Affordable Housing

First Minister’s Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 5 December 2024.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Willie Coffey Willie Coffey Scottish National Party

I welcome the announcement by the Scottish National Party Government of £768 million for affordable housing, which will deliver 8,000 new homes for social rent, mid-market rent and low-cost home ownership, some of which will be in my constituency. I understand that the money will be available only if the Parliament votes for the budget. Does the First Minister agree that, if MSPs want to tackle the housing emergency, they need to back the budget that releases the money to do that?

Members::

Oh!

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

I will say it again, as it went down so well. Mr Coffey is 100 per cent correct.

Let me share an—[ Interruption .] Let me share an observation with Parliament. If we want to spend the resources that the Government allocated yesterday on delivering outcomes such as 8,000 more affordable homes—I think that that constitutes an outcome in Mr Sarwar’s definition—Parliament has to be prepared to vote for the Government’s budget. The time for posturing will be over soon—[ Interruption .]

Photo of John Swinney John Swinney Scottish National Party

Oh yes, the time for posturing will be over soon. The time to vote for the Government’s budget is coming, and if members want investment in housing, they have to vote for the Government’s budget.