Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party · Scotland
“To ask the Scottish Government what measures it is taking forward in partnership with East Lothian Council, Taylor Wimpey and Hargreaves, to deliver and expand the housing development at Blindwells, which has been classified as a strategic housing site. (S7O- 00129)”
“Scotland has decarbonised its electricity supply faster than almost any other country in Europe has done. More than 90 per cent of our electricity now comes from renewable sources—a transformation that is powered by the wind, waves and tides that shape our East Lothian shores every day.”
“We are at a moment that will define the future that we leave to our children and grandchildren. The science is clear, the evidence is all around us and the window for action is narrowing. Today, red weather warnings for extreme heat have been issued in the south-east of England.”
“Therefore, does he regret his party’s decision to close down nuclear energy in Scotland, which has been a huge contributor to the Scottish economy? Paul McLennan: I will touch on that. I mentioned the need for investment in the green jobs and infrastructure that grow our economy.”
“Paul McLennan: I go back to my point that the broader debate is about ensuring that those who are successful pay their fair share towards the foundations that make that success possible.”
“As the efficient and fair function of Scotland’s justice system is a priority for all in this chamber, does the cabinet secretary agree with me on the importance of the Scottish Sentencing Council and the courts working independently to ensure that objective?”
The complete record
Every one of 431 lines we hold for Paul McLennan, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 7 of 9.
“They have blamed hunger on UN distribution failures and shared pictures of aid pallets awaiting collection inside the border. Data that Israel’s Government has compiled and published makes clear that it has been starving Gaza. Between March and June, Israel allowed just 56,000 tonnes of food to enter Gaza. COGAT’s records show that less than a quarter of Gaza’s minimum needs for that period were being provided. UN-backed food security experts recently said that “the worst-case scenario of famine” is now unfolding in Gaza and that food deliveries are “at a scale far below what is needed” amid “drastic restrictions on the entry of supplies”. In response, Netanyahu has promised only “minimal” extra aid.”
“Israel knows how much food is needed—it has been calibrating hunger in Gaza for decades. The co-ordinator of Government activities in the territories—COGAT—is the Israeli agency that still controls aid shipments to Gaza, and it calculated that Palestinians needed, on average, a minimum of 2,279 calories per person per day, which could be provided through 1.836kg of food. Today, humanitarian organisations are asking for an even smaller minimum ration from 62,000 metric tonnes of dry and canned food to meet basic needs for 2.1 million people each month, which represents around 1kg of food per person per day. Gaza slid into famine this summer. Israeli officials have vigorously denied the existence of mass starvation and claimed without evidence that food is being stolen or hoarded.”
“On Saturday morning, I attended a Gaza protest in Haddington, in my constituency, where around 200 people were present. Last night, I was at another event in North Berwick, which was attended by around 75 people. People from all backgrounds were present at both events. They were angry, distraught and frustrated at the on- going genocide in Gaza. Let us call it what it is: state-sponsored genocide. An estimated 60,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Government’s actions. That figure rises every day. I condemn the actions of Hamas on 7 October 2023. We all do. Israel is using famine as a weapon in this war. The facts of the famine in Gaza are simple. Palestinians cannot leave, war has ended farming and Israel has banned fishing, so practically every calorie that the population eats must be brought in from outside.”
“The steps that have been set out are designed to provide the maximum response that we can make in Scotland to the situation that we face. Of course, we will consider whatever steps emerge in the fullness of time.”
“Over the past few months, we have seen mass starvation in Gaza—denied by the Israeli Government—bombing of hospitals and the murder of innocent journalists. An estimated 63,000 Palestinians have been killed by the Israeli Government. I know that the First Minister agrees that that is genocide, but should the Scottish Government be supporting a total boycott of Israeli goods, extensive sanctions on the state of Israel and a complete ban on arms sales to Israel? The First Minister: What I have tried to do today is set out the range of actions that are within the powers of the Scottish Government. I have explored that issue extensively to maximise the effectiveness of the intervention that we can make, because of the gravity of the situation that Mr McLennan recounts.”
