Chamber
Plenary, 18 Jun 2008
18 Jun 2008 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Tenancy Deposit Protection Scheme
I thank Claire Baker for bringing the debate to the Parliament. The issue is important to many people and this is an important time to conduct the debate, given that the housing market is forcing people to rent, often for longer than anticipated. With that being the norm, there have been reports in the media that many landlords are seizing on the opportunity and increasing rental prices, with tenants' deposits increasing in line with that. As the motion correctly intimates, many people rely on receiving their deposits to secure or pay for future rented accommodation. Debt in Scotland is bad enough without that added burden. According to Citizens Advice Scotland, 1.7 million people had debt problems in 2006-07.
The motion suggests that we should use the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to introduce a tenancy deposit protection scheme similar to those in England and Wales. As the act was introduced by the previous Administration, I must ask what I think is a legitimate question about why that Administration did not introduce such a scheme at the time. During the stage 2 debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill in October 2005, the then Deputy Minister for Communities, Johann Lamont, stated:
"Any … tenancy deposit scheme … must be considered in the context of the number of other developments that are under way".
She went on to say:
"We will not introduce any scheme whose cost we consider disproportionate."—[Official Report, Communities Committee, 5 October 2005; c 2501-2.]
Tonight, however, Claire Baker is adamant that the current Administration should introduce such measures without consultation.
Although I agree that tenants' rights and landlords' rights should be protected, I do not know whether the model that is used in England and Wales is the answer.
The motion suggests that we should use the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 to introduce a tenancy deposit protection scheme similar to those in England and Wales. As the act was introduced by the previous Administration, I must ask what I think is a legitimate question about why that Administration did not introduce such a scheme at the time. During the stage 2 debate on the Housing (Scotland) Bill in October 2005, the then Deputy Minister for Communities, Johann Lamont, stated:
"Any … tenancy deposit scheme … must be considered in the context of the number of other developments that are under way".
She went on to say:
"We will not introduce any scheme whose cost we consider disproportionate."—[Official Report, Communities Committee, 5 October 2005; c 2501-2.]
Tonight, however, Claire Baker is adamant that the current Administration should introduce such measures without consultation.
Although I agree that tenants' rights and landlords' rights should be protected, I do not know whether the model that is used in England and Wales is the answer.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-1865, in the name of Claire Baker, on a tenancy deposit protection scheme for Scotland...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament is concerned that the withholding of deposits unreasonably continues to be a problem for tenants in the private rented sector; notes that...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I am delighted to speak on tenancy deposit schemes in my maiden members' business debate. It is always a pleasure to be involved in a debate about a matter o...
Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD):
LD
I apologise, Presiding Officer, as I may have to leave before the end of the debate. The debate is important and is on an issue on which several members, par...
Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP):
SNP
I thank Claire Baker for bringing the debate to the Parliament. The issue is important to many people and this is an important time to conduct the debate, gi...
Claire Baker:
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Stuart McMillan:
SNP
May I just make some progress first? Thank you.The scheme in England and Wales has been in operation for only one year, and no formal evaluation has yet been...
Claire Baker:
Lab
I believe that enough research—by the NUS, Shelter and other organisations—has been carried out to allow the Government to make progress.A circular was issue...
Stuart McMillan:
SNP
I am sure that, if what Ms Baker says were the case, the Government would look into it, but I am not sure that it is the case. I am sure that the minister wi...
Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, must apologise for having to leave before the end of the debate.I congratulate Claire Baker on securing tonight's debate. Scottish Conservatives full...
Robert Brown:
LD
That is fine for the good landlords. Does the member have a remedy for the bad landlords, which is where the issue arises?
Jamie McGrigor:
Con
I will come to that in my conclusion.I acknowledge the concerns that lie behind Claire Baker's motion, but ministers should tread with caution before burdeni...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this important debate. I was president of the Scottish Union of Students almost 40 years ago and failure to return de...
Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this debate on a tenant deposit protection scheme, which I am sure that most of us would agree is an important subjec...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing the debate. In doing so, I reflect on the frustrations of falling on hard times, since the words that were quoted ear...
Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD):
LD
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing this worthwhile debate.As several members have remarked, everyone has an anecdote about someone whose rent deposit wa...
The Minister for Communities and Sport (Stewart Maxwell):
SNP
I congratulate Claire Baker on securing the debate.I listened carefully to the debate and appreciate members' concerns about the impact that unfairly withhel...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
I am concerned that the minister suggested that the Government is inhibited by the timescale for the evaluation of the schemes in England and Wales. Is it no...
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
I will come to many other points, but the fact is that the scheme in England has not been formally evaluated. Many members said that it is a shining example ...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
I may have the wrong information, so will the minister clarify when the group last met and when it will meet again?
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
The group last met in June last year. A meeting was offered to the group in September, but its members decided that they could deal with the issues at hand t...
Johann Lamont:
Lab
Will the minister give way?
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The minister is just winding up.
Stewart Maxwell:
SNP
Jamie McGrigor said that there was only a 2 per cent dispute rate in England. That is true, but only two thirds of landlords have joined the scheme. I sugges...
Meeting closed at 18:29.