This week I helpedlaunch the SNP's latest research paper in our 'Best for Scotland' Summer Campaign, entitled"Best for Scotland - Real Scottish Housing". The paper details how only the powers of anindependent Parliament can tackle Scotland's worsening housing crisis. At present, thehousing situation in Scotland is a national scandal. The Scottish House Condition Surveyshowed that 30% of houses are affected by dampness, condensation or mould, with 150,000children living in damp housing. Nearly 90,000 homes in Scotland are below tolerablestandards. Over the past decade, the number of households applying as homeless has rocketedto 41,500, representing some 78,000 people - equivalent to the population of a town the sizeof Paisley. And the waiting list for council housing stands at a vast 193,000 households.
The SNP find this unacceptable.
Our detailed budget programme explains how, by mobilisingthe wealth of Scotland, an independent Parliament could generate nearly £1 billion of extrahousing finance over the first four years of Independence. We propose transferringthree-quarters of the housing capital debt of local authorities to central government,therefore freeing up £945 million of new resources which would otherwise be spent onservicing that debt.
Bad housing and lack of housing are problems affecting all of Scotland,and are often more acute in rural highland areas than in our towns and cities, yet no partyis as committed to housing as the SNP are.
After the launch of our research paper aspokesperson from the housing campaign group Shelter, said that the SNP "have given a broadcommitment, which is more than any other political party". The Tories are slashinginvestment in housing by a third over the next three years and a Labour front benchspokesperson recently said that housing was not a top priority for Labour . In fact Labour do not have a housing policy, stating for the last four years that it is 'under review'!
Opinion poll evidence shows that the people of Scotland are strongly committed to tacklingthe housing crisis but only the SNP listen. A devolved assembly would be trapped within anever tighter Westminster financial straightjacket and cuts such as those currently beingimposed by Westminster would continue to dictate housing policy north of the Border. Only bysecuring what is 'Best for Scotland' - the power of an independent Parliament - can Scotsachieve the best possible housing conditions for our nation. Only the SNP and Independenceare best for Scottish housing. With a firm commitment to good housing for all - and thepolicies and resources to match - the quality of life in Scotland can be changed radicallyfor the better, making housing the pride and not the shame of Scotland.
Roseanna Cunningham MP
Home Affairs Spokesperson
Scottish National Party
If you would like to know more about the SNP and HELP SCOTLAND contact snp.hq@snp.org.uk or visit the official the Scottish National Party web site.
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