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New homes a 'top priority'
01/10/2007
Building more new homes will be a key part of the Scottish Government's strategy to tackle homelessness, a conference organised by Shelter was told today.
Communities MInister Stewart Maxwell also outlined legislative plans for the coming years to help deliver Scotland's target to provide equal rights to accommodation for all homeless people by 2012.
The conference marks the midway point between the Homelessness (Scotland) Act 2003, which set out the target, and the scheduled achievement date.
Mr Maxwell said:
"I want to make it clear that the new Scottish Government is committed to the 2012 target.
"I believe increasing the supply of homes that are affordable - across all tenures - is one of the most important things we can do to prevent homelessness.
"That's why I've already set up the Housing Supply Task Force, which has a remit to tackle obstacles such as land supply and planning issues which are currently preventing the building of sufficient new housing to cater for growing need.
"Furthermore, we will soon begin our wide-ranging consultation on housing, which will seek the views of all interested parties on how we address some of the most pressing issues facing us.
"With a tight Spending Review upcoming, it is clear that there won't be easy answers. No Government can simply turn on housing supply like a tap and we must operate within the constraints of our budget.
"But that doesn't mean we should be pessimistic. I think there is a great deal we can do to get more for our money and build more efficiently. With the right will on the part of all the relevant partners - including local authorities, housing providers and the construction industry - I know that it is possible to make more housing, of all types, a reality."