John Swinney urged to sack 'inept' Housing Minister over Scotland's homelessness crisis

Paul McLennan was slammed for insisting the Scottish Government had a good record when it came to building affordable housing.

John Swinney has been called on to sack his "inept" Housing Minister over the growing homelessness crisis across the country.

Paul McLennan was slammed for insisting the SNP Government had a "strong track record in housebuilding" at a time thousands of Scots do not have a permanent home of their own.

Official figures published this week revealed the number of people registering themselves as homeless had reached the highest level in over a decade.

A severe lack of affordable housing - particularly in the country's biggest cities - has also pushed the number of households stuck in temporary accommodation to a record high.

Anas Sarwar today urged Swinney to "change direction" and start by replacing McLennan, the Housing Minister.

It comes after the Record reported earlier this week how some families living in temporary accommodation were being forced to heat meals on radiators as they did not have regular access to kitchen facilities.

Housing charities have also accused the Scottish Government of failing to listen to their warnings after almost £200m was cut from the affordable housing budget earlier this year.

The Scottish Labour leader said: "On this SNP government’s watch 40,685 homelessness applications were recorded last year - that is the highest in a decade.

"As of March 31, this year, there were almost 32,000 live homelessness applications. Every number is a human being in desperate need of help and support.

"But this SNP government is failing them. In face of this homelessness crisis this parliament shamed the government into declaring a housing emergency earlier this year.

"But despite that, the Housing Minister Paul McLennan, insists this government has a ‘good track record’ on tackling homelessness.

"Under this SNP government we have the lowest levels of home building by Housing Associations since Thatcher. Overall house building is down by 17 per cent.

"And the affordable home building target is in tatters. And we now shamefully have record levels of children in temporary accommodation - without a home to call their own.

"That is over 10,000 children left homeless on this government’s watch. And the number of young people living in B&Bs has soared in only three years by over 900 per cent.

"This is the devastating consequences of what John Swinney has himself admitted was a government too focused on what they can’t do, than what they can do."

Sarwar added: "Housing in Scotland is completely the responsibility of this SNP government. After 17 years, when will they take responsibility, rather than always look for someone else to blame.

"For the Housing Minister to claim they have a ‘proven track record’ on tackling homelessness, when it is at record levels, is not just inept, it is shameful.

"Paul McLennan simply cannot continue. The First Minister has a choice - put up with more failure or get to grips with the housing emergency, sack this Housing Minister and change direction."

Swinney said his Government "recognised" there was a housing emergency and insisted work was already underway to tackle it.

He added: "There is a range of action being undertaken to ensure we improve the position on the availability of accommodation."

Responding to Sarwar's call to sack McLennan, the First Minister continued: "As usual, Anas Sarwar always plays the man and not the issue.

"Let me come back to the facts. Under this Government, we have built on average 7,750 affordable homes each year - compared to when Mr Sarwar's party were in charge, when money was so abundant they couldn't actually spend it.

"They only managed to build 5,448 houses. That says to me this Government is getting on with the job."

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