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SNP plan to end housing 'crisis' SNP plan to end housing 'crisis'
(39 minutes later)
Plans to build a new generation of council houses and end the right of tenants to buy new-build homes have been announced by Scottish ministers.Plans to build a new generation of council houses and end the right of tenants to buy new-build homes have been announced by Scottish ministers.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the current housing system was not meeting Scotland's needs.Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the current housing system was not meeting Scotland's needs.
Ms Sturgeon was prevented from delivering the housing announcement in a statement to the Scottish Parliament.Ms Sturgeon was prevented from delivering the housing announcement in a statement to the Scottish Parliament.
Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Ferguson made the ruling after details were obtained by the BBC in advance.Holyrood Presiding Officer Alex Ferguson made the ruling after details were obtained by the BBC in advance.
In a series of proposals laid out by ministers, Scotland's councils, developers and builders have been challenged to increase new house building to at least 35,000 a year by 2015.In a series of proposals laid out by ministers, Scotland's councils, developers and builders have been challenged to increase new house building to at least 35,000 a year by 2015.
The current rate of new house building - 25,000 new houses a year is simply inadequate Nicola SturgeonDeputy first ministerThe current rate of new house building - 25,000 new houses a year is simply inadequate Nicola SturgeonDeputy first minister
Local authorities would also be handed incentives to be landlords, such as funding for new council housing, in a bid to end the "30-year rundown" of the practice.Local authorities would also be handed incentives to be landlords, such as funding for new council housing, in a bid to end the "30-year rundown" of the practice.
And the right to buy would end on new social housing built by councils and housing associations, with an exception for existing tenants already eligible to buy their houses who are forced to move.And the right to buy would end on new social housing built by councils and housing associations, with an exception for existing tenants already eligible to buy their houses who are forced to move.
"It is a fact that the Scottish housing system is not meeting our needs as a country," said Ms Sturgeon."It is a fact that the Scottish housing system is not meeting our needs as a country," said Ms Sturgeon.
"The current rate of new house building - 25,000 new houses a year - is simply inadequate."The current rate of new house building - 25,000 new houses a year - is simply inadequate.
"It can and must increase if Scotland's housing requirements are to be met.""It can and must increase if Scotland's housing requirements are to be met."
The SNP administration also announced plans to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, through a mix of government grants, shared equity schemes and mortgage-related products.The SNP administration also announced plans to help first-time buyers get on the property ladder, through a mix of government grants, shared equity schemes and mortgage-related products.
Ministers will also press ahead with the controversial single survey plan for house sales - which they said would save first-time buyers at least £200 - despite its low take-up during a pilot scheme under the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration.Ministers will also press ahead with the controversial single survey plan for house sales - which they said would save first-time buyers at least £200 - despite its low take-up during a pilot scheme under the previous Labour/Lib Dem administration.
In the Holyrood debating chamber, Ms Fergusson said he strongly objected to an advance leak of the statement, adding that it represented a "discourtesy to parliament". In the Holyrood debating chamber, Mr Fergusson said he strongly objected to an advance leak of the statement, adding that it represented a "discourtesy to parliament".
Ms Sturgeon denied that ministers authorised a leak and is said to be "very angry and concerned" that key parts of the statement were made public before being delivered to parliament.Ms Sturgeon denied that ministers authorised a leak and is said to be "very angry and concerned" that key parts of the statement were made public before being delivered to parliament.