A SCOTTISH Labour motion claiming the Scottish Government has “failed to respond adequately to the housing emergency” has failed to pass Holyrood.
The motion was voted down by 60 votes to 54 with eight abstentions on Wednesday.
Instead, a motion amended by the Government which removed the claim it had failed in responding to the housing emergency passed by 59 votes to 55 with eight abstentions.
An amendment from the Scottish Tories also fell.
During the debate, Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar told Housing Minister Paul McLennan: “We have a chance today to put the needs of the people of Scotland front and centre, to stand up for all those who find themselves without a home to call their own and to stand up for all those for whom the dream of home ownership is currently just that – a dream.
“This government has failed to tackle the housing emergency – this is not good enough.
“The failure must end – Scotland deserves better.
“Under this SNP government, fewer homes being built, targets missed on a yearly basis and homelessness on the rise.
“Every number a human being in need of help and every missed target the breaking of dreams, of hopes and aspirations.”
But responding, McLennan (above) said Sarwar “did not talk about any ideas whatsoever” to fix the crisis and he invited the Scottish Labour leader to propose initiatives ahead of the Budget to be announced in December.
“This government understands the urgency of this crisis and we are using all our powers to address it,” he said.
“But it should be acknowledged Westminster’s policies have left us grappling with an emergency that requires systemic change and investment at UK-wide level.
“I once again call on the Labour UK Government to use its upcoming budget to scrap the Bedroom Tax, reverse the 9% capital cut to Scotland’s budget and permanently uplift the local housing allowance.”
Following the vote, the Greens called on the Scottish Government to offer "real clarity and bold action" to tackle the housing emergency.
MSP Arianne Burgess said: “I welcome the minister’s commitment to investigate Scottish Green proposals to tackle the crisis, but words are not enough. The kind of actions we have called for are crucial to tackling supporting tenants and households on the frontline of the crisis.
“The human impact of the emergency is all around us. It is the experience of people being evicted from their homes because they can’t afford their rent, the collapse of rural and island communities because they can’t provide housing for families who want to live and contribute there, and the people making their bed on the side of the road.
“The Scottish Greens have long campaigned for the introduction of robust rent controls, and we have been deeply concerned by recent rhetoric from the Government around the watering down of the rent control and tenant protection provisions in the upcoming Housing Bill. I believe today is a positive step towards securing these in that landmark bill."
Ministers were forced to declare the emergency earlier this year as a result of increased pressure on the housing supply and high rates of homelessness.
Since, the number of people making a homelessness application has hit record levels and more than 10,000 children were recorded as living in temporary accommodation last year.
