Chamber
Plenary, 22 Feb 2007
22 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Affordable Housing
Okay. Many of those people are precisely the kind of people that Scotland needs—young graduates and families who want to put down roots.
I recommend that MSPs of all parties read the Hills report, "Ends and Means: The future roles of social housing in England", which was commissioned by Ruth Kelly. In effect, it says that people are going to have to be in real need to be able to get a social rented house in future. The mixed and sustainable communities that we want in Scotland will not be achieved by offering fixed lets for all in the public sector, then means testing people to see whether they are poor enough to stay in the houses or well off enough to have their tenancies terminated and be encouraged to go off and buy a home on their own. How is it possible that Ruth Kelly and new Labour so misunderstand the nature of communities and the fact that what people want most is a home that is safe and secure?
The SNP values the social rented sector and we will work closely with local authorities, which we see as the strategic force in identifying housing need in their area, and with other housing providers in the private and public sectors to assist them in the provision of good quality, affordable homes for all our citizens.
I move amendment S2M-5617.2, to leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert:
"notes that between 1999 and 2004 fewer houses were built for social rent under the Labour/Liberal Democrat government than in 1995 under the Conservative government and that waiting lists and those presenting as homeless are at record levels; notes the failure of the Scottish government to keep the promises made to Glasgow tenants on second stage stock transfer, and considers that this Scottish government has failed to adequately address the housing crisis in Scotland."
I recommend that MSPs of all parties read the Hills report, "Ends and Means: The future roles of social housing in England", which was commissioned by Ruth Kelly. In effect, it says that people are going to have to be in real need to be able to get a social rented house in future. The mixed and sustainable communities that we want in Scotland will not be achieved by offering fixed lets for all in the public sector, then means testing people to see whether they are poor enough to stay in the houses or well off enough to have their tenancies terminated and be encouraged to go off and buy a home on their own. How is it possible that Ruth Kelly and new Labour so misunderstand the nature of communities and the fact that what people want most is a home that is safe and secure?
The SNP values the social rented sector and we will work closely with local authorities, which we see as the strategic force in identifying housing need in their area, and with other housing providers in the private and public sectors to assist them in the provision of good quality, affordable homes for all our citizens.
I move amendment S2M-5617.2, to leave out from "welcomes" to end and insert:
"notes that between 1999 and 2004 fewer houses were built for social rent under the Labour/Liberal Democrat government than in 1995 under the Conservative government and that waiting lists and those presenting as homeless are at record levels; notes the failure of the Scottish government to keep the promises made to Glasgow tenants on second stage stock transfer, and considers that this Scottish government has failed to adequately address the housing crisis in Scotland."
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5617, in the name of Rhona Brankin, on affordable housing.
The Minister for Communities (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
As we move towards the end of the second session of Parliament, it is time to take stock of our many achievements on affordable housing provision. I begin by...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Given the desire to create affordable housing, why are compulsory purchase orders used so little to release land for housing, particularly in pressured areas...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
In rural parts of Scotland such as islands, spend has increased. Communities Scotland is working in creative ways with the Forestry Commission Scotland to re...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
No; I must make progress.I referred to the forest land scheme, which I launched last year and which is another measure that is targeted specifically at rural...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I would like to make progress.Our affordable housing funding is being supplemented by the additional income from reduced council tax discounts for second and...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
My question relates directly to the composition of the group. Are tenants in the majority?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The group reflects the people involved in delivering affordable housing—its composition reflects local authorities, tenants groups and the private housing se...
Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I confess to being astonished that the housing minister could present a debate on the Government's record in housing and could speak for 11 minutes without m...
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
Would an SNP-led Executive ensure that the City of Edinburgh Council was able to build council houses, as the tenants in Edinburgh have said no to stock tran...
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
I have repeatedly said to the minister that all tenants have been more or less blackmailed into a yes vote. I have made it clear to ministers that they shoul...
The Deputy Minister for Communities (Des McNulty):
Lab
In any and every ward in Glasgow that has social rented housing, substantial investment is being made in repairs and central heating. Huge amounts of investm...
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
The tenants voted for small housing associations, as the deputy minister—
Des McNulty:
Lab
They voted for investment.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Wait a minute: the minister did not address the stock-transfer policy in her speech, so Des McNulty is not going to waste time trying to defend it in mine. T...
Des McNulty:
Lab
Will Tricia Marwick give way?
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
No I will not. Professor Bramley highlighted the fact that, as well as a need for new affordable housing to keep pace with demand, there was a backlog to be ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Will Tricia Marwick give way?
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
No, I will not.That statistic shows one of the reasons why there is such pressure now.I find it hard to believe that the Bramley report did not take housing ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
You have one minute.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Most are not eligible for social housing, but they are being priced out of the housing market.I hope that you will give me a couple more minutes, given the i...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No. I have given you a bit more. I will give you another minute from now.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Okay. Many of those people are precisely the kind of people that Scotland needs—young graduates and families who want to put down roots.I recommend that MSPs...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
We Conservatives consider the need for affordable housing to be among the top priorities for Scotland. We know that both the private and public rental and pu...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member explain the Conservatives' policy on council houses? Do they regard councils to be appropriate landlords and will they continue to support lo...
Mr Davidson:
Con
I will come to that point in a moment, when I will reply to the member fully.The council house service is under increasing pressure, with the average debt pe...
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab):
Lab
Is the member advocating not offering tenants a vote with regard to housing-stock transfer? Is he suggesting that we should just go ahead and do it without a...
Mr Davidson:
Con
That is not what I said at all. However, if the Government had gone about the task properly, people would not have voted no—they did so because of the confus...