Chamber
Plenary, 02 Jun 2004
02 Jun 2004 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Affordable Housing<br />(North-east Fife)
It is. I appreciate Keith Raffan's intervention.
Local authorities, including Fife Council, have a statutory duty to house people. The Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 placed new duties on local authorities. At the moment, many local authorities are struggling just to meet their statutory duties, never mind to house people with general needs.
The Executive has undertaken a review of affordable housing, which lasted until April 2004. When the minister sums up, it will be useful if she speaks about the review, its timetable and its outputs. As Iain Smith recognised, the strategy that Fife Council has developed will be only a piece of paper until the council gets the resources that it needs to ensure that there is provision of affordable housing. There is only a small rented housing sector in north-east Fife—I refer to both council and private rented accommodation. As Iain Smith said, there are fewer than 1,000 council houses in the whole of north-east Fife.
Houses are being built that cost more than £100,000. Few young people can afford to buy such houses and people on average incomes are simply being priced out of the market. Many young people live with their parents for longer, because they simply cannot get into the housing market. The shortage of affordable accommodation and the fact that housing is not available in the right place at the right time are particular problems in north-east Fife, because of the number of second homes there, but they are also problems throughout Fife.
Ted Brocklebank is right. There are areas in Scotland in which there are surplus houses. Frankly, however, the surplus houses are in places where jobs do not exist and where people do not want to live. It is not just a matter of saying that there are houses on a council estate somewhere and asking why people do not go there to live. We must provide the houses where the jobs and the people are.
Local authorities, including Fife Council, have a statutory duty to house people. The Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 placed new duties on local authorities. At the moment, many local authorities are struggling just to meet their statutory duties, never mind to house people with general needs.
The Executive has undertaken a review of affordable housing, which lasted until April 2004. When the minister sums up, it will be useful if she speaks about the review, its timetable and its outputs. As Iain Smith recognised, the strategy that Fife Council has developed will be only a piece of paper until the council gets the resources that it needs to ensure that there is provision of affordable housing. There is only a small rented housing sector in north-east Fife—I refer to both council and private rented accommodation. As Iain Smith said, there are fewer than 1,000 council houses in the whole of north-east Fife.
Houses are being built that cost more than £100,000. Few young people can afford to buy such houses and people on average incomes are simply being priced out of the market. Many young people live with their parents for longer, because they simply cannot get into the housing market. The shortage of affordable accommodation and the fact that housing is not available in the right place at the right time are particular problems in north-east Fife, because of the number of second homes there, but they are also problems throughout Fife.
Ted Brocklebank is right. There are areas in Scotland in which there are surplus houses. Frankly, however, the surplus houses are in places where jobs do not exist and where people do not want to live. It is not just a matter of saying that there are houses on a council estate somewhere and asking why people do not go there to live. We must provide the houses where the jobs and the people are.
In the same item of business
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.