Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 November 2011
17 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Housing
No, not at this point.
Sadly, it is our neighbourhoods that are left to pay the price. The whole thing is a sham, and all the while the Government has done little more than issue consultations, in between posing for yet more photos in its now well-worn hard hats and high visibility jackets.
So where now for housing in Scotland? One thing is clear: the Government cannot deliver on its own. If we are to close the gap between the number of homes that we need to build to satisfy demand and the number of properties that are built, closer partnership working between the private sector, housing associations and local authorities must be developed still further.
The national housing trust is a step in that direction but it is a blunt instrument that does not do the job for many developers or councils. Perhaps that is why the NHT is back on the drawing board. The SNP has been sent homeward to think again. Clearly, a more flexible, sophisticated solution is required, especially bearing in mind the level of return required by many lenders in order to enter the process.
However, the public and private sectors are clearly willing to work together in order to achieve outcomes. That must be harnessed and encouraged, not just to satisfy housing demand but to boost the economy, sustain jobs and create vital training opportunities for young people. It is not just about bricks and mortar. Scottish Conservatives want safe, sustainable communities that people can take pride in—communities in which people know their rights but also accept their responsibilities.
Making the planning system in Scotland more accessible could contribute to getting construction under way. Many construction businesses have expressed their frustration to me about the planning system, which they see as unpredictable and ponderous. It is holding up much-needed development and putting jobs on the back-burner. The cost of submitting substantial planning applications is prohibitive. A system that provided greater certainty of outcome and that was faster and more efficient would help remove the bottleneck of applications that are lying on planners’ desks across Scotland.
There is much that we can do. The Conservatives have always been and will continue to be active participants in the process of housing the people of Scotland. We wish to engage in that process and we have laid out our position. We look forward to hearing the usual negative resistance of our opponents.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises the pivotal role of the housing market to the Scottish economy; is concerned that housebuilding in Scotland has fallen to a 30-year low; further recognises the need to ensure that there is an adequate supply of good quality housing to buy and rent in the private and social sectors; notes the success of the right to buy policy in that it empowered people to choose their preferred form of housing tenure, allowed over half a million households to own their own home and strengthened local communities; encourages the Scottish Government to remove the limitations on the right to buy contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 and to provide higher discounts under the modernised right to buy as a means of increasing capital receipts to invest in building affordable homes for those on low incomes and to boost jobs in the construction industry; further encourages the Scottish Government to consider legislative reform to ensure fairness and equity in public housing and also to allow social houses to be allocated to people with local connections so as to protect the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s communities, and further calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that landlords make greater use of the enforcement of tenancy agreements to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Sadly, it is our neighbourhoods that are left to pay the price. The whole thing is a sham, and all the while the Government has done little more than issue consultations, in between posing for yet more photos in its now well-worn hard hats and high visibility jackets.
So where now for housing in Scotland? One thing is clear: the Government cannot deliver on its own. If we are to close the gap between the number of homes that we need to build to satisfy demand and the number of properties that are built, closer partnership working between the private sector, housing associations and local authorities must be developed still further.
The national housing trust is a step in that direction but it is a blunt instrument that does not do the job for many developers or councils. Perhaps that is why the NHT is back on the drawing board. The SNP has been sent homeward to think again. Clearly, a more flexible, sophisticated solution is required, especially bearing in mind the level of return required by many lenders in order to enter the process.
However, the public and private sectors are clearly willing to work together in order to achieve outcomes. That must be harnessed and encouraged, not just to satisfy housing demand but to boost the economy, sustain jobs and create vital training opportunities for young people. It is not just about bricks and mortar. Scottish Conservatives want safe, sustainable communities that people can take pride in—communities in which people know their rights but also accept their responsibilities.
Making the planning system in Scotland more accessible could contribute to getting construction under way. Many construction businesses have expressed their frustration to me about the planning system, which they see as unpredictable and ponderous. It is holding up much-needed development and putting jobs on the back-burner. The cost of submitting substantial planning applications is prohibitive. A system that provided greater certainty of outcome and that was faster and more efficient would help remove the bottleneck of applications that are lying on planners’ desks across Scotland.
There is much that we can do. The Conservatives have always been and will continue to be active participants in the process of housing the people of Scotland. We wish to engage in that process and we have laid out our position. We look forward to hearing the usual negative resistance of our opponents.
