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Mark Griffin is right that we need a starting point of better data on the private rented sector to be able to deliver an effective system of rent controls. We will set out our intentions about how we will do that by the end of this year. That work will be taken forward in tandem with the new rented sector strategy, with both elements being consulted on in early 2022.

There are various options to consider for how that data is gathered. It is a big piece of work and it is not easy. I am not sure that we can necessarily rely on the current sources of data that are available. Data is a key priority in order to have an effective system of rent controls, and officials are working very hard on that. Again, I am happy to provide the committee with a more detailed answer as a follow-up to this evidence session.

Mark Griffin is absolutely right. It is probably more complex than simply a ratio of income and cost. Work is being done to try and get an agreed definition of affordability across the system in order to give it more sophistication than it currently has. Again, I am happy to furnish the committee with more details as that work progresses. We want to get an agreed position across all the registered social landlords and local authorities—it is work in progress.

I am happy to consider that reporting in addition to all the reports and statistics that come out. There is no lack of information but, if the committee would find it helpful for us to pull that together in a way that puts the key points in a single place, I am happy to do that.

Caroline Dicks might be the most appropriate person to come in at this point to talk about the benchmarks.

I thank the committee for the opportunity to give evidence and look forward to meeting it again.

That will be a judgment for Kevin Stewart, the minister who is leading on the issue, and not for me.

We absolutely want to hear the voices of not just COSLA but stakeholders and those who receive social care. We are not starting from scratch. We have had lots of discussion on the issue, and there have been many parliamentary debates about it over the years. There was a lot of consensus among the manifestos leading up to the election that business as usual and the current models of social care just will not cut the mustard, so we need to do something different. I think that there is that level of consensus.

The detail is important, though, and how the service is taken forward and implemented matters. It is a big change, and it has to be got right. However, if we get it right, it could be one of the most important reforms that Parliament has ever supported and implemented.

I agree that opportunities are provided by joining up all those areas. The committee has a great opportunity to pull together the various strands and look at how we work as a Government, not just in my portfolio, I hasten to add, but across the whole Government. That is why, in relation to child poverty, I have tasked my Cabinet colleagues to tell me what more they can do in their portfolios to leave no stone unturned in looking at game-changing policies that they can deliver in their portfolio areas to make sure that there is a cross-Government effort. However, it is not only a cross-Government effort, because it has to involve local government and the third sector, too. We all have to work together if we are going to get anywhere near those interim child poverty targets, which are very challenging, as I said in my opening remarks.

I agree with the Accounts Commission that significant progress still has to be made in reducing inequalities and protecting human rights. As I said earlier, we have agreed a national mission to tackle child poverty, and we remain firmly committed to that. It will take all of us working together to do that. We are working in particular with COSLA, Public Health Scotland and the third sector to identify how we can support and embed positive changes that have been made as a result of the crisis. There are some changes that we want to make permanent, and we do not want to go back to some of the old ways of working. We need to deliver further progress on our fairer Scotland ambition. I meet COSLA regularly, and we are working with the Deputy First Minister on the Covid recovery plan, which local government is at the heart of.

I hope that that gives the committee a flavour of the key elements that we are working on and taking forward.

Thank you for the welcome of the recent allocation of the five-year resource planning assumptions. That gives further confidence to partners, strengthens the certainty of delivering future affordable homes commitments and allows the sector the time to build the necessary capacity to plan and deliver that ambitious number of affordable homes. We will continue to work with partners in doing that.

Elena Whitham makes an important point about construction materials. We are aware, as you would expect, of concerns about price increases and supply shortages, and we are working closely with the construction industry through the Scottish construction leadership forum, which is chaired by the Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Ivan McKee. We want to fully understand the current supply chain issues and, where possible, put in place mitigating actions to address those issues.

As you would expect, I am kept up to date about material cost increases and availability and the impact on the affordable housing supply programme. I meet regularly with local authorities and registered social landlords to discuss those matters and make sure that we support them in delivering the ambitious targets. I am confident that we can work through those issues and deliver the 110,000 affordable homes.

I would be happy to write to the committee with more detail on that. The agreement included £45 million in addition to the affordable housing supply programme and the commitment that 10 per cent of the 110,000 homes will be located in remote and rural communities. There is also a dedicated plan for remote and rural housing. I would be happy to come back to discuss that in detail with the committee, if it would find that helpful.