“The strategic sites programme highlights that targeted Government capital and revenue support can help to unlock those strategic sites, which is why we are funding areas such as the Granton waterfront with targeted funding to help to unlock vital investment. We will continue discussions with strategic partners, focusing on emerging business cases such as that for Blindwells, over the next months in order to develop a joint approach to facilitating the progress of these strategic sites.”
“East Lothian is one of the fastest-growing areas in Scotland, along with the broader south-east Scotland region. Extensive economic and housing opportunities are possible in the region, as is highlighted in the “Strategic Sites Programme October 2024”, which was published by the Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city region deal team. How can the Scottish Government engage with the local authorities in the area in relation to the medium-term financial strategy to maximise opportunities? Shona Robison: Scotland’s regional economies and regional economic partnerships are critical to growing our economy.”
“We will continue to build on that to unlock growth and innovation across all sectors of our economy in 2025-26. We also continue to support the roll-out of improved digital connectivity in Scotland by extending gigabit-capable fibre networks right across the country. We have created the conditions for Scotland to be at the heart of the green technology revolution, as well as better connecting our citizens to one other and to digital public services.”
“The minister highlighted that Scotland has higher economic growth than the rest of the UK. Can he outline areas of expenditure in the outturn for 2024-25 that have helped to create that competitive economic advantage for the Scottish economy? Ivan McKee: Yes, I can. The Scottish Government has sought to secure and leverage competitive advantage for our economy through our budget and priorities for growth. On the offshore wind sector, for example, the 2024-25 outturn shows that we supported the green economy and future jobs by kick-starting our commitment of up to £500 million to anchor a new offshore wind supply chain in Scotland. That has leveraged in private capital investment such as Sumitomo’s £350 million cable factory investment at Nigg.”
“Every bit of public money comes with choices, and the Scottish Government should choose to spend that money wisely and on matters that improve things in Scotland. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I now call Jackie Baillie. You have up to four minutes, Ms Baillie. 16:54”
“Paul Sweeney: [Made a request to intervene.] Lorna Slater: I will take an intervention from Paul Sweeney. The Deputy Presiding Officer: I cannot give you all of that time back. Lorna Slater: That is fine. Paul Sweeney: I want to ask about a particular example. The £360,000 Scottish Enterprise grant that has been given to BAE Systems to create the applied shipbuilding skills academy in my region of Glasgow is a positive in my view. Does Lorna Slater agree? Lorna Slater: It is not at all clear to me that corporations such as BAE Systems, Raytheon and Leonardo, which are raking in billions, need the money. They have their own deep pockets. Why take money away from projects that would benefit us in Scotland? That is money that is not being spent on our NHS or on developing wealth for our communities in Scotland.”
“Lorna Slater: That was not the subject of my speech. My opening remarks were specifically about the use of public funding to support massive corporations. The question is whether we give public money to massive corporations that are making billions from selling to countries that are committing war crimes. That is the topic to which I restricted my remarks. I note that BAE Systems, Raytheon and Leonardo—all of which rake in massive profits—are likely to do even more of that, whether or not I have an opinion on it, because of the instability that exists in the world. The sums that they are being given by the Scottish Government through Scottish Enterprise would be better spent on building wealth in Scotland, rather than on companies that are profiting from suffering around the world.”
“Is it the Scottish Greens’ position that the United Kingdom Government should not be supplying weapons to itself? Lorna Slater: It is a bizarre proposal that Mr Carlaw puts to me. Clearly, no country should be committing war crimes. A country needing to defend itself from an illegal invasion, such as that of Russia, is a different matter to what the UK Government is currently doing, which is being complicit in a genocide that is being committed by Israel. We need to call that out when we see it. The UK should not be supplying weapons, munitions or intelligence to countries that are committing war crimes. That should go without saying. Daniel Johnson: Lorna Slater says that we should be supporting Ukraine. Does that include supplying munitions to that country? Therefore, should we be supporting the manufacturing of munitions on that basis?”
