Dundee LibDems back Tavish Scott's call for housing boost to be brought forward (Dundee Liberal Democrats)

Dundee Liberal Democrats <info@dundeelibdems.org.uk>

Dundee LibDems back Tavish Scott's call for housing boost to be brought forward

October 4, 2008 11:34 AM
Originally published by Scottish Liberal Democrats

Tavish Scott calls for housing boost to be brought forward

Dundee Liberal Democrats today (Saturday 4th October) backed Tavish Scott, leader of the Liberal Democrats in Scotland in demanding that the Scottish Government bring forward the full £100 million it promised for affordable housing, in order to avert a predicted crisis in affordable housing.

Recent Homes for Scotland analysis shows that, without a programme of public investment, alongside UK-wide action to tackle the mortgage crisis, the Scottish Government's timescales for building new homes will be shattered.

Commenting, Mr Scott said, "Hostile market conditions are taking their toll on Scotland's housing market. Companies have laid off construction workers and Homes for Scotland is warning that without radical action, the Scottish Government will miss its targets for building new homes. This cannot be allowed to happen.

"That is why I am urging the Scottish Government to bring forward the full £100 million it promised would be invested in affordable housing to this year. Instead of staged investment, planned by the Government, I believe that the full amount should be pumped into the economy now to save construction jobs and drive forward the housing programme.

"Housing Associations and Councils should then be invited to bid for a share of this money now to drive forward their affordable homes programmes. Waiting until April next year might be too late."

Here in Dundee, Liberal Democrat City Council Group Leader, Cllr Fraser Macpherson, added, "The SNP Government's 46% cut in housing association capital funding for the City in 2008-9 has been a highly detrimental step. It is about time the SNP Government properly addressed the housing issue and brought forward future funding."