Housing bodies celebrate creation of new role in cabinet
Scotland鈥檚 new leader has signalled housing will be a priority for the reshuffled government by creating a dedicated role for the brief.
Humza Yousaf selected a youthful, majority female cabinet after he was sworn in as first minister on Wednesday.
East Lothian MSP Paul McLennan, who is known in the devolved assembly for his work to improve the Scottish construction sector, was picked to be Scotland鈥檚 first housing minister.
The decision to separate the housing brief out of the cabinet secretary for social justice, housing and local government鈥檚 portfolio has been welcomed by housing bodies.
Jocelyne Fleming, Policy and public affairs officer for Scotland at the Chartered Institute of 好色先生TV, said the appointment 鈥渄emonstrates the intention for this area to be a key policy priority going forwards鈥
She continued: 鈥淭he building of new homes and the improvement of Scotland鈥檚 existing housing stock has to be a priority for Government in order to grow the economy, tackle the ongoing cost of living crisis and meet carbon reduction targets.
鈥淚t鈥檚 encouraging to see this being recognised. As the Scottish Government has acknowledged, everyone should have a warm, safe, affordable and energy-efficient home that meets their needs.鈥
She said McLennan had 鈥渃ampaigned diligently鈥 to improve Scotland鈥檚 built environment, collaborating with the CIOB for the past 12 months.
Callum Chomczuk director of the Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland said he hoped McLennan鈥檚 appointment 鈥漺ill mean government gives housing the attention, support, and funding it urgently needs and deserves鈥.
鈥淪cotland must invest in more affordable housing, as homelessness and the number of people living in temporary accommodation figures rise access to good quality, affordable housing is a basic human right and provides the foundations for people to flouris,鈥 he said.
鈥淕ood housing improves health and wellbeing, reduces poverty, contributes to net-zero and boosts the economy.
Yousaf said his cabinet team reflected the priorities of the new government as it pursued a 鈥渞adical, ambitious and progressive policy agenda鈥.
The first Muslim to take the reins of a major UK political party, Yousaf prevailed over Kate Forbes to secure the SNP leadership on Monday after a divisive contest.
Forbes, formerly finance minister, declined the offer of a cabinet position handling rural affairs and islands, widely viewed as a demotion.
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