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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Slum conditions 'not acceptable' | Slum conditions 'not acceptable' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Some living conditions in Govanhill in Glasgow are "totally unacceptable for the 19th, never mind the 21st Century", according to the housing minister. | Some living conditions in Govanhill in Glasgow are "totally unacceptable for the 19th, never mind the 21st Century", according to the housing minister. |
| Alex Neil said he would seriously consider granting councils additional powers to tackle slum housing. | Alex Neil said he would seriously consider granting councils additional powers to tackle slum housing. |
| His comments came ahead of a special evidence session at Holyrood. | His comments came ahead of a special evidence session at Holyrood. |
| MSPs on the petitions committee will hear from Govanhill residents concerned about poor quality housing and rogue landlords. | MSPs on the petitions committee will hear from Govanhill residents concerned about poor quality housing and rogue landlords. |
| Campaigners from Govanhill Housing Association said poor living conditions were hitting the health of families, and required urgent attention. | Campaigners from Govanhill Housing Association said poor living conditions were hitting the health of families, and required urgent attention. |
| Mr Neil is due to appear before the committee, along with the leader of Glasgow City Council. | Mr Neil is due to appear before the committee, along with the leader of Glasgow City Council. |
| Slum housing | Slum housing |
| Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the housing minister said he would consider granting Glasgow City Council, and other local authorities, additional powers to address the situation faced by those living in poor housing conditions. | Speaking on BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme the housing minister said he would consider granting Glasgow City Council, and other local authorities, additional powers to address the situation faced by those living in poor housing conditions. |
| He said: "A local authority has the power to go into a close in a tenement where there is multiple ownership and force people to pay their share of the repairs. | He said: "A local authority has the power to go into a close in a tenement where there is multiple ownership and force people to pay their share of the repairs. |
| "They don't, however, have the same power over improvements, and one of the areas we are looking at is whether the powers they have over repairs should be extended to cover improvements as well." | "They don't, however, have the same power over improvements, and one of the areas we are looking at is whether the powers they have over repairs should be extended to cover improvements as well." |
| Concerns have been raised over the effects of conditions on health class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8544860.stm">'It's very, very bad for my kids' | |
| The special evidence session comes as a result of a petition to parliament submitted by Govanhill Housing Association director Anne Lear on behalf of residents from the area, on the south side of the city. | The special evidence session comes as a result of a petition to parliament submitted by Govanhill Housing Association director Anne Lear on behalf of residents from the area, on the south side of the city. |
| Govanhill has some of the most severe housing problems in the UK, with an estimated 1,200 slum flats. | Govanhill has some of the most severe housing problems in the UK, with an estimated 1,200 slum flats. |
| Ms Lear, who will also give evidence to MSPs, has raised concerns over links with a growing number of private slum landlords to agency gangmasters and organised crime. | Ms Lear, who will also give evidence to MSPs, has raised concerns over links with a growing number of private slum landlords to agency gangmasters and organised crime. |
| She said tens of millions of extra pounds needed to be pumped into the Govanhill area alone, to bring homes up to standard. | She said tens of millions of extra pounds needed to be pumped into the Govanhill area alone, to bring homes up to standard. |
| The cross-party petitions committee is hoping the evidence it hears could influence the Scottish government's Housing Bill, which aims to boost affordable homes and improve conditions in housing across all sectors. | The cross-party petitions committee is hoping the evidence it hears could influence the Scottish government's Housing Bill, which aims to boost affordable homes and improve conditions in housing across all sectors. |
| The proposed legislation, currently going through parliament, aims to update laws on private landlord registration, the licensing of houses in multiple occupation and dealing with disrepair in private homes. | The proposed legislation, currently going through parliament, aims to update laws on private landlord registration, the licensing of houses in multiple occupation and dealing with disrepair in private homes. |
| The bill would also abolish the right to buy for all new council and social housing tenants to tackle shortages in rented homes. | The bill would also abolish the right to buy for all new council and social housing tenants to tackle shortages in rented homes. |