Scottish government avoids defeat over housing emergency 'failure'

The Scottish government has avoided defeat in a vote on whether it had failed to tackle the country's housing emergency.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar put forward the motion which was debated by MSPs at Holyrood. It was defeated by 60 votes to 54 with eight abstentions.

Instead, a motion amended by the government which removed the claim it had failed in responding to the emergency passed by 59 votes to 55 with eight abstentions.

Ministers were forced to declare the emergency earlier this year as a result of increased pressure on the housing supply and high rates of homelessness.

Since then, the number of people making a homelessness application has hit record levels and more than 10,000 children were recorded as living in temporary accommodation last year.

When the Scottish government declared a national housing emergency in May, SNP ministers cited UK government budget cuts and austerity.

But UK ministers said that the Scottish government receives about 25% more funding from Whitehall than other parts of the UK.

During the Holyrood debate before the vote, Anas Sarwar said the country "deserves better" from the SNP government.

"Under this SNP government, fewer homes being built, targets missed on a yearly basis and homelessness on the rise," Sarwar said.

"Every number a human being in need of help and every missed target the breaking of dreams, of hopes and aspirations."

But, responding, Housing Minister Paul McLennan said Sarwar "did not talk about any ideas whatsoever" to fix the crisis as he invited the Scottish Labour leader to propose initiatives ahead of the budget to be announced in December.

"This government understands the urgency of this crisis and we are using all our powers to address it," McLennan said.

"But it should be acknowledged Westminster's policies have left us grappling with an emergency that requires systemic change and investment at UK-wide level.

"I once again call on the Labour UK government to use its upcoming budget to scrap the bedroom tax, reverse the 9% capital cut to Scotland's budget and permanently uplift the local housing allowance."

Scottish Tory MSP Miles Briggs said homelessness had got worse under the SNP.

He said a cross-party agreement to end rough sleeping by the end of the parliament "seems further away than ever".

"Where I live in Edinburgh I've witnessed people setting up tents in graveyards," Briggs said.

"We simply cannot continue like this. We need leadership and a fresh approach."Last year, Argyll and Bute, City of Edinburgh and Glasgow City councils all declared housing emergencies.

Fife Council made the same move in March this year, followed by West Dunbartonshire in May.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville had said that a "joint approach" between Holyrood, Westminster and local authorities would be needed to combat housing problems.

She said she would use all the powers at her disposal to try and address the housing situation, which she called "one of the defining issues of a generation".