This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/7685709.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scots call for repossession move Scots call for repossession move
(about 2 hours later)
Opposition parties are calling for Scottish homeowners to receive the same protection from repossession as householders in England and Wales.Opposition parties are calling for Scottish homeowners to receive the same protection from repossession as householders in England and Wales.
The prime minister has said courts south of the border should only take someone's home as a last resort. The prime minister has introduced rules to ensure courts south of the border only take homes as a last resort.
However, the proposals would not currently apply in Scotland because of its separate legal system. The proposals do not apply in Scotland because of its separate legal system.
The Scottish Government said it already had programmes in place to help people experiencing mortgage difficulties. However, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said the Mortgage Rights (Scotland) Act 2001 already made sure repossessions were a last resort.
This included a £25m home owner support fund which aims to allow home owners in serious financial difficulties to retain ownership of their house. Speaking on BBC radio's Good Morning Scotland programme, she said:"The Mortgage Rights Bill already allows owners to ask for time to pay or to look at alternatives.
It is also planning to launch a publicity campaign urging people to seek help through Citizen's Advice Bureaux and Debtline. "A sheriff will look at all the circumstances, including the conduct of the lender."
Tougher rules It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion Nicola SturgeonDeputy First Minister
In England and Wales the prime minister's approach is to be brought in through a "pre-trial protocol". In England and Wales the tougher rules are to be brought in through a "pre-trial protocol".
This will state what the courts should expect of lenders bringing repossession cases.This will state what the courts should expect of lenders bringing repossession cases.
The aim is to ensure lenders have demonstrated to the courts that they had exhausted every avenue before resorting to repossession.The aim is to ensure lenders have demonstrated to the courts that they had exhausted every avenue before resorting to repossession.
However, the process would not work north of the border as pre-trial protocols do not exist in Scotland. However, the process would not work north of the border where pre-trial protocols do not exist.
Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats have called for Scottish law to be changed to allow the prime minister's plan to go ahead north of the border. Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats called for Scottish law to be changed to allow the prime minister's plan to go ahead north of the border.
However, Ms Sturgeon said: "It is not the case that homeowners in Scotland will somehow have less protection than south of the border and I don't think it's right for anybody to make that suggestion."
Banks' role
The UK Government is also proposing that firms involved in sale-and-rent back schemes should be regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
Labour's Cathy Jamieson said banks should also play a greater role in preventing repossessions by setting up home ownership schemes.
She said: "The banks could take a stake in homes and if, at a later date, those homes were sold they would recoup the money."
The Lib Dem's Ross Finnie said: "I think there is a question about making an absolute requirement on banks that they've taken every possible step to try and do some alternative structuring to the loan before they have a recourse to repossession."
Publicity campaign
The Scottish Conservatives said there should be more dialogue between borrowers and lenders.The Scottish Conservatives said there should be more dialogue between borrowers and lenders.
Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: "Both the government and the banks do have a role in helping people get through this situation."
The Scottish Government said it had programmes in place to help people experiencing mortgage difficulties.
This included a £25m home owner support fund which aims to allow home owners in serious financial difficulties to retain ownership of their house.
It is also planning to launch a publicity campaign urging people to seek help through Citizen's Advice Bureaux and Debtline.
Scottish Government officials are to meet the Council of Mortgage Lenders to discuss the prime minister's new guidance.