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17 December 2009
Immediate release
SNP HOUSING CUTS IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY “UTTER MADNESSâ€
Dumfries MSP Elaine Murray has condemned the SNP Government’s decision to cut the grant to Housing Associations for new homes. Housing associations across Scotland are already warning that this will put projects at risk and Elaine Murray is concerned about the impact this cut will have on housing in Dumfries and Galloway.
Housing Minister Alex Neil has announced that the benchmark level of Housing Association Grant will be cut from £73,000 per house to £68,500 with immediate effect. This is the second such cut the SNP have announced this year.
Elaine Murray said: “This week we’ve had a double whammy of bad news for housing in Dumfries and Galloway from the SNP Scottish Government.
“Last weekend they announced that Dumfries and Galloway won’t receive any of the additional cash they’re putting into building council homes and today we learn they’re cutting the funding we currently receive.
“Housing Associations across Scotland are rightly pointing out that this will put projects at risk and cost jobs. I have been very concerned for some time about the housing shortage in Dumfries and Galloway and this cut in funding will mean the problem will only get worse.
“I started this week outraged that we weren’t getting any extra cash, but I thought at least what we currently had was safe. It’s utter madness for the SNP Government to take this money away from us.â€
ENDS
CONTACT – ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Housing Minister Alex Neil has announced that the benchmark level of Housing Association Grant will be cut from £73,000 per house to £68,500 with immediate effect. This is the second such cut the SNP have announced this year.
2. The Scottish Government press release announcing the additional £24m funding for council houses was issued on 13 December 2009 can be found here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/12/14082235
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SNP HOUSING CUTS
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