or enter the letter R in the chat function. Again, I would make a plea in order to get as many members in as possible for succinct questions and answers to match. We heard at FMQs earlier this afternoon about a report by Glasgow University in the Glasgow Centre for Population that, due to Tory austerity, 20,000 more deaths in Scotland than expected were recorded in an eight-year period. What recent engagement has had with the UK Government regarding the impact of the cost-of-line crisis on poverty levels in Scotland so that we can avoid similar excess deaths in the future? I certainly share the member's concern, as expressed by the First Minister, about that shocking report. The First Minister and the Deputy First Minister have made repeated calls for immediate action to support households following the UK mini-budget. The Deputy First Minister has again written to the Chancellor seeking a reversal of the damage inflicted on people who are already bearing the brunt in having to choose between going hungry or cold. We will continue to use the limited-power and finite budget available to mitigate the impact of actions that, under minor efforts to tackle poverty and to press the UK Government for targeted support for householders and businesses, increases to social security and for greater financial powers and resources. That report that Paul McClellan referred to was looking back to the previous austerity, and it is very frightening indeed that we could see that repeated again and more so with a new era of austerity, which, of course, we want to avoid. Paul McClellan? I thank the cabinet secretary for her answer. There is no doubt that UK Government policies are adding huge pressure on those who are already struggling to stay afloat. Does the cabinet secretary share my frustrations that, while the Scottish Government is doing all that it can tell the people, the reality is that there is a limit to what can be achieved without the full fiscal powers and boring powers that the UK Government has? Cabinet secretary, I share that frustration, and while the decisions of the UK Government continue to put people into hardship, we have allocated almost £3 billion this year from our fixed budget, which is a budget that is worth £1.7 billion less than it was in December due to inflation. The harsh reality of a fixed budget means that every pound that we spend to help with rising costs will have to be funded by reductions elsewhere, and that is why it is vital that this Parliament should have the full powers to be able to tackle poverty and the cost of living and support those in need. Ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to provide additional financial resources for the third sector organisations that are on the front line in providing advice and support services as the cost of living crisis continues to deepen. The third sector is hugely diverse, often providing lifeline services to our most vulnerable communities. That is why we have invested £12.5 million to support the provision of free income maximisation and welfare and debt advice this year. Although we do all we can, our largely fixed budgets and limited fiscal powers mean that we need the UK Government to take urgent action to support those in need. We continue to deliver on key commitments to the third sector around fairer funding by providing multi-year funding where we can to provide much-needed stability in those uncertain times. In the summer, I met a wide range of third sector organisations across West Scotland, including the Lockwinock Community Pantry and Starterpacks and Verclyde. New research from SEVO has revealed the precarious situation that third sector organisations are facing, with figures showing that 64 per cent of third sector organisations have reported an increase in demand and 61 per cent have described facing imminent financial challenges. Many indeed are worried about how they will keep the lights on and the doors open. Will the cabinet secretary commit to establishing a new third sector resilience fund, as was the case at the start of the pandemic, to ensure that third sector organisations can continue to support the most vulnerable rather than being focused on their own survival? Paul O'Kane raises some important points. He is quite right to highlight the work of important front-line organisations that are really helping people during the cost of living crisis. SEVO has estimated that the public sector is a whole investor of £1.8 billion each year to support the work of charities and social enterprises. Of that, around £500 million comes from the Scottish Government through a broad range of programmes, including supporting mental wellbeing, community empowerment, children, families, health and social care. We are talking to the sector about how we move more to multi-year funding, because we know that stability is important not least to be able to retain and recruit staff, so we will continue to have those discussions. As we take forward discussions through the emergency budget review and the budget beyond that, of course we will give consideration to the points that the member raises. Cabinet Secretary, in the debate on Tuesday night, you said that your officers and yourself meet regularly with SEVO to talk about different issues. Will you commit now for yourself to meet with SEVO to talk about three-year funding packages? Will you commit to meeting with them? As I have just said to Paul O'Kane and my answer to him, we will continue to meet with SEVO and others to talk about multi-year funding. That is what we are doing already. We will continue to have those meetings, but the point that I need to make to Jeremy Balfour is that if we see continued reductions to our budgets, either through inflation and the £1.7 billion reduction in value of existing budgets, plus the potential £18 billion worth of cuts to public services that could come at us from the UK Government decisions, that puts at risk funding across the board, including the support that we give to the third sector. Therefore, I urge Jeremy Balfour to be having the same discussions with his UK counterparts about the importance of maintaining Scottish budgets for those very reasons. As a former third sector worker, I recognise just how much organisations across Scotland support