Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Trish Godman): Lab

The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S2M-1329, in the name of Iain Smith, on affordable housing in north-east Fife. The debate ...

Motion debated,

That the Parliament notes with concern the shortage of affordable housing for rent or sale in many communities in north-east Fife; recognises that this is du...

Iain Smith (North East Fife) (LD): LD

I thank the Parliamentary Bureau, and members who supported my motion, for giving me the opportunity to secure this debate on affordable housing in north-eas...

Mr Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): Con

There are housing shortages in north-east Fife, as there are in many parts of Scotland, including the capital city of Edinburgh. The problem in the case of S...

The Deputy Presiding Officer: Lab

I call Richard Lochhead. I am sorry—I call Tricia Marwick.

Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): SNP

I have my other glasses on, but the last time that I looked I was not Richard Lochhead.I congratulate Iain Smith on securing tonight's debate. I know that it...

Mr Brocklebank: Con

I did it, and I was born in a council house.

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD

It is absolutely bizarre.

Tricia Marwick: SNP

It is. I appreciate Keith Raffan's intervention.Local authorities, including Fife Council, have a statutory duty to house people. The Homelessness etc (Scotl...

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): LD

Members might wonder why I am speaking in the debate, but I know something about St Andrews because I went to university there and I have two daughters curre...

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): Green

I thank Iain Smith for securing a debate on this important topic. I will comment briefly on three aspects of affordable housing: first, housing prices; secon...

Murray Tosh (West of Scotland) (Con): Con

I am grateful to Iain Smith for giving us the opportunity to discuss an important issue, and also for his statement at the outset that the debate is about ho...

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): SNP

My only connection with St Andrews is that, as a teenager, I used to go to the caravan park on holiday. I therefore come to this debate as an outsider—I repr...

Mr Keith Raffan (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD): LD

I congratulate my colleague Iain Smith on obtaining this important debate on affordable housing in north-east Fife.North-east Fife is, of course, part of the...

The Deputy Minister for Communities (Mrs Mary Mulligan): Lab

I congratulate Iain Smith on securing the debate this evening. Housing is an issue that is discussed constantly in the Parliament; indeed, it is a subject ea...

Murray Tosh: Con

Does planning guidance require Fife Council to zone sufficient land to meet that need? If it does not, does the Executive intend to amend planning guidance i...

Mrs Mulligan: Lab

My understanding is that Fife Council is developing its planning strategy, which will be put out to consultation soon. Of course, within the planning strateg...

Murray Tosh: Con

I thank the minister for that response, but does she accept that some local authorities with new local plans do not have that policy and therefore do not car...

Mrs Mulligan: Lab

We are talking specifically about rural housing development. I am conscious that we are consulting on housing development in rural areas for the very reasons...

Richard Lochhead: SNP

While holiday and second homes are important, does the minister accept that the underlying problem is the lack of homes? We should not be targeting holiday a...

Mrs Mulligan: Lab

I understand that it is a question of the overall number of homes. However, I also recognise that the underlying problem, which we need to address, is that t...

Mr Raffan: LD

Will the minister give way?

Mrs Mulligan: Lab

I am sorry, but I am running out of time.The Executive's affordable housing review is considering the issue of shared equity. We have had discussions with va...

Meeting closed at 18:03.