Housing debate 21 June 2007

• The recent commitment to the 2012 homelessness target is welcome; the new Executive now needs to commit to funding 30,000 new affordable rented homes between 2008-11.

• Targeted initiatives to support house-buyers are important but there are major misgivings about the effectiveness and value for money of a broad-based first-time buyer grant.

• Ministers should give early priority to improving the delivery of private landlord registration; and make a commitment to giving tenants the same security over deposits as in England.

• Decisions about the future role of Communities Scotland should not be made without considered analysis of the agency’s many functions and where they might best be placed