Every household in Scotland should be able to live in a decent, secure and affordable home. Too many individuals and communities have had to endure poor housing for too long. They need to see real improvements in their housing circumstances to allow them to face the future with confidence. That is why the Government has made housing a priority since it came to power in May 1997.

The Government's commitment to housing in Scotland has been demonstrated through the considerable additional resources it has made available - a very substantial increase as compared with the plans of the previous administration - as well as the raft of major new policy initiatives which we have launched or given fresh impetus to: New Housing Partnerships, the Empty Homes and Rough Sleepers Initiatives, the "Warm Deal" Initiative and the proposed National Strategy for Tenant Participation.