BUDGET FAILS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

BUDGET FAILS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

DARLING TURNS HIS BACK ON SCOTLAND’S BUILDERS

Labour has failed Scotland’s housing industry with Alasdair Darling’s refusal to accelerate capital from next year into this to help the Scottish Government support construction and housing through the recession.

With figures showing private house building at a low – with only 4 private homes starting construction in Edinburgh last year – the Scottish Government’s increased investment in affordable housing over the last twelve months has played a vital role in keeping the economy moving, keeping people in employment and increasing essential affordable housing.

The SNP Government had confirmed that affordable housing would be priority for any accelerated capital, a move backed by the housing and construction sectors but rejected by the Labour Government.

SNP MSP Kenneth Gibson said:

“Alasdair Darling has turned his back on Scotland’s builders and Scotland's housing industry.

“The Scottish Government has invested in recovery protecting jobs and building record numbers of affordable homes.

“While the SNP has put housing at the top of the ladder, Labour in Scotland concentrated on a train line and Labour in London simply concentrated on themselves.

“It is wrong of Labour to cut spending in the face of recession. Scotland’s house builders, the construction industry and those waiting for new affordable homes have been let down by Labour.”