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We often read of new projects to build more affordable homes in parts of Scotland. Sometimes the reports mention the major share of the cost coming from the Scottish Government. Sometimes they don’t. The anti-independence stance of writers or the news agency they work for may explain these omissions. See this example:
East Renfrewshire Council forgets to credit Scottish Government funding for affordable housing
See this summary of the key points, in the Scottish budget regarding housing, from Scottish Housing News:
‘A £756 million contribution to the Scottish Government’s target of delivering 50,000 affordable homes by 2021 and an increase of £138.9m for the More Homes Programme were amongst the investment plans set out in the 2018-19 Draft Budget by finance secretary Derek Mackay.
Publishing the Draft Budget to parliament yesterday, Mr Mackay set out a programme that will also:
- Deliver a local government finance settlement worth more than £10.5 billion
- Allocate over £4bn of funding for infrastructure, including £1.2bn in transport infrastructure for key road projects and further electrification of the rail network etc
- Deliver £600m to ensure every home and business will have access to superfast broadband by 2021
- Deliver the first £70m of a new £150m Building Scotland Fund
- Set aside £340m for initial capitalisation of the Scottish National Investment Bank
- Invest £60m in Low Carbon Innovation Fund to deliver innovative low carbon energy infrastructure solutions including for electric vehicles
- Drive regional economic growth by more than doubling investment in city region deals.’
Regular readers will know that this contribution by the Scottish Government needs to be contextualised against the neglect of the Tory Government in England. See these recent reports:
I know the English Tories have been panicked into doing something about housing but there are serious doubts as whether the poor will actually be able to access much of it. See:
https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2017/dec/08/welsh-lesson-housing-crisis-english-problem
Talking-up Scotland 
A slogan comes to mind: ‘Real Government – Scottish Government’.
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I like it. Just opened my Christmas card for Nicola!
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“Wings” yesterday showd how a picture paints a thousand words in his screenshot of the Tory MSPs with the caption “Torn Coupons”. Such collective deflation and utter dejection of a bunch of self important windbags has never been caught on camera anywhere to my knowledge.
That is what happens when the real talent plays for the other team. The Scottish Government nimbly side stepped the Unionist bear trap on finance and produced an excellent budget showing what can be done with limited reserves but with the correct priorities.
I can only sigh as I think of what might have been if only…………………….
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Yes, I think it was, as you say, nimble.
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Response to budget is good. Despite the threat to my blood pressure I was listening to Scottish radio again this morning. I normally cannot stand the phone in type programmes, must have been distracted and the one this morning (Steven Jardine) slipped past the digit censor. It was really uplifting though, one or two budget detractors who were quickly shot down by the following caller. Caller after caller in support of paying more to create a better country. As you have been pointing out, we are different. I didn’t hear the point being made, “just think what we could achieve if we had real, meaningful and full control over all taxes.” Ah well, maybe another time.
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A rare pleasure. Good to hear, thanks.
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Well done the SNP on many fronts . BBC shortbread’s Gary Robinson going for Derek’s jugular again this morning . Derek did not allow it ,as Robinson had just allowed his fellow ally , the mathematician and brain of Britain called Murdo Fraser , to run amok with SNPBAAD , with few interruptions . Derek stayed the course , continuing to talk when Robinson spoke over him .
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Yes – completely agree – Derek handled that hostile interview very effectively.Being very broadly supportive of the SNP Scottish budget can I offer one small criticism? This point was also picked up by the National editorial:
“One outright miscalculation has been the mirroring of England’s cut to stamp duty for first time buyers. The LBTT relief will push house prices up whilst at the same time reducing revenue for future budgets.” – I absolutely agree with the National’s view on this. Hopefully it is something that can be changed in the negotiations with the Greens and other Parties. I would much rather see that money (not a great sum – but something nevertheless) being spent on insulation projects for the public estate – which will lead to continuing gains for the public purse as heating costs are reduced – and allows us to edge nearer our carbon emissions targets.
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Hi John – apologies if I’ve posted this twice but PC seemed to be a bit moody. This was a piece noted in Scottish Housing News. Sarah Boyack – arch-BritNat of this parish – uttering supportive statement about SNP Scottish Govt through gritted teeth. (See below):
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) welcomed the increase of £138.9m for the More Homes Programme.
Funding for the More Homes programme has increased from £583.6m in the 2017–18 Budget to £722.5m in the 2018–19 Draft Budget.
Sarah Boyack, SFHA head of public affairs, said: “The increase of £138.9m for the More Homes Programme is a very welcome announcement for the social housing sector. This funding – and the increase in the planning budget of £4.1m – should further assist our members in contributing towards the Scottish Government’s 50,000 affordable homes target and help to house more people who are in desperate need of a home of their own.
“The investment will also secure jobs and training opportunities, key challenges identified by our members in our Brexit report earlier this year.
“Access to the National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland and the Building Scotland Fund will be important for Scotland’s construction industry to secure new, innovative housing.”
Is it too much to hope that Sarah – and others of her philosophical ilk – when faced with the reality of an SNP Scottish Govt working hard to apply the (utterly inadequate) devolution powers to benefit ALL of Scotland might start to reconsider their position on the Constitutional Question?
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