Devolve Right-to-buy Powers to Councils - McInnes

12.00.00am GMT Thu 1st Nov 2007

North East MSP and former Aberdeenshire Councillor Alison McInnes has called on the Scottish Government to devolve the full range of Right-To-Buy powers to local authorities.

"Liberal Democrats want the full range of Right-To-Buy powers devolved to democratically elected local councils to help them to meet local need" said McInnes. "I urge the Scottish Government, when they are reviewing Right-To-Buy, to consider the case to go much further on local flexibility."

She went on to explain, "We think that councils, not ministers, should have the power to vary discounts, introduce Pressurised Area Status for up to 10 years, or even abolish Right-To-Buy altogether. It would, however, be important that if Right-To-Buy is abolished, tenants with an existing right are given at least five years to use it before they lose it.

The Scottish Government had scheduled time for a statement on housing, but this was skipped by the Presiding Officer after details of the statement appeared in the media this morning.