Bill Wilson MSP

MSP calls for more social housing:  Scottish Government should grasp the nettle of housing reform and the “right to buy” must go.

Dr Bill Wilson, an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland and a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Rural Affairs and Environment committee, yesterday welcomed the Scottish Government’s record on housing and supported its intention to reform the right to buy.

Speaking in the Scottish Parliament debate on the Rural Affairs and the Environment Committee’s 5th Report 2009, on Rural Housing, Dr Wilson said:

“I was pleased that, last August, the Scottish Government brought forward £100 million of investment in affordable housing and made another £50 million available for local authorities to build new council houses. Last year, housing associations and local authorities built nearly 5,000 affordable homes, and 6,221 houses for rent and low-cost ownership were completed in 2008-09. That is the highest annual figure in eight years and is certainly to be welcomed; it is 29 per cent higher than the figure achieved in 2006-07.

“In order that those new properties remain in the affordable housing sector and to encourage local authorities and housing associations in future building, it is important that they are not simply bought up. Therefore, I welcome the Scottish Government's commitment to, and the minister's comments on, reforming the right to buy.”

Dr Wilson later explained:  “In the past local authorities have built affordable housing only for it to be immediately bought.  This removes it from the social housing sector and discourages councils from attempting to relieve the housing shortage by building more such accommodation.  The sooner the right to buy is ended, the better.  Ending it will help the present Scottish Government build on its already impressive record to provide the people of Scotland with the decent housing that is their right.”

Dr Wilson also called for  vocational training in rural building, design and construction to entrench good practice in sustainability, and for the Scottish Government to adopt a bolder approach to the issue of housing, saying that it “might consider lines from ‘Verses Written on a Window in Scotland’:

“Tender-handed stroke a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains;
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And it soft as silk remains.

“The Scottish Government must grasp the nettle of reforming our outdated approach to rural housing. Given a clear lead, our architects, builders and local politicians will be quick to fall into line and see the benefits.”