The SNP’s failure to tackle the housing crisis has left over 90,000 children stuck on social housing waiting lists, according to figures published by the Scottish Conservatives.
Freedom of Information requests by the party to Scottish councils have revealed at least 90,797 children were waiting on accommodation as of September this year.
Scottish Conservative housing spokeswoman Meghan Gallacher said the “grim” figures were the consequence of the SNP “letting the housing crisis spiral”.
She said the SNP's Housing Bill would do "little or nothing" to tackle the underlying problems and would not "deliver a single extra home in Scotland".
Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for housing Meghan Gallacher MSP said: “These grim figures lie firmly at the door of the SNP Government who have let the housing crisis spiral on their watch.
“It is shameful that more than 90,000 children in Scotland are currently stuck on a waiting list for a social house.
“They should be living in a permanent house of their own, but the Nationalists have completely failed to tackle Scotland’s housing emergency.
“SNP ministers have wasted an opportunity with their Housing Bill which will do little or nothing to tackle Scotland’s underlying housing problems.
“It will not deliver a single extra home in Scotland and all Holyrood’s cosy left-wing consensus have to offer is doubling down on their rent controls plans, which has actually driven investment away from the sector.
“Paul McLennan needs to show some common sense, ditch rent control plans for good and outline a real plan that delivers the homes that Scots need.”
Notes:
Almost 90,000 children are on social housing wait lists. 90,797 children are currently on social housing wait lists for 2023-2024 according to figures obtained under freedom of information by the Scottish Conservatives. The figure is expected to be higher as data could not be retrieved for Clackmannanshire and the entirety of Scottish Borders. The two councils with the highest number of children on social housing wait lists are Edinburgh (16,402) and Falkirk (7,269 children), (Scottish Conservative Research, 12 November 2024, available on request).
Over 250,000 people are on social housing wait lists in Scotland for 2023-24. Over 250,000 people are currently on social housing wait lists in Scotland for 2023-24. In total, 253,744 people are on social housing wait lists in Scotland according to figures obtained under freedom of information by the Scottish Conservatives. The two councils with the highest number of people waiting for social housing in Scotland are Edinburgh (25,570) and Falkirk (22,706), (Scottish Conservative Research, 12 November 2024, available on request).