A record number of public sector house-building schemes were started during the SNP's first year in power, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today.
It came after the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations warned Scotland is set to fall short of the 10,000 new homes needed for rent in 2009/10. Work got under way on almost 5700 houses in 2007/08, more than any year since the early 1990s, according to Ms Sturgeon.
And she said: "After years of neglect and broken promises from the previous administration, this Scottish Government is investing significantly in public housing again.
"In our first year in office more public sector houses were started than at any time since 1997. The previous administration abandoned council housing with only six council houses built during the last four years in office.
"This government has kick-started a new generation of council housing and I want to see more councils getting involved in building homes for rent." Councils across Scotland started 432 council houses in 2007/08. Work also got under way on nearly 5000 houses for social rent through bodies such as housing associations.
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