Sturgeon In House-Building Plea

27 April 2015, 16:44 | Updated: 27 April 2015, 17:43

The SNP has called for the UK Government to introduce a new target to build 100,000 affordable homes a year.

Party leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said boosting investment in affordable housing across the UK could create up to 6,500 jobs in Scotland.

Ms Sturgeon said SNP MPs at Westminster would also call for Scotland to be prioritised as part of the HS2 high-speed rail project and press for more superfast broadband and 4G services north of the border.

She said: "In Scotland we have shown that investment in affordable housing can keep costs down, create jobs and importantly help people to live better lives.

"We will call for the UK Government to put in place a new target to build 100,000 affordable homes each and every year.

"This will help grow the Scottish house-building industry, supporting around 6,500 jobs, economic growth and much-needed quality housing across the country - and will help undo at least some of the damage of Westminster cuts to Scotland's capital budget.

"SNP MPs at Westminster will also seek investment in transport infrastructure, calling for Scotland to be connected to HS2 as a priority - and more rapid roll-out of superfast broadband and 4G across Scotland to enable wider and more affordable internet access across the country.

"For as long as Scotland is part of the Westminster system, we have a shared interest in making it work for the better - for the many rather than the few."

Scottish Labour's housing spokesman Michael McMahon MSP said: "A UK Labour Government will build one million new homes by 2020 to deliver our promise of getting 200,000 homes built a year.

"By contrast, the SNP Government in Edinburgh has cut spending on affordable housing by 17.4%. These are the issues that matter to people across Scotland, not rerunning the disagreements of the past.

"A UK Labour Government will tackle the housing crisis in Scotland and right across the UK. A vote for the SNP risks five more years of the Tories, and puts us back on the road to another referendum."