Tuesday 12 May 2009

RECORD BREAKING SCOTTISH HOUSE BUILDING WILL CREATE JOBS.


RECORD BREAKING SCOTTISH HOUSE BUILDING WILL CREATE JOBS.

SNP DELIVERING FOR SCOTLAND IN HARD TIMES.

Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Communities and Local Government Committee – has welcomed today’s announcement by the Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil that the Scottish Government will approve grants for a record breaking 8,100 affordable homes.

The announcement follows quickly on the heels of the publication of the draft Housing Bill which offers a new direction for social housing in Scotland. Mr Doris highlighted the change in pace under the SNP from the last few years of the Labour-led Executive when only 6 council houses were built.

Commenting Mr Doris said:

“The SNP Government has been a welcome breath of fresh air to address the issue of social housing in Scotland. In these hard economic times the go ahead for over 8,000 houses is a welcome boost to provide jobs.

“This announcement is in sharp contrast to the decline we saw under the previous Executive where only 6 council houses were built in the last three years of the previous Labour-led Executive.

“That already compares to the 432 council houses which began to be built in Scotland in the first year of the SNP Government. That figure compares to the 240 that began in England.

“On a pro-rata basis Scotland is ahead of the game in the UK in providing new council houses.

"And there’s more on the way. The SNP Government has already announced £17 million for councils to build 940 new council houses. That funding will build the same number of houses as the Labour government is promising south of the border but at a quarter of the cost.

“And with that further investment we are now seeing a new renaissance in council house building under the SNP.

“Affordable good quality housing is essential and the Scotland has what it takes to is deliver better housing across Scotland.”

More info;

1. Today’s announcement by the Scottish Government can be read here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/05/12110434 The local figures are available here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/1125/0081132.pdf 2. The announcement on the publication of the draft Housing Bill can be read here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/04/24112830 3. The announcement earlier last month on new investment in building council houses can be read here - £25 million for 970 council houses. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/04/09120809 This compares to the £100 million for 900 new council houses south of the border reported in the FT: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/69077b48-3066-11de-88e3-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

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