our communities. It is abundantly clear that additional funding is required from the UK Government to meet the demands of the current cost crisis, especially as the cabinet secretary has outlined the £1.7 billion reduction in our budget due to inflation. Therefore, what engagement the Scottish Government has had with other devolved administrations regarding that specific issue? The Deputy First Minister spoke with the finance ministers from Wales and Northern Ireland last month, who are facing similar pressures. The Deputy First Minister and his counterpart wrote to the chancellor last week to request an urgent meeting and called for additional funding to deal with that crisis. It is really important that that meeting takes place, because it is not just the Scottish Government that is voicing those concerns. The same concerns are being voiced from the Welsh Government and from the Northern Ireland Assembly as well. 3. Fulton Gregor To ask the Scottish Government what its response is regarding the impact on Scotland of the UK Government's reported plans to withdraw the Bill of Rights Bill. It was very welcome to hear the UK Government postpone their dangerous, ill-conceived Bill of Rights Bill, which was an unwelcome attempt to private all of the rights and freedoms that are the foundations of a modern democratic society. It would also have undermined the Scottish Parliament and the devolution settlement. I was therefore concerned by comments at the weekend from the UK Justice Secretary who said that he remained committed to reforming the Human Rights Act. I would instead urge the UK Government to reverse the plans and instead focus on making rights real for everyone across the whole of the UK. Fulton Gregor I thank the minister for that response. I wonder if she can outline what steps the Scottish Government is taking to ensure the protection of EU, international and domestic human rights law in Scotland as a right-wing UK Government, whether it is through the Bill of Rights or just a general approach to the United Kingdom, continue to threaten them. In contrast to the regressive approach of the UK Government, our priority is to strengthen the domestic legal protection and practical application of international human rights standards. We have already committed to introducing a new landmark human rights bill during the current Parliament and we also remain committed to incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as far as possible within devolved competence and to aligning with European law in devolved areas where that is possible and appropriate. I continue to urge the UK Government to reaffirm their commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights and the Human Rights Act. 4. Arianne Burgess To ask the Scottish Government how it will overcome reported significant skills and supply change shortages in the Highlands and Islands to deliver 11,000 rural and island homes by 2032. The Scottish Government is aware of the global issues affecting construction that are impacting on affordable housing delivery. We are working closely with the construction industry and housing partners to mitigate this where possible and we operate a flexible grant system that can take account of increased costs. More than 6,000 affordable homes were delivered in rural and island communities over the previous Parliament and we have started towards our next target. We are aware of the barriers in those though and that is why we are developing a remote rural and islands housing action plan to help deal with that. 4. Arianne Burgess I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. While the challenge of the housing crisis in the Highlands and Islands is significant, so are the opportunities for job creation and investment. Therefore, can I ask the cabinet secretary to tell me what work has been done to estimate the required jobs and skills training programmes needed in the Highlands and Islands to tackle this crisis? 4. Arianne Burgess With partners, we have identified very much the opportunities that Arianne Burgess refers to around job creation and investment. We know that the skills are shorted, particularly in the construction industry. Skills development in Scotland and other partners are really important that we are encouraging young people into those trades and careers. That also has the benefit of keeping young people living in rural communities. It is not just about providing housing, although affordable housing is key. It is also about the jobs and other opportunities that go with that. I am very happy to keep Arianne Burgess updated about the progress that is being made. 5. Arianne Burgess As well as skills shortages, another issue that is affecting the delivery of new housing in the islands is the unwillingness of energy supply companies to install metres in new-build properties. I wonder whether the cabinet secretary might be minded to liaise with our cabinet secretary colleague Michael Matheson in making representations to him about how this market failure might be addressed, not least by lifting the ban on distribution network operators fitting metres while they install the supply in new properties in island communities. Liam McArthur raises an important point. It is not just an issue that affects Orkney and the islands, but it is an issue that has affected other new-builds, and it is being able to get them ready for occupation. That is very frustrating. I am happy to speak to colleagues and to come back to them. Of course, it is important that we raise those matters as frequently as we can to try to get progress made so that it does not hold up particularly affordable housing supply. 