I move,
That the Parliament recognises the pivotal role of the housing market to the Scottish economy; is concerned that housebuilding in Scotland has fallen to a 30-year low; further recognises the need to ensure that there is an adequate supply of good quality housing to buy and rent in the private and social sectors; notes the success of the right to buy policy in that it empowered people to choose their preferred form of housing tenure, allowed over half a million households to own their own home and strengthened local communities; encourages the Scottish Government to remove the limitations on the right to buy contained in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2010 and to provide higher discounts under the modernised right to buy as a means of increasing capital receipts to invest in building affordable homes for those on low incomes and to boost jobs in the construction industry; further encourages the Scottish Government to consider legislative reform to ensure fairness and equity in public housing and also to allow social houses to be allocated to people with local connections so as to protect the long-term sustainability of Scotland’s communities, and further calls on the Scottish Government to ensure that landlords make greater use of the enforcement of tenancy agreements to tackle antisocial behaviour.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good morning. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-01346, in the name of Alex Johnstone, on housing. I remind ministers and members that time...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
It is nice to be here to raise the subject of housing once again. The Conservative party has a proud record on housing, but it is a feature of this Parliamen...
Nigel Don (Angus North and Mearns) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No. I will not take an intervention at this stage.East Lothian Council’s decision to buy back former council houses is simply a rehash of that old prejudice....
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No. I will not take an intervention at this point. Surely East Lothian’s action goes against everything that the Scottish National Party has said about suppo...
The Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment (Alex Neil)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No, not at this point. Sadly, it is our neighbourhoods that are left to pay the price. The whole thing is a sham, and all the while the Government has done l...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Perfect timing, Mr Johnstone. I call Keith Brown, Minister for Housing and Transport, to speak to and move amendment S4M-01346.2—you have precisely seven min...
The Minister for Housing and Transport (Keith Brown)
SNP
Thank you very much, Presiding Officer.First, I congratulate Alex Johnstone on his elevation to his new post, which I think gives him the title of the offici...
Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab)
Lab
I recognise the great difficulties that the minister faces because of the cuts in the capital budget from Westminster, but given that £200 million of capital...
Keith Brown
SNP
The member can rest assured that I will always argue for more funding for housing, but both housing and transport are central to the Government’s policy of e...
Gavin Brown (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Will the minister give way?
Keith Brown
SNP
I do not have time for more interventions; I apologise to Mr Brown.I look forward to working with Alex Johnstone and others on devising legislation that work...
Alex Johnstone
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
You have one minute, minister.
Keith Brown
SNP
I will take an intervention, although Alex Johnstone refused to take any.
Alex Johnstone
Con
I want to ask the minister whether the money used to buy back those houses would have been more effectively used to promote the building of additional houses...
Keith Brown
SNP
That would be true if it was an either/or situation. If the member went to speak to East Lothian Council, he would find that it is doing a great deal, despit...
Lewis Macdonald (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The Scottish Conservatives might have changed their leader and reshuffled their front-bench team, but there is no evidence this morning of any profound chang...
Keith Brown
SNP
The member mentioned election commitments. Is the Labour Party’s position that which has been put forward by a contender for its leadership, Tom Harris: that...
Lewis Macdonald
Lab
It is a shame that the minister rose to his feet to respond to my challenge to tell us what he is doing about his manifesto commitment and did not mention it...
Aileen McLeod (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to put on record once again my views on the housing situation in Scotland.In debating the motion, we need to consider the effects o...
Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD)
LD
Will the member give way?
Aileen McLeod
SNP
No—I want to keep going.This Scottish Government has a proven track record not only of investment in housing despite the severe funding constraints—indeed, i...
Jim Hume
LD
Will the member give way?
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The member has no time, Mr Hume.
Aileen McLeod
SNP
The Scottish Government is doing everything that it can in very difficult financial circumstances to provide affordable, sustainable and original housing sol...
John Pentland (Motherwell and Wishaw) (Lab)
Lab
Although we are all concerned about the dire state of house building, I think that we begin to part company over what should be done about the situation. I b...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
If awards were given out for persistence and obstinacy, the Tory benches would be weighed down by bunting and medals. In every debate on housing, they return...