The SNP Government and COSLA have pledged to ensure that support is focused on councils that are best placed to deliver much needed new homes quickly. The measures will increase the supply of affordable housing, a key theme of the SNP Government's economic recovery plan to help households through the current economic downturn.

It has already committed to introduce legislation to end 'right to buy' on all new build social housing to encourage more council house building.

Local authorities now have the opportunity to apply for funding that will help them reverse decades of decline in council house building. Only six new council houses were completed under the previous administration.

Since May 2007 a number of local authorities have said they are keen to motivate a new era of building affordable homes. Taking decisive action on housing and encouraging development are key themes of our Economic Recovery Plan.

Coupled with our commitment to end right to buy on new-build social housing, this major investment will help boost supply and generate a new generation of council house building in Scotland and the North East.

Affordable Housing

FURTHER to this, it must be said that the SNP Government is always willing to listen, and steps to prevent serious shortages of affordable housing in Aberdeenshire have recently been announced by Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell.

Right to buy has been temporarily suspended for some tenants in 88 letting areas, which have now been designated as 'pressured areas'. This will affect 5,763 tenancies or 56% of the social housing stock.

This follows the Minister's decision to approve Aberdeenshire Council's pressured area application, and will allow the council to retain homes for rent for people on low incomes in areas facing social housing pressures aggravated by right to buy.

Helping households in these difficult times is a key theme of the Scottish Government's economic recovery plan. That is why we have agreed to Aberdeenshire Council's request to suspend right to buy to ease the substantial pressures facing affordable housing in these 88 areas.

St. Andrew's Day

ON Sunday 30th November, we once again celebrated Scotland's national day across the country It was a chance for everyone who lives, works, or has family here to come together to celebrate and share what it means to be Scottish.

I hope that all my constituents had a very happy St Andrew's Day, and I hope that you joined in and enjoyed the celebrations.

Pre-Budget Report

AT a time of economic downturn, we welcome all steps that will boost the Scottish economy, and welcome key aspects of the Chancellor's Pre-Budget Report – including the cut in VAT, and the extra help for business that the Scottish Government have long been calling for.

However, we also argued for targeted action on VAT to help people struggling with fuel bills, and to boost the housing sector, which is still needed.

I am extremely worried about the consequences of the reduction in UK departmental spending in 2010/11, which could see a cut of up to £500 million in the Scottish Government's Budget over and above any re-profiling of spending – just as we expect the economy to be emerging from very difficult conditions.

When North Sea revenues are forecast to contribute £55 billion to the Treasury over the coming six years, compared to £41 billion over the previous six, nothing better illustrates the need for Scotland to be responsible for all of our tax and spending decisions.

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