Sturgeon confirms commitment to more council housing
Scottish Government working for Scotland to help family budgets and create jobs

The SNP today announced the party will build 5000 new council houses in the next parliamentary term.

Confirming that the party's manifesto for the 2011 election will see a continued commitment to invest in record levels of council house building with funding for 5000 council houses supporting 8000 jobs in the next Parliament. An SNP Government would also introduce a levy on long term empty houses bringing in up to £30 million of additional resources annually to help fund council housing. SNP Depute Leader Nicola Sturgeon said the SNP would follow our strong record on social housing with a clear vision for the future.

Over the last four years the SNP has launched a revival in council house building.  Under Labour only 6 council houses were built between 2003 and 2007.  Under the SNP 3300 council homes have been funded by the Government between 2007 and 2011.

The commitment to new council houses will generate 8000 construction jobs and forms part of a package to create jobs and protect families that includes protection of secured tenancies at affordable rents - in stark contrast to the decision to scrap tenancy rights in England.

Confirming the SNP's commitment to funding 5000 new council houses over the next four years SNP Depute Leader and Scotland's Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: "Over the last four years the SNP has launched a revival in council housing.  Over the next four years a re-elected SNP Government working for Scotland will fund a further 5000 council houses creating 8000 jobs.

"In the last four years 3,300 council homes have been funded by the SNP Government in stark contrast to the 6 council houses built under the last four years of Labour. And the SNP has ensured that these houses will remain available for social rent by abolishing the right to buy for new tenancies.  So our investment in social housing stays in social housing

"Despite difficult financial circumstances our commitment to a future for Scotland's social housing and to the construction jobs that come with that is clear.  We will continue to support new council houses and we will allow councils to raise revenue for council house building through changes to the council tax charged on empty properties.

"Last week the SNP confirmed our support for the NHS with real terms funding increases guaranteed for the next four years.  Today we are giving a clear commitment to continue our support for council housing, for people living in social housing and to find new ways of funding essential housing needs."

SNP MSP and Scotland's Housing Minister Alex Neil added: "The SNP's commitment to council housing is second to none.  We have reversed Labour's decision to abandon council housing and backed new homes across Scotland.

"Council housing has increased from a disgraceful six council houses built under Labour to 3,300 homes funded under the SNP and we will build 5,000 more with the support of the Scottish people at May's election.

"And I can give a guarantee to Scotland's hundreds of thousands of social tenants that an SNP Government will retain secured tenancies at affordable rents.

"In addition to the support for council houses we will continue to support

shared equity  for first time buyers purchasing new supply homes and homes available on the open market.

"Today the SNP has made our commitment clear and the Scottish Government has set out the innovative options for the future of social housing in Scotland.

"It is an SNP Government working for Scotland that has put council housing back into Scotland's communities and it is an SNP Government working for Scotland at May's elections that will see investment in council housing continue."

The SNP's Housing package at the 2011 election will include:

• 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.