The supply of new housing in Scotland has increased by 5 per cent, from 26,200 in 2006-07, to 27,500 in 2007-08 according to the latest housing statistics for Scotland .

This shows a return to similar levels witnessed in 2004-05 and 2005-06 and is higher than levels in the previous half of the decade. These data are the basis of National Indicator 32 in the Scottish Government 2007 Spending Review.

Following a peak in 2006-07, new build starts show a decrease of 7 per cent from 28,400 in 2006-07 to 26,400 in 2007-08. This is similar to the level of starts in 2005-06. 2007-08 figures on completions show a 7 per cent increase compared to the previous year (up to 25,700 in 2007-08 from 24,100 in 2006-07)

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The numbers of right to buy sales by public authorities continue to show a declining trend since the expected increase prior to the introduction of modernised right to buy legislation in 2002. The latest figure for 2007-08 (about 6,800, including local authorities with total stock transfers) confirms the consistent decrease, and represents a drop of 18 per cent relative to 2006-07.

The percentage of lets to homeless people is a key indicator in measuring local authorities' capacity to respond to the 2012 target for the removal of the priority need test in homelessness legislation. Over recent years, the proportions of local authority lets to homeless applicants have increased, with the latest figures confirming the observed upward trend. In 2007-08, 39 per cent of all local authority lettings were to homeless households, compared to 34 per cent for 2006-07. This represents a substantial increase compared to the situation just over a decade ago (12 per cent in 1996-97).

(GK/KMcA)