“That does not send a mixed message on how we use public funding. Edward Mountain: If Lorna Slater’s remarks were completely coherent, how will Ukraine defend itself against Russia if it does not have any weapons with which to do so? Is it just supposed to hug and kiss it out? Lorna Slater: Mr Mountain will have heard my opening speech, which neither mentioned Ukraine nor condemned arms sales to Ukraine. What it condemned was public money being used to fund companies that are selling arms to countries that are committing war crimes. I know that Mr Mountain is an ethical person and that he would not condone war crimes. I would not support companies that are profiting from creating war crimes with public money. Jackson Carlaw: I have heard Scottish Green politicians say that the United Kingdom itself commits war crimes.”
“The Scottish Government has a long-standing policy of not providing funding for munitions—the decision that was made by Scottish Enterprise on the matter demonstrated that. The Deputy Presiding Officer: We move to closing speeches. I note that Mr Rennie is not in the chamber, despite having participated earlier. I will expect an apology and an explanation for that. 16:50 Lorna Slater: My apologies to fellow members for not taking interventions during my opening speech. I just wanted to get my remarks on the record, and I will be very happy to take interventions during my closing speech. In response to Edward Mountain, I say that there is complete coherence in my remarks. I fully support my previous remarks on Ukraine and its fight against an oppressor in Russia’s illegal war.”
“The defence sector not only is critical to our national security but is a strategic driver of Scotland’s future workforce. As Gordon MacDonald mentioned, the Scottish Government is also investing up to £2 million in developing engineering skills in the Glasgow city region, working with the Clyde maritime cluster. In conclusion, we will hear—we have heard already today—people say that the Scottish Government does not support the defence sector. As I have outlined in my short speech, the Scottish Government has funded and will continue to fund the defence sector in Scotland. The proposal from Rolls-Royce and the Malin Group for work on an attack submarine was, unfortunately, ineligible for the potential funding.”
“Scottish Enterprise did not receive a formal application for funding from Malin. The Scottish Government provides business support via enterprise agencies to companies that operate in defence markets. Since the Scottish Government came to office, £45 million-worth of support has been allocated through enterprise agencies to defence companies or companies that are partially involved in defence activities. The Scottish Government recognises the importance of aerospace, defence and the shipbuilding sectors to Scotland’s economy and is committed to ensuring that Scotland is the home of manufacturing and innovation. Scottish ministers continue to engage with industries across the country as part of that work, including through our support for defence markets, diversification into civilian markets, training support and job creation.”
“The Scottish Government values the role of the defence sector in Scotland, the many jobs that it supports and sustains, and the value that it adds to the Scottish economy. Public money that Scottish enterprise agencies use is focused on supporting companies that are wholly or partially involved in defence activities with skills development and diversification. That ensures that Scotland continues to support and secure jobs in the defence, aerospace and shipbuilding sectors and the work that they do. I will move on to some of the specifics of the debate. On the specifics of the motion, Scottish Enterprise considered that the project that it had been discussing with Rolls-Royce in partnership with the Malin Group for work on an attack submarine was unfortunately ineligible for potential funding.”
“Scottish Enterprise has been clear that its human rights due diligence checks are regularly reviewed and updated in line with its most recent guidance. I am aware of the review that is under way, which must be robust and as extensive as possible. In the chamber last night, we discussed the horrors of the current situation in Gaza, where 55,000 Palestinians have been killed by the barbarism of the Israeli regime. Israel has had help with weapons and munitions from the UK and the US. That must stop. We must be unequivocal about this: the UK Government must stop supplying arms to Israel. In Scotland, we must ensure that no Scottish Enterprise funding finds its way to supporting companies that provide munitions to Israel. Douglas Lumsden: Will the member take an intervention? Paul McLennan: I will not—I have only four minutes.”
