THREAT TO HOUSING CO-OPS UNDER CALMAN PLANS

For immediate use: Thursday 16th September 2010
Attn: NEWSDESKS


The SNP today warned that efforts to expand the number of Housing Co-operatives could be badly affected by Calman Commission proposals to end devolution to Scotland of the regulation of charities and return it to the UK.


SNP MSP Linda Fabiani, speaking in a debate on the future of housing in Scotland, called on opposition parties and the UK Government not to take responsibility for charity regulation back to Westminster.
The proposal from the Calman Commission has been endorsed by Labour, the Lib Dems and the Tories.


Ms Fabiani, a former Housing Association director, said:
“Housing co-ops could play a more significant part in Scottish housing and help deliver valuable affordable housing across the country.
"The growth of co-operative housing has been held back by the lack of a clear framework and poor government support in the UK.


“One bright spot has been the decision of the Scottish charity regulator to allow co-operatives to register as charities, but that is threatened by the Calman Commission proposal to take charity law back to Westminster.
“Scotland’s charitable and voluntary sector has made clear it does not want to legal powers to be taken back to London. The SNP is clear we do not want to see these powers taken back to London.


“It is now time for the Labour party and the UK Government to be clear that they will not do this."


Note:
The lack of a proper framework for co-operative housing in the UK was highlighted by the Co-operative Commission (the Monks Commission), which was established by Tony Blair and reported in 2001. It said:
“There is currently no legal framework in UK housing law in which rights of occupancy of residential property can arise from membership of a democratic mutual provider.”