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'Right to buy' to be scrapped in Scotland | 'Right to buy' to be scrapped in Scotland |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The right of council tenants to buy the homes they rent at discounted rates will be abolished in Scotland. | The right of council tenants to buy the homes they rent at discounted rates will be abolished in Scotland. |
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the government's decision to end the scheme on a visit to a housing association in Glasgow. | Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed the government's decision to end the scheme on a visit to a housing association in Glasgow. |
Margaret Thatcher's Tory government introduced the scheme in 1980. | Margaret Thatcher's Tory government introduced the scheme in 1980. |
The Scottish government has already scrapped "right to buy" for new tenants and it will be abolished altogether in 2017. | The Scottish government has already scrapped "right to buy" for new tenants and it will be abolished altogether in 2017. |
Since the opportunity to buy was introduced, 455,000 Scottish properties have been sold. | Since the opportunity to buy was introduced, 455,000 Scottish properties have been sold. |
The Scottish government said that had reduced the number of homes available for cheap rent and increased the waiting lists for properties of this type. | The Scottish government said that had reduced the number of homes available for cheap rent and increased the waiting lists for properties of this type. |
Ms Sturgeon, during a visit to Queens Cross Housing Association, said the move would "safeguard social housing stock for future generations". | Ms Sturgeon, during a visit to Queens Cross Housing Association, said the move would "safeguard social housing stock for future generations". |
She added: "It is absolutely vital that people can access social housing when they need it most. Social housing is under significant pressure and so too are the budgets that support it. | She added: "It is absolutely vital that people can access social housing when they need it most. Social housing is under significant pressure and so too are the budgets that support it. |
"The Scottish government is doing everything possible to maximise our investment in housing and deliver on our target of 30,000 new, affordable homes over the lifetime of this parliament. | "The Scottish government is doing everything possible to maximise our investment in housing and deliver on our target of 30,000 new, affordable homes over the lifetime of this parliament. |
"But, given the pressure on both the housing stock and budgets - and with 400,000 people on waiting lists for social housing - we can no longer afford to see badly needed homes lost to the social sector." | "But, given the pressure on both the housing stock and budgets - and with 400,000 people on waiting lists for social housing - we can no longer afford to see badly needed homes lost to the social sector." |
In November last year, a Scottish government consultation revealed that a majority of Scottish councils wanted the right to buy policy scrapped. | In November last year, a Scottish government consultation revealed that a majority of Scottish councils wanted the right to buy policy scrapped. |
The report also showed that many tenants and social landlords wanted it to end. | The report also showed that many tenants and social landlords wanted it to end. |
An opponent of the move is former Scottish Conservative Party leader Annabel Goldie. | An opponent of the move is former Scottish Conservative Party leader Annabel Goldie. |
She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that the policy was "arguably" one of the most "socially liberating" policies to be introduced in Scotland and across the UK. | She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that the policy was "arguably" one of the most "socially liberating" policies to be introduced in Scotland and across the UK. |
Miss Goldie added: "I can still remember the days when people lived in monolithic council house schemes - that is what they were called - and they were afflicted by a postcode prejudice. | Miss Goldie added: "I can still remember the days when people lived in monolithic council house schemes - that is what they were called - and they were afflicted by a postcode prejudice. |
"They were apprehensive about disclosing their address because they felt it would negate their chance of getting a job or even being accepted for an interview. | "They were apprehensive about disclosing their address because they felt it would negate their chance of getting a job or even being accepted for an interview. |
"By offering a tenant the right to buy, you did two things - you first of all introduced a freedom to the individual to make a choice about how they wanted to live, and secondly you stopped them being trapped in that environment - because that is exactly what they were." | "By offering a tenant the right to buy, you did two things - you first of all introduced a freedom to the individual to make a choice about how they wanted to live, and secondly you stopped them being trapped in that environment - because that is exactly what they were." |
She went on: "Right to buy freed people from the environmental prison they were in." | She went on: "Right to buy freed people from the environmental prison they were in." |
The Scottish Federation of Housing Associations welcomed the Scottish government's announcement. | |
Its membership manager said: "Right to buy has had its day and has no place in 21st century Scotland. | |
"It has been beneficial to a relatively small number of individuals, but clearly a loss to the greater public good. Half a million social rented homes have been lost in the 30 years of this policy in Scotland, very often the better stock in the more popular areas." |