Hansard

The Convener SNP

Agenda item 2 is an evidence-taking session on a piece of subordinate legislation. I welcome to the meeting Margaret Burgess, the Minister for Housing and We...

The Minister for Housing and Welfare (Margaret Burgess)

Good morning. I appreciate the opportunity to give evidence on the draft Private Rented Housing Panel (Landlord Applications) (Scotland) Regulations 2015. T...

The Convener SNP

Thank you, minister. Do members have any questions?

Mike MacKenzie (Highlands and Islands) (SNP) SNP

Can the minister tell us the number of such cases that panel members might have to deal with?

Margaret Burgess

We do not expect the number of cases to be large; in fact, I think that we have based our approach on there being around 100 or 150 cases a year. That said, ...

Adam Ingram (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (SNP) SNP

On the face of it, the extra cost to the Scottish Government—which is in the region of £150,000 a year—seems a bit high. Can you explain where that figure co...

Margaret Burgess

I admit that the costs are on the very high side, but, as we know, the PRHP is undergoing a lot of change and will be taking on a lot more duties and respons...

The Convener SNP

What mechanisms are in place to review the operation of the provisions and to ensure that they can, where necessary, be tweaked?

Margaret Burgess

We will be constantly reviewing the operation of the Private Rented Housing Panel once it starts to receive applications, and we will know exactly how many a...

The Convener SNP

As there are no further questions, I thank the minister and her officials for their attendance. We move to item 3, which is the formal consideration of the ...

The Convener SNP

That concludes the consideration of this affirmative instrument. We will report the outcome of our consideration to the Parliament. I suspend the meeting fo...