The consultation focused on proposals for a new Scottish Social Housing Standard, the Prudential Regime, housing capital finance, innovative approaches to housing finance and management, Community Ownership Programme and partial transfers.

Public investment in council housing has remained at historically low levels in the past six years. There is an urgent need to improve the standard of council housing in Scotland, but this must be developed alongside an assessment of the level of investment required to bring Scotland's council housing up to standard. Shelter therefore welcomes the discussion of funding options for Scottish Social Housing and a Standard for Scottish Social Housing.

We welcome the proposals to offer councils more ways to access finance for investment in council stock, as part of the solution to the funding crisis. However, these proposals will not impact upon the economics of social housing in Scotland. A commitment is required from Central Government to bridge the gap between what a landlord can afford and the actual cost of decent council or housing association housing in Scotland.