The SFHA has expressed concern that less than 20% of Scotland's MSPs attended a major debate on housing at Holyrood - an issue which all the main political parties claim is at the top of the political agenda.

Jacqui Watt, the Chief Executive of the Federation, was in the chamber for the debate on meeting Scotland's housing needs and she said: "I was very disappointed to see just 23 MSPs in the chamber when they claim housing is as important an issue as health and education to the people of Scotland."

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She added, however, that she was glad to hear the Communities Minister Stewart Maxwell reaffirming his backing for housing associations as the main suppliers of social housing in Scotland.

The SFHA's briefing notes on concerns over the government's proposed changes to the Housing Association Grant also featured prominently in the wide-ranging debate and received support from many MSPs who backed the SFHA's stance on the changes.

The Federation is campaigning for the Scottish Government to backtrack on the HAG changes, as the proposals would see housing supply fall and rents rise higher and faster than in the past.

The SFHA is lobbying for 10,000 new affordable homes to be built in Scotland each year and calls on the government to streamline the planning system in order to achieve this target.

(GK/JM)