Chamber
Plenary, 15 Feb 2007
15 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Affordable Housing (Highlands)
Finance and Public Services and Communities
We are doing a great deal to provide affordable housing in the Highlands. Through Communities Scotland, the Executive is investing £33.6 million to improve the availability of affordable housing in the Highlands, which represents a 30 per cent increase on last year's housing investment programme. Overall, our housing investment in the Highlands has more than quadrupled since 1997-98.
I was pleased to visit Inverness last month and see one of the first households in the city to benefit from our innovative homestake shared equity scheme, which is aimed at helping those on low incomes get on to the property ladder. Since its launch, more than 200 other homestake houses have been approved in the Highlands.
I was pleased to visit Inverness last month and see one of the first households in the city to benefit from our innovative homestake shared equity scheme, which is aimed at helping those on low incomes get on to the property ladder. Since its launch, more than 200 other homestake houses have been approved in the Highlands.
In the same item of business
1. John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD):
LD
To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to increase the availability of affordable housing in the Highlands. (S2O-12027)
The Minister for Communities (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
We are doing a great deal to provide affordable housing in the Highlands. Through Communities Scotland, the Executive is investing £33.6 million to improve t...
John Farquhar Munro:
LD
I thank the minister for that encouraging reply. I am sure that she will be aware of the distinct lack of affordable housing in the Highlands, which is provi...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am prepared to look at any innovative suggestion for increasing the number of affordable homes. We are passionately committed to increasing the number of s...
Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab):
Lab
Does the minister agree that it is singularly depressing that Highland Council tenants are having to endure an increase in rents and a freeze on repairs and ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I agree that the result of the ballot in the Highland Council area was extremely disappointing. People in the Highlands had what we thought was a terrific op...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP):
SNP
Does the minister agree that there is a chronic shortage of affordable housing in Lochaber, and does she agree that public money should be used for real prio...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Fergus Ewing would not necessarily expect me to agree with him, as a marine national park could bring massive benefits to the Lochaber economy. Overall, ther...
Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
Is the minister aware of what Communities Scotland's housing inspection report said about Highland Council's provision of houses for homeless people? It gave...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I am aware of the number of breaches of the unsuitable accommodation order in the Highland Council area. However, I think that the most recent statistical bu...