Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 01 October 2024
01 Oct 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Housing
I have mentioned the funding that goes to Glasgow, and I will come back to a number of Mr Sweeney’s points. On empty homes, we have contributed £11 million to bring 9,000 empty homes back into circulation, including in Glasgow. We have talked about the funding that Glasgow gets and the additional funding in relation to dealing with homelessness issues.
On acquisitions, Glasgow’s increased allocation will make a difference in that regard. There are two ways in which we can look at the issue. There is flexibility through the additional funding, which can now be used to tackle voids. Previously, it was just for acquisitions, but now it can be used for voids. Glasgow City Council has the ability to pick that up with the housing associations, which I know it is doing at the moment.
We have tried to be as flexible as possible with the funding. We are doing work on empty homes. As Paul Sweeney will know, empty homes and voids are quite separate things. We are doing work on empty homes, as I have said, including through the additional funding, which gives Glasgow the flexibility to look at voids as well as acquisitions.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Paul McLennan on delivering the homes that Scotland needs. The minister will take questions at the end of his sta...
The Minister for Housing (Paul McLennan)
SNP
The future of housing in Scotland affects every constituency, every community and every family in the country. In a vibrant, cohesive and forward-looking cou...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
The minister will now take questions on the issues that have been raised in his statement. I intend to allow about 20 minutes for questions, after which we w...
Miles Briggs (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The minister will know that, since his appointment, I have been trying to work constructively with him. However, I have to say that, after eight years as an ...
Paul McLennan
SNP
I come back to my statement. I think that, when I made the statement and talked about setting up the housing investment task force, I recognised the role of ...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The minister said that he is “deeply concerned by” the devastating “statistics on homelessness”. I remind members that the minister is not a social commentat...
Paul McLennan
SNP
I take my responsibilities very seriously, but there must be a partnership approach with the UK Labour Government, which has promised change and has a role t...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Give me a moment, minister. It would be much appreciated if members would cease speaking across the aisles and instead let us hear the minister.
Paul McLennan
SNP
I also spoke about the role of acquisitions. For example, last July we announced additional funding for acquisitions, which brought forward more than 1,500 p...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Please always speak through the chair.
Paul McLennan
SNP
I apologise. In a matter of weeks, you have responsibility to end the freeze on the local housing allowance. We spoke about asylum. You know about the press...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
I remind members of the requirement to speak through the chair at all times.
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Today’s announcement is yet another example of the SNP Scottish Government’s determination to do all that it can, within the powers that it has, to deliver f...
Paul McLennan
SNP
I mentioned the £22 million investment in the charitable bond programme to increase investment in affordable homes and to deliver more housing. That has enab...
Jeremy Balfour (Lothian) (Con)
Con
The minister will be aware that house building is down by 15 per cent here in the Lothians. Each property that is built in the Lothians now costs an extra £3...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Always speak through the chair, Mr Balfour.
Paul McLennan
SNP
A couple of points were made there. One was about planning—Mr Balfour will be aware that Mr McKee is responsible for planning. I will certainly raise that is...
Jeremy Balfour
Con
It is nothing to do with that.
Paul McLennan
SNP
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Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
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Paul McLennan
SNP
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Paul Sweeney (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
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Paul McLennan
SNP
I have mentioned the funding that goes to Glasgow, and I will come back to a number of Mr Sweeney’s points. On empty homes, we have contributed £11 million t...
Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley) (SNP)
SNP
The Scottish Government spends more than £90 million every year on mitigating the bedroom tax, alongside the welfare cap, thanks to the Tories, and now thank...
Paul McLennan
SNP
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Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
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Paul McLennan
SNP
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Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Will the minister expand on the impact of the freeze in the rates of local housing allowance? What effect has that had on those private sector tenants who ne...
Paul McLennan
SNP
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Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
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