An additional £10 million will be invested in new affordable homes to help support jobs in the construction industry and wider economy, Housing Minister Keith Brown has announced.

The funding, provided from Barnett consequentials for 2011-12, is earmarked for housing developments across Scotland that will provide high quality, sustainable social homes for rent.

Mr Brown also revealed sweeping changes to future arrangements for distributing Scottish Government funding to Councils and housing associations.

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Council and housing association funding streams will be brought together into one budget. Each council will allocate funding based on three-year resource planning assumptions in their area through to March 2015.

The Scottish Government will continue to hold and manage the budget centrally, and to make payments to both councils and housing associations on completion of their approved projects.

Keith Brown said: "The supply of new affordable housing remains a high priority for the Scottish Government.

"This is a challenging economic time for Scotland's house building industry so an additional £10 million will support jobs in the sector whilst also stimulating the wider economy.

"This investment reinforces our commitment to deliver 30,000 affordable homes during this Parliament, of which at least two thirds will be for social rent."

(GK)