Along with a £4 million loan from the Bank of Scotland and £1 million from Forth Housing Association (FHA) and Stirling, as total of £13 million will be used to build 130 new badly needed affordable homes across the town.

The FHA already has 800 homes in the area. The Chairperson of FHA said:

‘This is all part of our effort to support the Scottish Government in delivering its target of building 35,000 new affordable homes over the next five years. Getting on the housing ladder remains a big challenge in this area as house prices and rents continue to rise, so there is a considerable demand for social housing locally.’

I hope readers are not tired of me reminding them that the Scottish Government is building affordable housing at twice the rate per capita of that in Theresa’s brutal kingdom but just in case:

SNP government spending on affordable housing to be more than twice, per head of population, than that of Tory government

https://sbnn.co.uk/2017/08/30/social-housing-boost-stirling-funding-secured-130-new-homes/

The Free Democratic Party and the Greens seem likely to be part of Germany’s coalition government after the federal election on September 24^th. Both have expressed their support for Scotland and Northern Ireland by calling for talks between the EU and the UK ‘to consider the interests of Scotland and Northern Ireland fairly.’

More dramatically, they have insisted that: ‘Should they [Scotland and N Ireland] decide to leave the U.K., the door to the EU should remain open.’

I think we can pretty much discount now all those desperate Unionists who try to suggest we’d struggle to be admitted.

https://www.bloomberg.com/amp/news/articles/2017-08-30/german-parties-snub-u-k-to-back-scotland-s-push-to-defy-brexit

© bt.dk

Anders Povlsen, a Danish billionaire, has lost his fight against the Scottish Government decision over a major windfarm which threatens the view from his Highland estate. Unnamed opposition politicians are said to have supported him but the local community were in favour and raised a petition to support their case. Povlsen is the second largest private landowner in Scotland so we must assume ‘opposition’ means ‘Tory’.

The Scottish government, openly responsive to the local community support, gave permission for the 22-turbine Creag Riabhach development.

Readers might be interested to know that the Scottish government is not uncritical in its approach to giving permission for windfarms with 2 out of every 3 applications rejected:

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/146449/nearly-two-three-wind-farm-decisions-overturned-ministers/

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/149099/%e2%80%8bdanish-billionaire-loses-battle-block-highland-windfarm/

(c) pinterest.co.uk

In yesterday’s edition of Energy Voice, readers are reminded that David Cameron had pledged to help the industry in 2016 by appointing an ‘Oil and Gas Ambassador’ who would:

‘ensure the best possible access for UK companies to markets overseas, promote the sector around the world and boost inward investment.’

19 months later, not only has the post not been filled, the current Energy Minister, Richard Harrison, has never heard of it. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised at the usual mix of incompetence and duplicity from the Tories.

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/149101/promised-oil-gas-ambassador-not-appointed/

We know now, of course, that had they taxed the industry properly, they could have use those funds to invest in development.

Why were tens of billions in oil revenues lost by UK government? Would they have made Scotland seem too wealthy in September 2014?

The SNP, of course, have published a plan in their May 2017 manifesto. There is a section on oil and gas which, according to energy Voice again, accuses the Tories of:

merely planning for a “managed decline” of the oil and gas sector;

failing to provide “adequate support for the industry and families which depend on it.

Instead, the SNP demand that the UK government: ‘deliver a strong deal including targeted incentives to develop small pool discoveries, further support to stimulate exploration activity and loan guarantees for critical infrastructure.’

https://www.energyvoice.com/oilandgas/north-sea/140083/exclusive-snp-unveils-plan-help-oil-industry-thrive-years/

The imminent boom in oil price, by 2020 at the latest, may make this seem less important but it still reminds us of what the Tories can and will do for Scotland – as little as possible.

(c) scrabster.co.uk

The harbour now:

1. has a total economic output up from £39 million in 2009 to £48 million today;
2. supports 403 jobs;
3. has a 70% increase in GVA – a widely used measure of economic contribution;
4. has wages and salaries arising from the activities of the harbour at £10.3million up from £6.2million previously;
5. is the UK’s fourth largest landing port for fish;
6. has recently added a new ice plant to expand facilities for fishing vessels;
7. has a growing oil and gas and renewables base;
8. supports lifeline ferry services;
9. is seeing an increasing number of cruise ship visitors.

https://www.energyvoice.com/other-news/148935/scrabster-harbour-worth-24million-year-scotlands-economy/

(c) sky.com

Kezia Dugdale has resigned days after a Blairite purge was predicted in Scottish Labour and reported here:

A Blairite Purge? I love the sound of those words but would that be good news for the SNP?

As a confirmed opponent of Jeremy Corbyn’s socialist agenda it was only a matter of time. She claims that she has left the party in better state than she found it and her head remains high. I think we all know it is the Corbyn surge that gets the credit for any improvement.

