Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 17 November 2011
17 Nov 2011 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Housing
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 supporting construction jobs and boosting the economy. Although I am sure that estate agents will be delighted, the building trade, which faces an uncertain future in the area, will be less than impressed.
The Government’s approach to housing over the past five years has been confused and contradictory. It is noteworthy more for the sheer volume of consultations in which it has indulged than for the number of houses that it has built. On the one hand, it pursues a simplistic anti-right-to-buy campaign for nothing more than political purposes, while on the other hand it seeks to develop best practice in rent-to-buy schemes.
While portraying itself as the champion of social housing, the Government has substantially reduced its overall investment, cutting subsidy to registered social landlords and then accepting that councils can enable construction by topping up that grant in the form of aid from a council’s own resources.
Earlier this year, the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment was to build more than 6,000 new social rented houses each year; since the election, ministers have referred to a target of 6,000 affordable homes—a different definition. Today, the Government amendment talks of 4,300 homes. The minister claims that he is building houses for less, but in reality houses are being produced less efficiently and with more bureaucracy.
Some years ago, like other parties, the Scottish Conservatives signed up to the Labour-Lib Dem commitment to end homelessness by 2012. While we stand by that commitment, the SNP has demonstrated its commitment to 2012 by taking a step back, leaving local councils to pick up the pieces. To add insult to injury for our hard-pressed communities, the Government’s soft criminal justice regime means that the antisocial behaviour that blights so many neighbourhoods is not being tackled effectively.
When a council jumps through the hoops required to evict a tenant who consistently makes his or her neighbours’ lives a misery, it is faced with having to rehouse that individual, albeit temporarily in some cases. The result is that although tough action can be and is taken by councils, councils’ hands are tied and there is no real positive outcome.
Surely East Lothian’s action goes against everything that the Scottish National Party has said about supporting construction jobs and boosting the economy. Although I am sure that estate agents will be delighted, the building trade, which faces an uncertain future in the area, will be less than impressed.
The Government’s approach to housing over the past five years has been confused and contradictory. It is noteworthy more for the sheer volume of consultations in which it has indulged than for the number of houses that it has built. On the one hand, it pursues a simplistic anti-right-to-buy campaign for nothing more than political purposes, while on the other hand it seeks to develop best practice in rent-to-buy schemes.
While portraying itself as the champion of social housing, the Government has substantially reduced its overall investment, cutting subsidy to registered social landlords and then accepting that councils can enable construction by topping up that grant in the form of aid from a council’s own resources.
Earlier this year, the Scottish National Party manifesto commitment was to build more than 6,000 new social rented houses each year; since the election, ministers have referred to a target of 6,000 affordable homes—a different definition. Today, the Government amendment talks of 4,300 homes. The minister claims that he is building houses for less, but in reality houses are being produced less efficiently and with more bureaucracy.
Some years ago, like other parties, the Scottish Conservatives signed up to the Labour-Lib Dem commitment to end homelessness by 2012. While we stand by that commitment, the SNP has demonstrated its commitment to 2012 by taking a step back, leaving local councils to pick up the pieces. To add insult to injury for our hard-pressed communities, the Government’s soft criminal justice regime means that the antisocial behaviour that blights so many neighbourhoods is not being tackled effectively.
When a council jumps through the hoops required to evict a tenant who consistently makes his or her neighbours’ lives a misery, it is faced with having to rehouse that individual, albeit temporarily in some cases. The result is that although tough action can be and is taken by councils, councils’ hands are tied and there is no real positive outcome.
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...