“This debate is taking place at a time of heightened tensions in many parts of the world. My thoughts are with those people who are suffering from the many wars and conflicts that are raging at the moment. Too many innocent people are being killed. As a Parliament, we have the responsibility not to further inflame conflicts by funding the manufacturers of munitions—indeed, the Scottish Government and its agencies have a long- standing policy that public money should not support the manufacturers of munitions. The Scottish Government has produced robust guidance for its executive agencies and public bodies on how they should undertake due diligence on businesses before establishing an investment relationship. I will touch on that in a second.”
“The population health framework and the service renewal framework set out the key areas of reform and the principles that we will work to that will reduce pressures, increase opportunity, improve integration and transform how services are experienced by the workforce and those whom it supports. What will not help us to attract and retain our workforce are the United Kingdom Government’s damaging policies on our social care staff. In that regard, I encourage it to think again.”
“For a number of years, social care recruitment has been a challenge in the east of East Lothian—in particular, for the rural villages near Dunbar, Haddington and North Berwick. To build on care at home, what strategies will be in place to address the issue of the social care worker shortage in rural areas and villages such as Innerwick, Gifford and Gullane, in my constituency? Neil Gray: Clearly, we are aware of the challenges of recruiting staff in rural and island communities. Changing demographics and increased needs serve only to add to those challenges.”
“When will there be an agreement between UK lenders so that the issue can be resolved? Paul McLennan: Mr Balfour will be aware that UK lending is a reserved matter. We have had discussions with UK Finance on the issue and, along with the Welsh Government, we continue to press that point with the UK Government and UK Finance. I am happy to take up individual issues, but it is a reserved matter at the moment. The Presiding Officer: Given the number of members who have requested to ask supplementary questions, it is unlikely that I will be able to take all of them, but I request concise questions and responses.”
“It is not appropriate to compare Scotland with other parts of the UK—it was simply not possible to make the necessary progress prior to introducing the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024, which gave us the necessary backstop powers to address Scotland’s unique tenure issues. Jeremy Balfour: It is deeply disappointing that the minister has not been able to answer the question about UK lenders and people who are worried about the mortgages on their properties. I will give him a second chance. A variety of stakeholders agree that a central register for affected properties is essential to properly address the issue. Can the minister explain why Scotland still does not have one? When will it finally get one, so that we know the scale of the work?”
“For buildings for which the Scottish Government is responsible, we have taken urgent action wherever that has been recommended by a fire engineer. I mentioned the launch of the single open call, which has proven to be very successful in identifying buildings that were not known to us via any other source. We have also concluded an exercise with local authorities and confirmed that a substantial proportion of them have appropriate mitigation measures in place. We have made substantial progress with a universal exercise across registered social landlords and are supporting RSLs to make progress with statutory assessment.”
“Jeremy Balfour: I thank the minister for his answer, but it has been eight years since the Grenfell tragedy brought the issue of dangerous cladding to light, and yet the Scottish Government is still dragging its heels while people are stuck in potentially dangerous properties or are unable to sell their homes without proper certification. Can the minister finally give us a timeline for when the single building assessment will be introduced, and confirm that it will be in line with what United Kingdom lenders require? Paul McLennan: I disagree with Mr Balfour’s points. It was essential that the new legislation that we introduced could deal with our unique tenure system and with the challenges that we have that do not exist elsewhere in the UK. Commencement of the provisions in the 2024 act has allowed us to rapidly increase the pace.”
“Since the essential Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into effect earlier this year, we have launched a £10 million scheme to support owners with building assessment. All buildings that were in the pilot programme have had an initial review. Many do not require further action, and all others are either undergoing a statutory assessment, will be assessed by their developer or will have an assessment funded by us. We have asked owners of social housing to confirm any buildings that are at risk and we will seek assurance that action is being taken. Where necessary, they can apply for funding to support assessment. The building safety levy, once it is enacted, will provide an important funding stream as we continue to mitigate fire safety risks.”
