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Funding doubled for council homes Funding doubled for council homes
(30 minutes later)
Funding for new council homes in Scotland will be doubled to £50m, deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.Funding for new council homes in Scotland will be doubled to £50m, deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said.
She told the SNP spring conference the move would help build 2,000 new houses and support 3,000 construction industry jobs, at a time of recession.She told the SNP spring conference the move would help build 2,000 new houses and support 3,000 construction industry jobs, at a time of recession.
Ms Sturgeon also said 600 extra cleaners would be employed in hospitals to tackle infection on the wards.Ms Sturgeon also said 600 extra cleaners would be employed in hospitals to tackle infection on the wards.
She urged delegates to work hard to win seats in the European elections.She urged delegates to work hard to win seats in the European elections.
Ms Sturgeon told the conference in Glasgow that the responsibility to stand up for and lead Scotland had never been greater than it was now.Ms Sturgeon told the conference in Glasgow that the responsibility to stand up for and lead Scotland had never been greater than it was now.
"We live in the toughest of economic times," she said."We live in the toughest of economic times," she said.
"People are worried about their jobs, their mortgages and their pensions."People are worried about their jobs, their mortgages and their pensions.
"But let there be no doubt - no doubt at all - that as a country, we've got what it takes to get through these tough times.""But let there be no doubt - no doubt at all - that as a country, we've got what it takes to get through these tough times."
The economic imperative of protecting construction jobs and the driving social need for more affordable housing go hand in hand Nicola Sturgeon Deputy first minister
Ms Sturgeon added: "We must reassert out traditional values of probity, thrift and a commitment to hard work."Ms Sturgeon added: "We must reassert out traditional values of probity, thrift and a commitment to hard work."
She said the new council house plan, which will be supported with additional cash from councils, would deliver the practical action people wanted to see, adding: "The economic imperative of protecting construction jobs and the driving social need for more affordable housing go hand in hand."
Turing to health, Ms Sturgeon, also health secretary, told the conference that the hundreds of extra full and part-time cleaners across Scotland, would employed directly by the NHS, rather than contractors.
"Nothing is more important to me personally than driving down the rates of infection in our hospitals," she said.
"Hospital infections cause pain, distress and suffering for patients and their families - and they undermine confidence in our NHS.
And, arguing against privatisation of the health service following her trip to the US last week, she told delegates: "I know the NHS is not perfect. I'd be the last person to suggest that it is.
"But it is a million times better than what I saw last week."
Ahead of the conference, senior party figures attended the funeral of SNP veteran Sir Neil MacCormick.Ahead of the conference, senior party figures attended the funeral of SNP veteran Sir Neil MacCormick.
The former Nationalist MEP and long-serving law professor recently died from cancer at the age of 67.The former Nationalist MEP and long-serving law professor recently died from cancer at the age of 67.