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Craig, do you want to come in, and then I will come back on that point?

Of course.

I am getting there.

I would like to pick up on the points that were raised, I said that we acted on the most important points from stakeholders. For example, I mentioned the Short Term Accommodation Association’s view.

I will continue to engage with the committee and with stakeholders. I will also reflect on what the committee has said today. Convener, if the committee wishes to have additional information, it can certainly invite me back at some other stage. In the meantime, I will continue with the discussions and reflect on what has been said today. I will also be happy to meet the committee or individual members at a further stage if that is thought to be appropriate.

Yes—I will bring in Jessica Niven on that particular point. As you are aware, we had hoped to have those figures available for the committee. Perhaps Jess can advise on when it looks likely that that report will be published.

There are a number of things there, Mr Griffin. One question is whether we decide to go down the legislative route for the other issues that have been raised. Something might require an SSI or guidelines, and we will continue to discuss that. We have brought forward what we have brought forward to try to address all the key issues that were raised when I was in committee and between when we brought the scheme and where we are now.

We will continue to look at the evidence in the figures for short-term lets and the accommodation in the sector. I know that anecdotal statements have been made, but I will continue to engage with the expert group on the evidence that comes through. If I need to, I will introduce legislation or guidelines at a time when I think that it would be relevant to support the sector on that. I have made it clear that I am happy to engage with the committee at any time on what is being brought forward, whether that is through correspondence or whatever.

The approach is very much one of continuing the discussions. The establishment of the expert group indicates that we are really willing to do that. The engagement that I have had will continue, even beyond the transitional phase.

It would be difficult to put a timeline on it as such, but if we collectively feel that we need to introduce amended guidance or legislation, that will be done at the time that I think it would be relevant to do that.

Why we are bringing these things forward now is one of the key questions that have been asked. There are different opinions in the sector about what is important. The STA, as I mentioned, thinks that the measures strike the right balance, but it is an on-going dialogue. I think that they have struck the right balance.

Yes. Pretty early on, we had feedback from the sector about what the transfer scheme would look like. It would have been a relatively straightforward process, but the feedback suggested that we should make it simpler and more flexible, so that if someone wanted to transfer a licence to a family member or anybody else, they could do that. Jess Niven noted that if a licence was being transferred and there were little or no changes, the process should be pretty straightforward. Obviously, if there had been a material change, as with planning, there would need to be an updated description to ensure that the safety of the premises was not affected. Jess, do you want to add anything on that?

I can take that away and follow it up with you later. I know that we have had feedback on the issue. There might be issues around how easy it is to monitor what is happening with a new-build property compared with a building that is undergoing a conversion. Jessica Niven might be able to give you more information.

I apologise for not being in the room. After coughing and spluttering my way through some statements last week, I tested positive for Covid on Thursday, and I have still not recovered. I thank the committee for being so accommodating—it is much appreciated.

I am grateful to have the opportunity to speak to the draft Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (Licensing of Short-term Lets) Amendment Order 2024. Legislation to establish a licensing scheme for short-term lets was approved by the Parliament in January 2022, and the scheme opened in October 2022. The scheme delivers a set of basic safety standards to protect guests, hosts and communities and guarantee high-quality accommodation across Scotland. Those core principles have underpinned our approach, and we have consulted extensively and worked with a range of stakeholders on the scheme’s early implementation.

When the then Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government appeared before the committee in February 2023, the committee made it clear that the Government should use the available time to respond to concerns that had been expressed about the operation of the licensing scheme. I am therefore pleased to have the opportunity to speak to the draft order, which reflects operational adjustments that have been made to the scheme as a direct result of feedback from a range of stakeholders.

The development of the proposed statutory amendment is by no means the only action that we have been taking to continue to refine and improve the licensing scheme. I know that some groups in the sector have shared with the committee evidence that reflects their perspectives on the scheme, and which encourages us to go further. We will continue to work with and listen to stakeholders. I am pleased to inform the committee that, in addition to the regular engagement that we have, we are formalising an expert group to further refine guidance, taking into account the feedback that has been received since the scheme was launched.

The provisions in the amendment order offer technical clarifications and operational improvements for businesses. In bringing forward the proposed amendments, we are conscious that implementation of the scheme is still in a transitional period, in which thousands of operators have recently taken action to comply with the legislation, and that authorities are still processing applications for existing hosts, so any action must be proceeded with in a measured way. That approach has been endorsed publicly by many in the sector.

I turn to the order itself. We are making it more straightforward for short-term let operators to transfer their businesses to a new operator. That aligns with our commitment in the new deal for business. We are also ensuring that new short-term let enterprises can apply for provisional licences, as we listened to and acted on feedback that indicated that securing lending in industries such as agritourism was challenging.

We have reflected the feedback that we received on the operation of exemptions to short-term let licences by clarifying the periods in which that provision may apply. That will ensure that local authorities can apply flexibilities for key sporting and seasonal events that can heighten demand for accommodation, while still having regard for health and safety.

We are also taking the opportunity to make some minor changes to the provisions relating to guest rooms in certain types of residential accommodation and the provisions that require safety information to be provided to guests. The latter change has been made in response to a fatal accident inquiry into a case that involved short-term accommodation.

The approach that is being taken aligns with our commitment to supporting businesses and with the Verity house agreement. It will ensure that the high-quality accommodation that visitors expect in Scotland is maintained, and it prioritises the importance of doing business. I therefore ask the committee to support the draft order.

I will bring in Jess Niven again on that point. My understanding is that the conditions should stay the same in the transfer process unless any specific issue is raised. There is the element of making sure that, when the application is first dealt with, it reflects everything accurately. As part of the transfer process, the conditions should remain the same unless any specific new information comes to light and there have been specific changes. The important point is that it very much depends on individual circumstances.

I have not been made aware of those things in any correspondence or any discussions that I have had, so I ask Jess Niven to come in on that.