Committee
Communities Committee, 05 Oct 2005
05 Oct 2005 · S2 · Communities Committee
Item of business
Housing (Scotland) Bill: Stage 2
People cannot have it both ways: they cannot agree with a proposal in principle but then disagree with it because of the impact it will have in practice.Let us go back to why the single seller survey is right in principle and why we need to ensure it works. Requiring a single seller survey is the right thing to do because, over the years, we have had too many examples of people having to pay an awful lot of money for multiple surveys for which they ultimately have nothing to show except a lot of paperwork.Also under the current system, many people fail to get a proper survey done, so existing defects do not come to light. People end up not knowing what they are taking on and so, when they become home owners, they do not take remedial action at an appropriate time unless the problem is pretty major and obvious. A single seller survey eradicates some of those defects in the current system. That is why it is right in principle.It does not take a genius to work out why the pilot study has not been a roaring success. The current process works well for too many people who are involved in it and they are being asked to do something that is not so lucrative for them. It does not work for those who are selling or buying homes, but it certainly works for professionals who are involved in the process. That is the problem.Christine Grahame has raised real concerns, but we have to say that if we agree with the principle, we have to find a way of making it work in practice—rather than say that the principle we agree with must be wrong because we think that the proposal will not work in practice.
In the same item of business
The Convener:
Lab
Item 2 is the Housing (Scotland) Bill. This is day three of our consideration of the bill at stage 2. I welcome Johann Lamont, the Deputy Minister for Commun...
Section 95—Duty to have information about a house which is on the market
The Convener:
Lab
Amendment 75, in the name of Mary Scanlon, is grouped with amendments 76 to 96.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
In speaking to the amendments on the single seller survey, I predict that I will be as successful as almost every other member of this committee who has atte...
The Convener:
Lab
Do other members wish to speak to the amendment?
Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
Regretfully, I support much of what Mary Scanlon has said. I support the single seller survey in principle, but the process and the practicalities of single ...
Scott Barrie (Dunfermline West) (Lab):
Lab
People cannot have it both ways: they cannot agree with a proposal in principle but then disagree with it because of the impact it will have in practice.Let ...
Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I agree with the single seller survey in principle and will not support Mary Scanlon's amendments. The proposal has been Scottish National Party policy for a...
Mr John Home Robertson (East Lothian) (Lab):
Lab
The last thing I want to do at this time in the morning is fall out with Mary Scanlon, but I am afraid that I must say that her amendments seem to be wreckin...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green):
Green
Scott Barrie is largely right. He seemed to suggest that one of the reasons the pilot was not entirely successful is that it was a pilot and that, to see the...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
I agree entirely with the views that Scott Barrie expressed. It is important that we introduce the single seller survey. I speak from experience of represent...
The Convener:
Lab
I invite the minister to respond to the points that have been raised.
The Deputy Minister for Communities (Johann Lamont):
Lab
Thank you, convener. I thank Mary Scanlon for lodging the amendments in this group. They have given us the opportunity to have a further debate on the subjec...
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I thank my colleagues for contributing to the debate, which has been helpful. The minister's response has also been helpful.Christine Grahame asked to whom t...
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 75 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForScanlon, Mary (Highlands and Islands) (Con)AgainstBarrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (G...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 1, Against 7, Abstentions 1.
Amendment 75 disagreed to.
Section 95 agreed to.
Section 96—Duty to provide information to potential buyer
Amendment 76 moved—Mary Scanlon.
The Convener:
Lab
The question is, that amendment 76 be agreed to. Are we agreed?
Members:
No.
The Convener:
Lab
There will be a division.
ForScanlon, Mary (Highlands and Islands) (Con)AgainstBarrie, Scott (Dunfermline West) (Lab)Craigie, Cathie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab) Harvie, Patrick (G...
The Convener:
Lab
The result of the division is: For 1, Against 7, Abstentions 1.
Amendment 76 disagreed to.
Section 96 agreed to.