Finance Committee discussing housing

Finance Committee this morning - main agenda can be found here ...

... discussions were dominated by items 7 and 8 on housing issues (respective reports can be found here and here).

Both of these reports were ultimately approved on an all-Party basis, but what became abundantly clear under questioning was that, whilst welcome, the 800 or so homes (that both reports amount to) are but a drop in the ocean of what's required in the Capital --- and the much-trumpeted Scottish Futures Trust (SFT) isn't providing one-single extra penny towards their construction.

And when contrasted to the recent reductions in Housing Grant from the Scottish Government, the net overall result is entirely negative (as regards Housing Units) and all the spin in the world won't hide that depressing fact.