Responding to Labour's announcement on housing, taken directly from the SNP Government's recent consultation on the future of housing in Scotland SNP MSP Bob Doris said: "When Labour were last in government they built only six council houses and failed to back Scotland's first time buyers. The SNP has built over 3,000 council homes and helped more than 5,300 people buy their first home through our shared equity scheme. 

"In the next four years we are committed to funding a further 5000 council homes and extending our shared equity schemes for first time buyers to help many more people into their first home."

The SNP unveiled key commitments on housing earlier this month including:

• A pledge to fund 5000 Council Houses over the next four years
• Powers for councils to increase council tax on empty properties to fund new house building
  
• Maintaining existing secured tenancies at affordable rents - the UK Government is diluting secured tenancies in England.
• Help for first time buyers by funding New Supply Shared Equity schemes and the Open Market Shared Equity Programme
  
• Housing health checks to ensure those in social rented accommodation are able to work out the best housing option for them
• Extended support for the Shelter Scotland Empty Homes scheme to identify empty homes and bring them back into use.