“The Scottish Government has established a comprehensive cladding remediation system. Since the essential Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024 came into effect earlier this year, we have launched a £10 million scheme to support owners with building assessment. All buildings that were in the pilot programme— Jeremy Balfour: We cannot hear the minister. The Presiding Officer: Minister, could you angle the microphone towards you? Thank you. We will see whether that makes any difference. Paul McLennan: My card is in. Is that any better? I will start again, Presiding Officer. The Scottish Government has established a comprehensive cladding remediation system.”
“Edinburgh has seen a 50 per cent reduction in voids, and I thank the City of Edinburgh Council for its work on that. We are working with the local authority on the issue. It is also important to consider the prevention duties under the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which Mr Balfour mentioned. Only last week, the cabinet secretary and I met registered social landlords to talk about their role in that. We are taking a number of actions to reduce the numbers. As I said, the most recent statistics show that 20 local authorities have reduced the number of children who are in temporary accommodation. “A Just Transition for Aberdeen and the North East” 5.”
“We are now seeing a concerning rise in the number of children housed in hostels and bed and breakfasts. Given that Scottish National Party members voted down amendments from my colleague Mark Griffin to require consideration of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child when allocating temporary accommodation, how can the Scottish Government say that it is serious about ending the housing emergency and stopping the unacceptable increase in the number of children being housed in B and Bs? Paul McLennan: There are a number of points to make. First, I mentioned the £80 million of funding this year and last year. That included £14 million in Foysol Choudhury’s region last year and £14 million this year. We have also taken other actions, such as taking a targeted approach in five local authority areas, including Edinburgh.”
“Increasing affordable housing supply is the best way to reduce time in temporary accommodation. We have provided £80 million through our voids and acquisitions fund last year and this year to increase the supply of social and affordable homes. Eighty per cent of that funding has been targeted to the five local authorities facing the most sustained temporary accommodation pressures. An estimated 2,669 households with children have been helped into affordable housing in the year ending December 2024. The most recent statistics show that 20 councils have reduced the number of children in temporary accommodation. Foysol Choudhury: Constituents frequently contact me about waits with children in unsuitable temporary accommodation lasting years.”
“Paul McLennan: I do not share Mr Balfour’s view. It is important to remember that this is a £4 million investment by the Scottish Government. The pilots are very important for the success of the duties under the bill, so we would rather take our time and get it right. We have worked very closely—as has Mr Balfour—with Crisis and other stakeholders on that point. How we shape the development of the pilots is important, and the expected outcomes will be important, too. Obviously, there will be learning throughout the duration of the pilots, and we will continue to learn as we develop the bill. Employer National Insurance Contributions (Third Sector) 3.”
“The procurement exercise to appoint the grant fund manager for the homelessness prevention pilots is under way. The contract is due to be awarded by 1 July 2025, and we expect the fund to open for bids shortly after that. Relevant bodies and their consortia partners that wish to participate in prevention pilots will be encouraged to apply. Jeremy Balfour: Parliament will be asked to pass a bill that includes provisions that were meant to be informed by those pilots. However, it now seems that the pilots will not have started by the time the bill comes to stage 3 proceedings in the chamber. Does the minister accept that that represents a failure of planning on the part of the Scottish Government? What value does he think that the pilots will provide, given that they will conclude far too late for MSPs to change anything in the bill?”
“Yesterday, the cabinet secretary and I met registered social landlords to talk about their role in the matter, and the housing investment task force, which looks to bring more finance into the sector, will publish its report very soon. I am happy to engage with Mr Simpson on any of the issues that he has raised.”
“We are also working with the Royal Town Planning Institute and local authorities to recruit more planners into the system. Our approach is targeted at five local authorities, including those in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which are under pressure in relation to that particular issue. We are also taking other actions. This morning, I visited a five-bedroom empty home in Glasgow, and we are looking at getting people into it as soon as possible. Investment of £3.7 million has brought 11,000 homes back into use, and an additional £2 million has been invested this year. We have also extended the rural housing fund, which we talked about yesterday.”