5. Arianne Burgess Some of the several severe unintended consequences of the SNP's rent-free proposals in the words of the Federation of Housing Associations has a negative impact on the development of new homes, improvements to existing stock and pursuit of net zero targets and a reduced development of rented homes in both the social and private sectors will inevitably reduce availability where supplies are already stretched. What analysis has the Scottish Government done on the impact of the legislation going through at the moment on housing availability in rural and island areas? First, we have a good track record of delivering affordable housing, whether that is in urban Scotland or in rural and islands communities. The latest figures out on Tuesday show that we have delivered nearly 113,000 affordable homes since 2007, over 79,000 of which were for social rent. That is 62 per cent more affordable than how homes are being delivered per head of population than in England. The context to our affordable housing supply programme is important. We have debated over the last two days the emergency measures that we are taking in order to support tenants and avoid them losing their homes and not being able to afford their rents. We have spoken to the SFHA in detail about working in partnership around an agreement that can be put in place that makes sure that the investment in social housing, whether it is in rural Scotland or in urban Scotland, continues to be made. I would make this point that is being made not just by the Scottish Association of Landlords, but by the Scottish Association of Landlords. The key problem for landlords at the moment are interest rates that are putting their costs up. Perhaps a member should pay more attention to that. Finally, it is well seen what side the Tory party is on when it comes to supporting tenants. Perhaps that is why they are where they are in the polls that have been published this week. To ask the Scottish Government how the needs of mobile home residents will be incorporated into the final new deal for tenants. The consultation on our new deal sought views on how we can improve accessibility, standards and affordability choices across the whole rented sector. The focus of the question on mobile homes were issues for people who have a standard tenancy on a mobile home owned by a landlord. It also committed us to a post-implementation review of the mobile home site licensing scheme. We are now considering our responses to the consultation about issues for renters of mobile homes to identify potential gaps in protections that will inform our housing bill. I thank the cabinet secretary for that answer. The draft new deal for tenants underlined that the Scottish Government intends to carry out a post-implementation review of the residential mobile home sites licensing scheme before the end of this Parliament. While that is welcome news to constituents who live in mobile and park homes, many of them worry that issues around enforcement of the licensing scheme are not being addressed quickly enough. Can I ask the cabinet secretary's assurance that the needs of mobile home residents will be considered with the same urgency as those living in other types of residents? I am committed to ensuring that people living permanently in mobile homes have appropriate protections. The new site licensing system for residential mobile home sites was introduced in May 2017 and came fully into force in May 2019. It provides local authorities with a range of powers to help them to issue, manage and revoke site licences to ensure sites meet modern standards, including the behaviour of site owners. And while the review will seek improvements for the licensing framework, local authorities remain responsible for enforcing licensing conditions in the meantime. We are happy to keep the member updated of progress. Thank you, Presiding Officer. Pitch fees for my Cunningham South constituents who live on mobile sites rise by a maximum of RPI annually. The gap between RPI and CPI is increasing with pitch fees growing faster than pension incomes. Can I ask the Scottish Government to look at addressing this by moving uprating to CPI? Mobile home pitch fee increases are regulated under the Mobile Homes Act 1983. Under the act, there is a presumption that pitch fees rise by a maximum of RPI annually. We have heard concerns that the gap between RPI and CPI is growing with the result that pitch fees are growing faster than pension incomes. We will therefore undertake the required consultation on moving the basis of upgrading from RPI to CPI in time for the forthcoming housing bill. That would slow the rate of pitch fee increases in the future. I am happy again to keep the member updated. To ask the Government what action it has taken to tackle rural isolation and loneliness, particularly in the approach to the winter period. We recognise that challenges relating to isolation may be increasing in rural communities due to the pandemic and cost crisis. We support the national rural mental health forum, which helps people to maintain good mental health wellbeing by developing connections between rural communities. Our communities' mental health and wellbeing fund has provided £36 million to community groups to tackle isolation, loneliness and mental health inequalities, including 468 projects that support people disadvantaged by geographical location. Our forthcoming social isolation and loneliness plan will outline a range of actions across the Scottish Government that impact positively on social isolation and loneliness. The Tory-made cost of living crisis will do nothing other than exacerbate social isolation and loneliness, particularly for those living in rural areas such as Dumfries and Galloway in the Scottish Borders. People are being forced to make a choice between eating and heating, and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation stated that 19 per cent of people in Scotland currently state that they cannot afford social outings. Can the minister outline any further action that the Scottish Government is taking to support people's wellbeing this winter? Does she agree with me that, ultimately, Scotland must have independence to be free from constantly mitigating the harms created by the UK Government? We are taking action within our devolved powers and fixed budget, which will help those facing the combined effects of higher energy bills, rising inflation and the impact of the UK Government's policies. Just last week, we launched a new cost of living website, so that people can find out about the help and support available to them. The Scottish Government has continually urged the UK Government to focus its efforts on those that are most impacted, but they have prioritised tax cuts and bankers' bonuses rather than help for those who need it the most. Yes, I very much agree that only through independence will we have the