Scottish Ministers have met key housing bodies to "set the record straight" about funding affordable housing across the country.

Housing Minister Alex Neil and Finance Secretary John Swinney said that the Scottish Government will invest more than £1.5 billion over three years in affordable homes across Scotland, exactly as promised.

Over the Spending Review that represents 19% more expenditure than planned under the previous administration.

Public expenditure on housing in Scotland as a share of total spend is considerably more than in England.

Ministers also renewed calls for the UK Government to bring forward further investment to provide the affordable housing Scotland needs and ensure economic recovery is not compromised.

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Representatives from Homes for Scotland, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, Shelter Scotland and Chartered Institute of Housing attended the meeting.

Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "It was important to meet housing groups today to reassure them and to set the record straight about funding levels for affordable housing.

"We made it crystal clear that there are no cuts to funding for affordable housing, as suggested by some commentators.

"Last Thursday's Budget put into sharp relief the financial challenges facing the Scottish Government as it strives to increase the supply of more affordable homes.

"Moving forward we face uncharted waters, but we will not be bound by ideology, and will be open to innovative ways of increasing supply and improving the quality of our housing.

"We will also redouble our efforts and press the UK Government to allow us to bring forward further investment so that we can continue to provide the affordable housing Scotland needs and ensure our economic recovery is not compromised."

(GK/BMcc)