“Following last week’s statement, I mentioned the issue of sites not being able to progress because they cannot get grid connections, and I want to quickly raise a couple of other issues. It can take as long as two years for developers to get permissions, and there can be up-front costs amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds before any work can be done. What is the minister doing to unlock development by speeding up the system and making the process cheaper? Paul McLennan: There are a number of points to make. We are undertaking work with Homes for Scotland on stalled sites, as well as on issues that have been mentioned previously, such as water and so on. We are working very closely with it and local authorities on that issue.”
“The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice made a statement to the Parliament on the issue on 22 May. Since the national housing emergency was declared, we have been working at pace to implement changes to address the current position and attend to the longer-term pressures. Actions include increasing the budget for the affordable housing supply programme to £768 million, bringing 1,000 homes back into use and committing £100 million for the mid-market rental sector. The programme for government reaffirmed the commitment to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032. Graham Simpson: I thank the minister for that answer, but I cannot help thinking that there is no housing emergency plan after that.”
“Alexander Stewart: The Scottish RAAC campaign group reports that families are living in homes that are literally falling apart. That has left people facing homelessness, rising debt and mental health struggles, as their homes become worthless. The Scottish Government opts to trade blame with Westminster. Will the Scottish Government now commit to providing financial assistance to homeowners who are left in an horrendous situation? Paul McLennan: It is important to realise that when RAAC is found in a property, it depends on how extreme the situation is. I have been engaging with Aberdeen Council, Dundee Council and homeowners. Every case is different. We will continue to engage with local authorities and push the UK Government for financial assistance.”
“I recognise that it is a very difficult time for households that are affected by RAAC. Homeowners are generally responsible for maintenance costs. As a building and maintenance issue, it is the responsibility of building owners, including local authorities, to maintain their properties. Where a council is undertaking a voluntary acquisition, it is for the council and the homeowner to agree the terms of the offer. Officials have been in touch with UK Finance to understand the support that homeowners can expect to receive from their mortgage lenders. UK Finance has informed us that any homeowners who are worried about their mortgage or making their payments as a result of RAAC issues should get in touch with their lender in the first instance.”
“I am also willing to work across the parties to consider ways to enable the housing market to operate fairly across Scotland, so that it provides housing options that are affordable, and choices in all communities. The Deputy Presiding Officer: That concludes the debate. 13:29 Meeting suspended. 14:00 On resuming— Portfolio Question Time”
“Together with investments in affordable housing and progress to deliver affordable homes, we are taking action on homelessness and temporary accommodation, as well as the activity that I mentioned to drive down the number of empty homes. In concluding, I emphasise that we have just set out a programme for government commitment to remove the legislative constraint on the level of the council tax premium that can be applied to second and long-term-empty homes. Many issues that have been raised by Ross Greer and others relate to amendments that are proposed for the Housing (Scotland) Bill. The Government is working with Mr Greer on his amendment about council tax premiums ahead of stage 3.”
“This year, £2 million, I think, has been invested in the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership to continue to reduce the number of empty homes. Investment from the Government of £3.7 million has brought 11,000 empty homes back since 2010. Meghan Gallacher talked about the availability of new housing, and we are consulting at the moment on exemptions for such housing. Carol Mochan mentioned key workers. We heard about the work that Ross Greer, the cabinet secretary and I have been talking about. There is also the £25 million key worker fund. Again, we are encouraging local authorities to come forward on that. Through those measures, as has been said, there has been a reduction in the number of second homes.”
“That will help first-time buyers and home movers to compete with second home buyers and buy-to-let investors. On top of that, as has been mentioned, it will raise additional revenue to support Scotland’s national priorities. The Scottish Fiscal Commission has estimated that it will raise an additional £32 million in 2025- 26, which will take total estimated ADS revenues up to £258 million. Local authorities may also designate short-term let control areas. Mark Ruskell spoke about the work of Perth and Kinross Council, which I welcome, to manage the concentration of short- term lets through the planning system. Those are powers that local authorities have. I will mention a couple of key things from members’ contributions. Ross Greer mentioned empty homes.”
