Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith) Lab

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-10438, in the name of Margaret Burgess, on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. I call Margaret Burgess to speak...

The Minister for Housing and Welfare (Margaret Burgess) SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer. I will start by thanking everyone who contributed to the development of the Housing (Scotland) Bill, including members of all ...

James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab) Lab

The minister refers to the £1 billion spend that the First Minister announced yesterday. Do you recognise that there has been a 29 per cent cut in the housin...

Margaret Burgess SNP

The Scottish Government is investing more and is building more social houses than any previous Administration in the Parliament—more council houses and more ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Order, please.

Margaret Burgess SNP

We are committed to housing in this country. There are more houses per head of population being built in Scotland than in the rest of the UK. We are building...

James Kelly Lab

What does the bill offer to tenants in the private sector who are facing rent rises of nearly 20 per cent? What is your answer to those tenants, minister?

The Deputy Presiding Officer Lab

Members should remember to speak through the chair, please.

Margaret Burgess SNP

The Government is absolutely committed to those who rent in the private sector. We introduced the first private sector strategy for Scotland. We are ensuring...

The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick) NPA

I call Mary Fee, to be followed by Alex Johnstone. I point out at this stage that we have a little time in hand, so I will be as flexible as I can. 18:12

Mary Fee (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill, and I confirm that Scottish Labour members support the aims of the bill and ...

Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP) SNP

When will Mary Fee point out that the decline has been due to a decline in the private house building sector but not in the public sector?

Mary Fee Lab

There is a decline across housing in general in Scotland. I remind the member that housing is devolved and that it is the Scottish Government’s responsibilit...

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities (Nicola Sturgeon) SNP

It is not relevant.

Mary Fee Lab

It is relevant.

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green) Green

Will the member give way?

Mary Fee Lab

Can I just make a little progress? When key stakeholders across the sector are saying that housing in Scotland is in crisis, we must listen to them. Interru...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Ms Baillie and Ms Sturgeon, you are at it again.

Mary Fee Lab

I would like to progress.

The Presiding Officer NPA

One minute, Ms Fee. Ms Baillie and Ms Sturgeon, you are at it again. Will the two of you just behave yourselves? I call Mary Fee.

Mary Fee Lab

Thank you, Presiding Officer. The Housing (Scotland) Bill was an opportunity to take control of this crisis and start tackling the challenges that we face. ...

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con) Con

It has been an exciting afternoon. I can say that because sitting on the front benches dealing with the amendments allows the time to pass rather more quickl...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Can you bring your remarks to a close?

Alex Johnstone Con

Sorry—I thought that I was still in time, Presiding Officer. I will bring my speech to a close. My key point relates to the right to buy. I understand that ...

The Presiding Officer NPA

Thank you, Mr Johnstone. I appreciate your efforts. We move to the open debate. At the moment, I can offer members five minutes each instead of four minutes...

Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP) SNP

I am pleased to take part in the stage 3 debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill. In the stage 1 debate, I welcomed the general principles of the bill, partic...

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh Northern and Leith) (Lab) Lab

In the stage 1 debate, I welcomed much of the bill and said that the problem was the issues that were missing from it. That is still the situation at the end...

The Presiding Officer NPA

You need to bring your remarks to a close, Mr Chisholm.

Malcolm Chisholm Lab

James Kelly’s amendment would have required the introduction of regulations, and the work could have been done in the context of those regulations. It is dee...

Jim Hume (South Scotland) (LD) LD

I welcome the opportunity to participate in this evening’s debate. The bill is important, and I hope that it will begin to make the private rented sector mor...