Graciously if a little unconvincingly, Corbyn has thank her for her efforts:

‘Kezia became Scottish leader at one of the most difficult times in the history of the Scottish Labour Party, and the party’s revival is now fully under way, with six new MPs and many more to come. I want to thank Kez for her tireless service to our party and movement.’

Who is next I wonder? Alex Rowley’s ‘Gary Tank Commander’s Dad’ impressions get my vote but I guess the literate Corbynite, Neil Findlay, must be the favourite. He’ll be ideally suited to toe the London party line too so if you’re Labour for Independence, don’t go rushing back. Don’t get fooled again.

That’s two song titles in one report!

(c) bbc.co.uk

‘The scale of PFI repayments are now absolutely staggering – showing the sheer incompetence and damaging legacy of the previous Labour and the Lib Dem executive which is holding Scotland back to this day.’

Those are the words of SNP MSP Ash Denham. Can’t argue with that other than to remind him that some of the school walls built under the scheme have started to fall down on windy days killing, so far, nobody. The projects have been both over-priced and under-supervised

The Courier’s headline was:

‘Toxic’ PFI charges for taxpayer exceed £1bn a year for first time’

That’s right, £1 000 000 000 per year and at least that amount for 25 years. Here’s how the Courier explains the deals:

‘PFI deals, a form of public-private partnership, involve the private sector providing the cash up front for infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, which public authorities then lease back over a period of at least 25 years. Those unitary charge payments, which can also include stumping up for maintenance and cleaning, often exceed the value of the building project itself, with the public body never actually owning the property. Meanwhile, companies can make large profits through guaranteed annual payments.’

Notice that we never actually own the property. A deal with the de’il?

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/499276/toxic-pfi-charges-taxpayer-exceed-1bn-year-first-time/

© scottishconstructionnow.com

You know, if we really loved our Queen, we’d have called it the ‘Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Kreuzung’ in respectful memory of her original family name. Not only that, we wouldn’t have let that pushy wee First Minister open it first with a show of lights and claims of coming in under budget. The nerve of the woman! Here’s the video:

http://www.insider.co.uk/news/watch-queensferry-crossing-nicola-sturgeon-11073611

The bridge will be open on Wednesday 30^thAugust, today. I’ve no idea when the official and therefore pointless second opening will be and, of course, I couldn’t give a. It’s been a huge success. Though delayed by bad weather including some of the highest winds the contractors had ever faced, the bridge has come in almost £250 million or nearly 20% under budget. That’s right a capital expenditure project under budget. The government of the day takes the credit I think. If it had come in over budget they’d have got the stick. Further, these savings are in addition to £512 million which was saved during the procurement phase. Clearly not a bridge too far but a bridge at just the right amount.

https://www.scottishconstructionnow.com/20999/queensferry-crossing-lights-up-ahead-of-official-opening/

South Lanarkshire has a target of building 1 000 new council house by 2021 supported by Scottish Government funding. According to Scottish Housing News:

‘South Lanarkshire’s approach to energy efficiency will continue across all future developments including the fabric of the buildings and the use of high-quality insulation, modern heating systems and boilers, and wherever possible, renewable energy sources.’

Also reported by Scottish Housing News, the Scottish Government is putting pressure on Borders Council to get a move on and to consider building many more to meet the extreme shortages in the area. Holyrood had identified a need for 916 but the council plans only 811.

http://www.scottishhousingnews.com/16920/councillors-agree-sites-for-hundreds-of-new-scottish-borders-homes/

This is all part of much larger Scottish Government plan for 2017 alone:

Scottish Government plan to approve more than 10 000 affordable new homes this year

Also, see these earlier reports to get the fuller picture:

Big increase in affordable housing supply down to Scottish Government investment

Big increase in affordable housing supply down to Scottish Government investment

The non-reporting of the Scottish Government’s commitment to affordable housing reflects the inability of our political journalists to highlight any good news coming out of Holyrood.

Commissioned by Mainstream Renewable Power, the company behind the huge Neart na Gaoithe (NnG) wind farm off the Fife coast, the Institute renowned for its right-wing Unionist leanings reported that the wind farm will:

create 2,000 construction jobs in Scotland over a four-year period.

generate the equivalent of 0.6% of Scotland’s GDP

generate £827.4 million over the lifetime of the project.

generate £382million across the country’s construction sector,

feed £440.2million into the service industries.

Create 236 jobs annually during its operational lifespan.

This clearly won’t do. Who wrote this? Don’t they know there are several other even bigger windfarms? What will they do for the Scottish economy? Sack them before those separatists get wind (😊) of this.

https://www.energyvoice.com/otherenergy/148782/wind-farm-off-coast-fife-will-create-2000-construction-jobs-scotland-four-year-period-new-report-said/