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No, not at the moment.

The report also sets out a possible vision for tackling some of those challenges. It received input from the UK Government and the Scottish Government, and numerous stakeholders participated. I hope that ministers will be able to consider all the issues that were raised with great interest and in good faith.

Whatever devolution looks like in the future, it must allow disputes to be properly resolved. The continued success of devolution depends on that. Despite the number of disagreements between different levels of Government in previous years, the current formula for dispute resolution provides a new way of addressing them. In practice, the good and right thing to do when tackling such disputes has been to consider them at the lowest level possible. The UK minister talked about that.

Our committee also heard evidence that simply referring each disagreement to a formal process would provide good initiative for civil servants to work closely together. The introduction of a statutory footing in various aspects of intergovernmental relations needs to be raised, as disagreements between Governments have become more frequent since Brexit. We know that. Indeed, the possibility of some form of statutory dispute resolution process was first talked about long ago. However, placing those intergovernmental structures into statute could limit some of the dialogue between the different levels of Government. Any future devolution statement must have flexibility. Such flexibility could give us a real chance to move forward.

The convener mentioned our event at the University of Strathclyde yesterday. I commend and congratulate all those who attended it, because it brought a focus from not only academics but legal practitioners and politicians to talking about what we are doing and how we will go forward. Many of them came up with ideas and opportunities for how that might take place.

Landlords now face having to renovate their properties to reach a minimum energy efficiency standard by 2028. Letting agencies have warned that the proposals, combined with the Scottish National Party-Green rent cap, could result in landlords having to leave the private rented sector, thus creating a shortage of housing stock. What analysis has the Scottish Government conducted of the impact of its reforms on the private rented sector?

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the housing minister has had with ministerial colleagues regarding any impact on the availability of housing through the private rented sector of its energy efficiency reforms. (S6O-02917)

I am pleased to be able to speak in the debate, and I thank my fellow Mid Scotland and Fife MSP, Alex Rowley, for bringing it to the chamber.

The debate provides a welcome opportunity for us to acknowledge the important work that is done by the Coalfields Regeneration Trust across the United Kingdom. It is also an opportunity to acknowledge the distinct character of former coalfield communities, several of which are located in central and southern Fife, and across Clackmannanshire, in my region.

The motion mentions the all-party parliamentary group on coalfield communities and its report on “Next Steps in Levelling Up the Former Coalfields”. As the report states,

“the loss of coalmining jobs still casts a long shadow”

in those communities. It highlights that, with a total

“population of 5.7 million”

across the United Kingdom, those communities

“are too big to be ignored.”

The report also highlights the problems of social isolation and loneliness in those communities, which often have a large population of older people. However, there are still issues for young people, as opportunities for work and training are difficult to find in those areas. It is clear, therefore, that these communities have particular needs and require particular types of support.

The founding mission of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust is to provide those communities with the support that they need. That includes initiatives such as the coalfield worx project, and I acknowledge and commend the work that it does. That project provides important support to people who have become separated from the labour market, and it provides work and mentoring. It has already helped a number of candidates to secure permanent full-time work at Fife Council and the University of Stirling. The success of coalfield worx means that it brings the real opportunities that those communities across Scotland need, and that is much to be welcomed. As I said, it gives young people an opportunity to move forward.

Other projects that are supported by the trust’s funding include Grow West Fife, which supports low-income families across West Fife by providing them with home-grown produce. Funding from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust will help to invest in that project’s future and enable it to continue to grow.

Alex Rowley and other members have mentioned the cut of £100,000 from the Coalfields Regeneration Trust’s budget, which amounts to a 13 per cent cut. It was right that previous cuts that were talked about back in 2011 were reversed. More than a decade later, the trust is doing so much important work. It cannot lose that funding, because—as we have heard from other members—that will have a massive impact. The Scottish Government has said that it would like to see the trust move towards a new funding model and explore new ways of funding the grant programme. It is important that, if that happens, we ensure that the money goes where it should, and that is what the Coalfields Regeneration Trust wants to see. I hope that the Minister for Local Government Empowerment and Planning will reflect on that and provide assurances to the trust in summing up the debate.

Scotland’s former coalfield communities have a distinctive character, but they also have distinctive needs. The work of initiatives across the United Kingdom, such as the levelling up fund, have a real role to play in addressing those needs, and local government also has a role to play in those communities.

However, organisations such as the Coalfields Regeneration Trust are at the heart of supporting those communities. I thank the trust for the important work that it does, which it continues to carry out in the region that I represent and across Scotland. I hope that it will be able to continue to support communities for many years to come, because that is what is required.

I am pleased to contribute to a debate that covers a number of issues that I encountered throughout my time as a member of the Equalities, Human Rights and Civil Justice Committee.

