Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S4M-06681, in the name of Patrick Harvie, on protecting tenants’ deposits. The debate will...

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

I put on record my thanks to the 27 MSPs who have added their names in support of the motion, representing four political parties and independents who repres...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to such an important debate, and I congratulate Patrick Harvie on securing it and bringing the issue to the chamber.T...

Patrick Harvie Green

Will Alex Johnstone give way?

Alex Johnstone Con

I am actually over my time and should be stopping. However, I am sure that the opportunity will come along.Effective enforcement can do a great deal more tha...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Mr Johnstone has advised me that he has to leave the debate early because he has parliamentary business to attend to.17:15

Anne McTaggart (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

I am delighted to contribute to this debate on the subject of protecting tenants’ deposits. I thank Patrick Harvie for recognising the growing importance of ...

Marco Biagi (Edinburgh Central) (SNP) SNP

I welcome the chance to debate the matter because, in my constituency, 41 per cent of households now live in the private rented sector. I do not know what th...

Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab) Lab

I, too, congratulate Patrick Harvie on securing the debate, as the failure of many landlords to comply with the regulations by the required date last month i...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate Patrick Harvie on lodging an important motion on protection of tenants’ deposits. It has become an increasingly important issue over the past ...

Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab) Lab

I congratulate Patrick Harvie on bringing the issue to the chamber. My first job out of university was as a welfare adviser at Edinburgh University Students ...

The Minister for Housing and Welfare (Margaret Burgess) SNP

I, too, thank Patrick Harvie for bringing the issue to the chamber for debate. It is clearly important to all of us. I have listened carefully to what has be...

Patrick Harvie Green

Would the minister consider ensuring that no landlord has any legal justification for withholding a deposit that has not been lodged with an approved scheme?

Margaret Burgess SNP

Landlords must lodge deposits with an approved scheme—that is why the schemes were set up and those are the rules of the schemes. If a landlord does not do t...

Marco Biagi SNP

We are all interested in the enforcement working. What conversations has the Government had with local authorities on the difficulties and challenges that th...

Margaret Burgess SNP

We have set up a working group. The strategy makes it clear that we will work with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities, given that local authorities...