Chamber
Plenary, 22 Feb 2007
22 Feb 2007 · S2 · Plenary
Item of business
Affordable Housing
I would like to make progress.
Our affordable housing funding is being supplemented by the additional income from reduced council tax discounts for second and long-term empty homes. I am pleased that the majority of local authorities have realised the potential in the new powers and discretion that they have in relation to council tax. Nearly £15 million has been raised in the first year of the new arrangements. For example, since Highland Council reduced council tax discounts on second and empty homes to 10 per cent, it has raised more than £2.2 million.
Land supply and planning are hugely important to the provision of affordable housing. Ensuring that we have sufficient affordable housing is not just about investment; we must consider the housing market holistically, including the modernisation of planning and building standards. It is hugely important that we set the correct context for more new affordable housing to be delivered and delivered more quickly, which is why our reform of the planning system through the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 will reap benefits in affordable housing provision. Effective land supply for housing is vital. I cannot overstate the difference that the 2006 act will make. It will revitalise the development planning system, which lies at the heart of housing provision. The new arrangements for development plans will facilitate far more effective release of land for housing.
It will take time for the new requirements to be adopted, so we cannot simply sit back and wait for that to happen. We must do what we can in the interim to facilitate the required level of land supply. We set up the affordable housing working group last year to get the right people round the table to explore practical ways of enhancing land supply. The group has begun to do that.
Our affordable housing funding is being supplemented by the additional income from reduced council tax discounts for second and long-term empty homes. I am pleased that the majority of local authorities have realised the potential in the new powers and discretion that they have in relation to council tax. Nearly £15 million has been raised in the first year of the new arrangements. For example, since Highland Council reduced council tax discounts on second and empty homes to 10 per cent, it has raised more than £2.2 million.
Land supply and planning are hugely important to the provision of affordable housing. Ensuring that we have sufficient affordable housing is not just about investment; we must consider the housing market holistically, including the modernisation of planning and building standards. It is hugely important that we set the correct context for more new affordable housing to be delivered and delivered more quickly, which is why our reform of the planning system through the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006 will reap benefits in affordable housing provision. Effective land supply for housing is vital. I cannot overstate the difference that the 2006 act will make. It will revitalise the development planning system, which lies at the heart of housing provision. The new arrangements for development plans will facilitate far more effective release of land for housing.
It will take time for the new requirements to be adopted, so we cannot simply sit back and wait for that to happen. We must do what we can in the interim to facilitate the required level of land supply. We set up the affordable housing working group last year to get the right people round the table to explore practical ways of enhancing land supply. The group has begun to do that.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Mr George Reid):
NPA
The next item of business is a debate on motion S2M-5617, in the name of Rhona Brankin, on affordable housing.
The Minister for Communities (Rhona Brankin):
Lab
As we move towards the end of the second session of Parliament, it is time to take stock of our many achievements on affordable housing provision. I begin by...
Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP):
SNP
Given the desire to create affordable housing, why are compulsory purchase orders used so little to release land for housing, particularly in pressured areas...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
In rural parts of Scotland such as islands, spend has increased. Communities Scotland is working in creative ways with the Forestry Commission Scotland to re...
Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP):
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
No; I must make progress.I referred to the forest land scheme, which I launched last year and which is another measure that is targeted specifically at rural...
Richard Lochhead:
SNP
Will the minister give way?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
I would like to make progress.Our affordable housing funding is being supplemented by the additional income from reduced council tax discounts for second and...
Margo MacDonald (Lothians) (Ind):
Ind
My question relates directly to the composition of the group. Are tenants in the majority?
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
The group reflects the people involved in delivering affordable housing—its composition reflects local authorities, tenants groups and the private housing se...
Tricia Marwick (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP):
SNP
I confess to being astonished that the housing minister could present a debate on the Government's record in housing and could speak for 11 minutes without m...
Margo MacDonald:
Ind
Would an SNP-led Executive ensure that the City of Edinburgh Council was able to build council houses, as the tenants in Edinburgh have said no to stock tran...
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
I have repeatedly said to the minister that all tenants have been more or less blackmailed into a yes vote. I have made it clear to ministers that they shoul...
The Deputy Minister for Communities (Des McNulty):
Lab
In any and every ward in Glasgow that has social rented housing, substantial investment is being made in repairs and central heating. Huge amounts of investm...
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
The tenants voted for small housing associations, as the deputy minister—
Des McNulty:
Lab
They voted for investment.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Wait a minute: the minister did not address the stock-transfer policy in her speech, so Des McNulty is not going to waste time trying to defend it in mine. T...
Des McNulty:
Lab
Will Tricia Marwick give way?
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
No I will not. Professor Bramley highlighted the fact that, as well as a need for new affordable housing to keep pace with demand, there was a backlog to be ...
Rhona Brankin:
Lab
Will Tricia Marwick give way?
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
No, I will not.That statistic shows one of the reasons why there is such pressure now.I find it hard to believe that the Bramley report did not take housing ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
You have one minute.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Most are not eligible for social housing, but they are being priced out of the housing market.I hope that you will give me a couple more minutes, given the i...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
No. I have given you a bit more. I will give you another minute from now.
Tricia Marwick:
SNP
Okay. Many of those people are precisely the kind of people that Scotland needs—young graduates and families who want to put down roots.I recommend that MSPs...
Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
We Conservatives consider the need for affordable housing to be among the top priorities for Scotland. We know that both the private and public rental and pu...
Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP):
SNP
Will the member explain the Conservatives' policy on council houses? Do they regard councils to be appropriate landlords and will they continue to support lo...
Mr Davidson:
Con
I will come to that point in a moment, when I will reply to the member fully.The council house service is under increasing pressure, with the average debt pe...
Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab):
Lab
Is the member advocating not offering tenants a vote with regard to housing-stock transfer? Is he suggesting that we should just go ahead and do it without a...
Mr Davidson:
Con
That is not what I said at all. However, if the Government had gone about the task properly, people would not have voted no—they did so because of the confus...