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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Scots council rents mean poverty levels below UK | Scots council rents mean poverty levels below UK |
| (2 days later) | |
| Poverty levels in Scotland are falling and are now lower than in the rest of the UK, a report has said. | Poverty levels in Scotland are falling and are now lower than in the rest of the UK, a report has said. |
| The Glasgow University study suggested it was because more Scots live in the socially-rented sector. | The Glasgow University study suggested it was because more Scots live in the socially-rented sector. |
| Rents there have been pegged in recent years, whereas in England they are rising. | Rents there have been pegged in recent years, whereas in England they are rising. |
| But another report has suggested an increasing proportion of those who are in poverty are living in private rented accommodation. | But another report has suggested an increasing proportion of those who are in poverty are living in private rented accommodation. |
| The report, Lower poverty in Scotland: pinning down the change, said the improvement in the Scottish poverty rate relative to that for the rest of the UK occurred after the year 2003-4. | The report, Lower poverty in Scotland: pinning down the change, said the improvement in the Scottish poverty rate relative to that for the rest of the UK occurred after the year 2003-4. |
| It pointed out in England, the government had encouraged social landlords to charge rents closer to market levels. | It pointed out in England, the government had encouraged social landlords to charge rents closer to market levels. |
| 'Modest reduction' | |
| The Scottish government has not pursued this policy, so rents have remained more affordable. | The Scottish government has not pursued this policy, so rents have remained more affordable. |
| The report suggested if the situation had not improved in Scotland about 200,000 more people would have been living below the poverty line. | The report suggested if the situation had not improved in Scotland about 200,000 more people would have been living below the poverty line. |
| The study estimated that 29% of adults in Scotland are still suffering multiple deprivation, compared to 31% in England and Wales | The study estimated that 29% of adults in Scotland are still suffering multiple deprivation, compared to 31% in England and Wales |
| "The reduction in Scotland's poverty rate is modest and comes at a time of great hardship for many families," said the author, Nick Bailey, senior lecturer in Urban Studies. | "The reduction in Scotland's poverty rate is modest and comes at a time of great hardship for many families," said the author, Nick Bailey, senior lecturer in Urban Studies. |
| "Even so, it represents a real improvement and an historic break. One factor is housing costs - an area where the Scottish government can have great influence." | "Even so, it represents a real improvement and an historic break. One factor is housing costs - an area where the Scottish government can have great influence." |
| A separate report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), looked at the households suffering poverty. | A separate report published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), looked at the households suffering poverty. |
| It said fewer people were now living in local authority or housing association accommodation - from 830,000 households in 1991 to 575,000 in 2013. | It said fewer people were now living in local authority or housing association accommodation - from 830,000 households in 1991 to 575,000 in 2013. |
| At the same time households in privately rented homes had more than doubled from 137,000 to 325,000. | At the same time households in privately rented homes had more than doubled from 137,000 to 325,000. |
| JRF said about a third of these (120,000) were living in poverty. | JRF said about a third of these (120,000) were living in poverty. |
| Tom MacInnes, co-author of the report, said: "Affordable housing, often social housing, has been key to tackling poverty in Scotland. | Tom MacInnes, co-author of the report, said: "Affordable housing, often social housing, has been key to tackling poverty in Scotland. |
| "As the stock declines, low income families increasingly find themselves in more expensive, private rented accommodation. | "As the stock declines, low income families increasingly find themselves in more expensive, private rented accommodation. |
| "This undermines the Scottish government's hopes of reducing poverty and tackling high living costs." | "This undermines the Scottish government's hopes of reducing poverty and tackling high living costs." |
| The publication of the reports came ahead of the 5th annual Scottish assembly for tackling poverty in Edinburgh, organised by JRF and the Poverty Alliance. | The publication of the reports came ahead of the 5th annual Scottish assembly for tackling poverty in Edinburgh, organised by JRF and the Poverty Alliance. |
| A Scottish government spokesman said: "We welcome this study which shows that poverty rates in Scotland are lower than the rest of the UK. | A Scottish government spokesman said: "We welcome this study which shows that poverty rates in Scotland are lower than the rest of the UK. |
| "We have committed to deliver 30,000 affordable homes during this parliament, at least 20,000 of those will be for social rent and we have put in place the funding - over £1.3n in the four years to March 2016 - to make that happen." | "We have committed to deliver 30,000 affordable homes during this parliament, at least 20,000 of those will be for social rent and we have put in place the funding - over £1.3n in the four years to March 2016 - to make that happen." |
| The spokesman said Housing Minister Margaret Burgess had announced that the Scottish government would amend the notice period for right-to-buy from three to two years after the date the bill receives Royal Assent. | The spokesman said Housing Minister Margaret Burgess had announced that the Scottish government would amend the notice period for right-to-buy from three to two years after the date the bill receives Royal Assent. |
| He added: "These measures will ensure that an additional 15,500 social homes are available for rent over a 10-year period and safeguard social housing stock for future generations. | He added: "These measures will ensure that an additional 15,500 social homes are available for rent over a 10-year period and safeguard social housing stock for future generations. |
| "With 155,000 people on local authority and common waiting lists for social rented houses, we can no longer afford to see the social sector lose out on badly needed homes." | "With 155,000 people on local authority and common waiting lists for social rented houses, we can no longer afford to see the social sector lose out on badly needed homes." |