The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Building figures
any of thousands of families that will spend Christmas in temporary accommodation this year.
“The truth is that the SNP have not hit their manifesto target on homes for social rent.
“They have not even come close. It is time that ministers were honest about their record.
“The SNP are now trying to cover their tracks on a significant po l icy change when Nicola Sturgeon claims the SNP has a good record on housing. Is she sure?”
Housing Minister Margaret Burgess said they could have built many more if it was not for UK Government cuts.
She told the MSPs they hadmadeit “very clear” the 30,000 target was for affordable rather than specifically socially rented homes.
The SNP government has also promised to build 50,000 more affordable homes over the next parliament if re-elected – a pledge she described as “bold, credible and backed by the provision of
£3billion”. MSPs have questioned an apparent shortfall in the amount of tax collected since the introduction of Scotland’s stamp duty replacement.
Labour said the latest figures showed a potential £40million shortfall for the first year of land and buildings transaction tax (LBTT).
A paper by new tax body Revenue Scotland said £96.2m had been collected in the first six months since the tax took effect in April, compared to the Scottish Government’s forecast for LBTT revenues of £235m for 2015-16.