freedom to make the fiscal decisions required to ensure that Scotland prospers, and those who need financial support the most get it and are not forgotten. That website is www.gov.scot.com backslash cost of living support. I would urge everybody to have a look at that. Thank you. To ask the Scottish Government how it is ensuring the availability of affordable housing, including for students at Scottish universities. Scotland has led the way in the delivery of affordable housing across the UK with almost 113,000 affordable homes having been delivered since 2007, over 79,000 of which were for social rent, including nearly 20,000 council homes. The Scottish Government's per capita spending on affordable housing is more than three times higher than the UK Government's. We are also committed to delivering a student accommodation strategy for Scotland, informed in part by a review of the purpose-built student accommodation. The review will look at a number of issues including affordability and supply. I thank the minister for that response. In my own region, students at St Andrews University are being housed in Dundee due to a look of affordable local housing. We have heard students being advised to defer courses as they cannot find somewhere else to live. While the Government is not directly involved in student housing, it has to work with the universities, the majority of students are in social or private housing. While the rent freeze is welcome, there is still a housing crisis in Scotland, with more families now homeless and housing completions still below pre-COVID levels. When the housing bill will be introduced to Scotland, is the intention still next year, and how will it ensure increased provision of quality affordable housing? The timeframe for the housing bill is the same. The pre-COVID levels that the member referred to have been important because there has been a lag of recovery given the pause in construction and then trying to get things back on track has been challenging. As the member herself said, she recognised that the Scottish Government has no direct role in the placement of students in accommodation. However, we are working with impacted institutions to better understand the issues and to help to seek urgent resolutions. Further meetings are scheduled to take place over the coming weeks. In the discussions with institutions, we have cited a number of challenges that institutions have sought to provide reassurance on the steps that they have taken to expand the availability of accommodation to students. Our affordable housing supply programme continues to expand with projects coming in from all parts of Scotland. Of course, we want to encourage that, but we will work with institutions in the shorter term to see if there is anything more that can be done. Can I ask the cabinet secretary to outline how the emergency cost of living legislation progressing through Parliament this week will support students in college or university halls of residence or other types of purpose-built accommodation? The Parliament, the emergency legislation will ensure that student tenants in the mainstream private rented sector and in student accommodation, both university and college halls of residence and purpose-built student accommodation, will not see their rent rise and will ensure that they can remain in their homes. The legislation will be in place until 31 March next year. We recognise that tenancies in halls of residence and purpose-built student accommodation are structured differently from other types of tenancies. However, we are committed to the parity of protection. International evidence demonstrates that, for many universities in different countries, Ireland being one of the key ones, the introduction of rent controls has resulted in students being further away from being able to access private rented accommodation. Can I ask the cabinet secretary to look at what impact the Government has done on any work to ensure that rents are affordable and that people are not evicted through the winter period and that they remain in their homes? It just astonishes me that, yet again, the Tories are always on the wrong side of the argument and are never on the side of people most impacted by the cost of living crisis. Perhaps that is why they are where they are in public support. We will continue to support universities, many of which have had issues for quite some time, well before any discussion was had around the emergency legislation. We will continue to work with those institutions to help them to resolve some of those issues and to get on with the work that we are doing to make sure that we continue to expand the affordable housing supply programme. I can squeeze in question 8 if I get to sync questions and answers. Thank you, Deputy Presiding Officer. To ask the Scottish Government how its housing strategy will support action to deliver the target of 1 million homes to be retrofitted with zero carbon heating systems by 2030. Housing to 2040 and our heat and building strategy work together to deliver our statutory targets for climate change and fuel poverty commitments, like the aim that all new homes delivered for social rent are zero emissions by 2026. Provide a strong foundation for our heat and buildings programme as we continue to retrofit all homes by 2045. We are also committed to introducing a new housing standard by 2025. We will explore how the proposed housing standard and heat and building strategy can be aligned to achieve fair and just implementation. The Ecoforce scheme is a UK Government scheme of value of £1 billion which councils can apply for and designed to improve the energy efficiency of low-income and vulnerable households. What is the Scottish Government doing to encourage all Scottish councils to take full advantage of the scheme? I will certainly get the minister to write to the member about that specific point about the scheme, but I would say to him that for Scotland alone, we are allocating at least £1.8 billion just in Scotland over the course of this Parliament to accelerate deployment of heat and energy efficiency measures and to support those that are least able to pay. We have set up the green heat finance taskforce to recommend ways to increase individual and private sector investment.