Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 November 2011
17 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Housing
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, despite the particular constraints in that area, to try to encourage further housing development. That in itself will encourage further housing development and add to the council’s housing stock in an area where supply is hard-pressed. I recommend that Alex Johnstone looks in more detail at what is going on in East Lothian Council, as he should at Scottish Government policies, which have been extremely useful in starting to increase the available housing stock.
In conclusion, my amendment acknowledges the points that I have made and recognises the folly of much else in Alex Johnstone’s motion. I move amendment S4M-01346.2, to leave out from “is concerned” to end and insert:
“notes the Scottish Government’s recent announcement that £460 million will be invested to build 4,300 homes as part of its commitment to build 30,000 affordable homes during this parliamentary session, including 5,000 council houses in spite of significant cuts to Scotland’s capital budget by the UK Government; recognises the Scottish Government’s progress in modernising the legislative framework for housing, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue with an innovative approach to housing policy and invest in all types of houses to meet the demands and needs of the population.”
09:33
In conclusion, my amendment acknowledges the points that I have made and recognises the folly of much else in Alex Johnstone’s motion. I move amendment S4M-01346.2, to leave out from “is concerned” to end and insert:
“notes the Scottish Government’s recent announcement that £460 million will be invested to build 4,300 homes as part of its commitment to build 30,000 affordable homes during this parliamentary session, including 5,000 council houses in spite of significant cuts to Scotland’s capital budget by the UK Government; recognises the Scottish Government’s progress in modernising the legislative framework for housing, and calls on the Scottish Government to continue with an innovative approach to housing policy and invest in all types of houses to meet the demands and needs of the population.”
09:33
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
- S4M-01346.2 Housing Motion
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...