As a result of the Scottish Government's decision to bring forward investment to help Scotland through the worst of the recession, the draft Housing and Regeneration budget for 2010-11 will fall.

While overall planned spending on affordable housing across the three years of the Spending Review remains the same at a record £1.65 billion, the repayment of money brought forward means planned spending on affordable housing in 2010-11 is reduced.

Key Housing and Regeneration priorities include:

• Continuing to work to improve the supply and quality of housing
• Helping homeowners at risk of repossession
• Through the Energy Assistance Package, continuing to work towards the target of eradicating fuel poverty as far as reasonably practicable
• Continue to prevent and tackle homelessness

Ms Sturgeon added:"The Housing and Regeneration budget for next year has reduced from planned levels.


"This is because we brought forward investment planned for next year to help us through the depths of the recession.

"This allowed us to start new affordable housing projects when the construction industry was starved of private investment. Over the three years, our spending in this area still totals 1.65 billion pounds, exactly as promised.

"But Scotland's economy is not out of the woods. That's why we will 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 recovery is not compromised."

(GK/BMcC)