Shelter Scotland's statement following the UK Autumn Budget

Following the the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Autumn Budget statement, Shelter Scotland has issued the following statement;

Gordon Llewellyn-MacRae, Interim Director at Shelter Scotland said:

“The Prime Minister was right to make homelessness his priority on day one. Yet today marks a missed opportunity, with a Budget that doesn’t go far enough to address the housing emergency.

“The UK Government has chosen to retain the bedroom tax and benefit cap, which the Scottish Government spends millions of pounds every year to effectively eradicate in Scotland. The UK Government has also chosen to keep Local Housing Allowance frozen and retained Home Office policies that cause homelessness by design. In doing so they have chosen not to relieve pressure on social housing and push more people into poverty and homelessness.

“Additional funding for Scotland from the Chancellor’s investment plans must be used by Scottish Ministers to reduce homelessness, uphold housing rights and deliver the social homes urgently needed. Our message is clear: the UK Government must do more to live up to its promises on tackling the housing emergency.”