I welcome the fact that the committee launched the inquiry and published its report. Although immigration and asylum are reserved to the UK Government, the committee has made a number of recommendations that are relevant to both the Scottish Government and local authorities. I therefore hope that today’s debate can be about what the Scottish Government can do to improve the lives of asylum seekers here, in Scotland.

One of the key issues that the committee considered was housing and the on-going shortage of new affordable homes. The supply of such homes has decreased over the past 12 months. The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations has highlighted that the strain on supply is coming at a time when demand is increasing. That is creating problems when it comes to finding suitable accommodation for asylum seekers and is leading to the use of hotel accommodation, guest houses and emergency accommodation becoming too common.

When an asylum seeker receives a positive decision on their application, the lack of affordable housing is still creating problems for them and they might find it hard to find a place to live. Migrant Help was able to highlight that effectively.

We know that the housing crisis has consequences that go beyond the impact on asylum seekers. However, it is clear that an ambitious approach to Scotland’s housing crisis will be required, as hotels and the other types of accommodation that I mentioned are not the best facilities in which to place these individuals. The committee recognised that, as did the individuals who gave up their time to speak to us.

Another issue that the committee identified was the lack of suitable training for those who engage with asylum seekers. There have been various reports of that being a significant problem, which is perhaps to be expected, given that those people might often be housing officers or hotel staff. Sometimes, they are not best placed to help these individuals because of that.

It is important that anyone who engages with asylum seekers is given appropriate training, but the opportunities to receive training are difficult to come by. A written submission from the Mears Group highlights some of the training that their welfare support officers currently receive. That includes mandatory courses to help identify asylum seekers with mental health issues and training in how to de-escalate difficult situations when necessary. Many of these individuals find themselves in difficult situations. As we have already heard today, some asylum seekers did not believe that they were in Scotland. That major issue needs to be addressed. Positive action needs to be taken to support these individuals. The committee is right to recommend that the Scottish Government should help to develop specific training for all those who work with asylum seekers and in the asylum system.

The committee has also received helpful evidence from Police Scotland during the inquiry, and it is clear that the police play an important role in engaging with—

Of course.

The member makes a very valid point. Co-operation is required—that should take place. There might well be a need for the money to follow the process. If that could help the process, I would certainly support that.

Police Scotland gave the committee various ideas. Trust in the police may be second nature to us here, but that is not always the case for asylum seekers who come from very different cultural backgrounds, in which the police are not seen to be supportive. A certain amount of buy-in is required to get full co-operation from asylum seekers, and it must be recognised that such engagement can require significant commitment from police officers.

A key part of that engagement is the use of third-party reporting centres, which have been set up by many organisations and individuals. There are now more than 400 of the venues across Scotland, and they are run by experienced third sector organisations. The centres are an important part of the support network for asylum seekers in Scotland. They also allow asylum seekers to engage with the police and with others who provide support. Police Scotland has said that more and more organisations are coming forward to be involved in the process, which includes high street venues such as coffee shops. That is very welcome. Going forward, it is important that Police Scotland continues to be supported to break down the many barriers that asylum seekers face and that it has the opportunity to do that.

As we have heard today, asylum seekers face a number of challenges when they arrive in Scotland. The committee’s report has shone a light on all that is happening in this area. As well as tackling the on-going housing crisis, it is important that the Government does what it can to support the police, local authorities and the numerous hard-working third sector organisations that continue to provide support for asylum seekers. I pay tribute to all those who have taken the time and used their talents to do that.

If the Government takes an approach that tackles those issues, I have no doubt that it will find support from many parts of the chamber. We all want to support individuals who come here by giving them the best start in a new world so that they can move forward.

The 30-bed ward at Forth Valley royal hospital, which is part of the new national treatment centre that is aimed at increasing capacity for operations, has been delayed after national health service troubleshooters found problems with the construction project that could compromise patient safety.

The review of NHS Scotland assure found ventilation, fire safety and flooding concerns with the project. Have no lessons been learned following problems at other facilities? What action is the Scottish Government taking to rectify the situation?

In the Scottish National Party’s 2021 manifesto, it pledged to create a £2 million fund for public artworks. In the summer, questions were raised regarding the distribution of those funds, with the Scottish Government being unable to confirm a timeframe at that stage. Months have passed now, so I ask the cabinet secretary to give more detail on what the pledge means and when the commitment will be met.

Grass-roots music venues are key to supporting emerging Scottish talent, and it is vital that the talent gets that support. However, in Scotland this year, 22 per cent of grass-roots music venues have closed or are in crisis.

What recent conversations has the cabinet secretary had with grass-roots music venues about their concerns with regard to support for the sector?