“Ross Greer: I use my intervention as an opportunity to reassure Craig Hoy that the minister, the cabinet secretary and I are working on a further amendment to the Housing (Scotland) Bill, which, alongside lifting the cap on council tax, would create statutory guidance for local authorities to address the kinds of scenario that he has talked about. Clearly, for example, NHS locums should not be charged double council tax for working in a fragile community. Paul McLennan: I thank Ross Greer for that and for his work so far with us on that point. I mentioned the increase from 6 per cent to 8 per cent in the amount of additional dwelling supplement that is paid when purchasing additional residential property of a value of more than £40,000.”
“Paul McLennan: That 50 per cent discount is mandatory. I am aware of the case of Ms Campanile, which Craig Hoy mentioned, and I am engaging with the local authority on that point. It is mandatory. If there are examples of the discount not being used, I ask Mr Hoy to keep in touch with me. Part of the revenue that is raised from the council tax on second homes must be used for affordable housing, and I will continue to press local authorities to do that. Ross Greer: Will the minister take an intervention? Paul McLennan: Again, yes, if it is very brief.”
“We have delivered that through taxation by giving local authorities the power to set policy on council tax on second homes, which may involve charging a premium of up to 100 per cent in all or part of the council area. Craig Hoy: Will the minister take an intervention? Paul McLennan: Yes, if it is very brief. Craig Hoy: Will the minister undertake to look into the issue of second home ownership and council tax for employment purposes? A briefing from the Scottish Parliament information centre says that under schedule 1 of the Council Tax (Variation for Unoccupied Dwellings) (Scotland) Regulations 2013, councils can still apply a 50 per cent discount where the property is occupied for employment purposes. If that is the case, will the minister remind councils of their obligation to do so?”
“Ross Greer is right that 1 per cent of all homes in Scotland are second homes but, as we have heard today, there are wide variations across local authority areas, with clear concentrations in rural locations. I will touch on that in a second. We believe that local areas are therefore best placed to make decisions about how to find the right balance to ensure the availability of homes to meet local needs and community sustainability. We have delivered against commitments in our “Housing to 2040” strategy to help local authorities to do that by providing powers and tools to make the best use of the existing housing in their areas. Of course, changing ownership patterns will not happen overnight, and doing so requires a range of mechanisms.”
“It is right to acknowledge that ownership patterns of existing housing are an important factor among the challenges that we face in achieving our aim. In recent decades, the potential to make money from residential housing has shifted and expanded, and those with disposable income have looked to opportunities with the growth of the short-term let sector and rising trends in housing markets. That is why we have said that residential properties need to be prioritised as homes for living in, not for accumulating wealth. At the same time, we recognise that second homes, if used for tourism, may bring benefits for local economies, as not all second homes may be suitable for year- round living. We continue to work with local authorities to improve access to reliable data. That is an important point.”
“I am grateful to the member for bringing the debate to the chamber. Our “Housing to 2040” strategy sets out an “aim ... for everyone to have a safe, high-quality home that is affordable and meets their needs in the place they want to be.” While it is a bold vision, we need to recognise that, fundamentally, that is a basic principle. Today’s debate has highlighted a range of experiences and views both for and against second home ownership, and has emphasised the gap in our society between those with wealth and those without. Housing is both a social and economic good. It is critical to supporting health, wellbeing, life chances and job prospects, tackling child poverty and driving economic growth. We have a strong track record on building new affordable homes, but we need to do more.”
“Currently, accommodation is inspected by farms and industry through the audit system, which involves farms submitting extensive evidence online, as well as site visits from auditors that include the inspection of accommodation. Further engagement with the industry will be required in order to understand how it deals with the issues that have been raised with it and how we can improve the situation. I happy to pick up the issues with Mr Leonard when we meet again soon. People with a Learning Disability (Health Passport Scheme) 7.”