Jonathan Fair, Chief Executive of Homes for Scotland, the organisation representing the country's home building industry, welcomed new figures published yesterday by CML Scotland showing an 18% increase in mortgage lending in Scotland in the second quarter of 2008.

Hopeful that the statistics represent the start of increased liquidity and activity returning to the market, he said: "Coming on the back of the package of measures to help the housing sector announced earlier this week by the Scottish Government, these figures represent some additional light in what has been a very gloomy period for the sector over recent months.

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"The house building industry continues to face an immensely challenging period. However, consumers should take confidence from the very clear message coming from CML Scotland's data, namely that our overall housing market continues to be more resilient than the rest of the UK. It is especially noteworthy that, where mortgages are available, affordability indices continue to be more realistic in Scotland."

(GK/JM)