A motion put forward by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, which stated that “the Parliament believes that the Scottish Government has failed to respond adequately to the housing emergency that the Parliament declared in May 2024”, was defeated by 60 votes to 54 with eight abstentions.

Instead, a motion amended by housing minister Paul McLennan, which removed the claim it had failed in responding to the emergency, passed by 59 votes to 55 with eight abstentions. An amendment from the Scottish Conservatives also fell.

In tabling the initial motion, Anas Sarwar had called on the government to “take responsibility” for its housing failures after official figures recently showed an increase in homelessness at the same time as the number of new properties being built has fallen.

Last week, annual statistics revealed a total of 33,619 households in Scotland were homeless in 2023-24, with a record 10,110 children part of the 16,330 households who were in temporary accommodation.

At the same time, the total number of new homes completed over the year to end of June 2024 was down 17%, with the number of properties built by councils and housing associations falling by a quarter (25%) to 5,053.

These figures follow the government’s declaration of a housing emergency in May.

During the debate, Anas Sarwar told housing minister Paul McLennan: “We have a chance today to put the needs of the people of Scotland front and centre, to stand up for all those who find themselves without a home to call their own and to stand up for all those for whom the dream of home ownership is currently just that – a dream.

“This government has failed to tackle the housing emergency – this is not good enough.

“The failure must end – Scotland deserves better.

“Under this SNP government, fewer homes being built, targets missed on a yearly basis and homelessness on the rise.

“Every number a human being in need of help and every missed target the breaking of dreams, of hopes and aspirations.”

But responding, Mr McLennan said the Labour leader “did not talk about any ideas whatsoever” to fix the crisis and he invited Mr Sarwar to propose initiatives ahead of the Budget to be announced in December.

“This government understands the urgency of this crisis and we are using all our powers to address it,” he said.

“But it should be acknowledged Westminster’s policies have left us grappling with an emergency that requires systemic change and investment at UK-wide level.

“I once again call on the Labour UK Government to use its upcoming budget to scrap the Bedroom Tax, reverse the 9% capital cut to Scotland’s budget and permanently uplift the local housing allowance.”

Following the vote, the Greens called on the Scottish Government to offer “real clarity and bold action” to tackle the housing emergency.

MSP Arianne Burgess said: “I welcome the minister’s commitment to investigate Scottish Green proposals to tackle the crisis, but words are not enough. The kind of actions we have called for are crucial to tackling supporting tenants and households on the frontline of the crisis.

“The human impact of the emergency is all around us. It is the experience of people being evicted from their homes because they can’t afford their rent, the collapse of rural and island communities because they can’t provide housing for families who want to live and contribute there, and the people making their bed on the side of the road.  

“The Scottish Greens have long campaigned for the introduction of robust rent controls, and we have been deeply concerned by recent rhetoric from the Government around the watering down of the rent control and tenant protection provisions in the upcoming Housing Bill. I believe today is a positive step towards securing these in that landmark bill.”

Following the debate, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “The responses of SNP ministers to this housing emergency are nothing short of embarrassing.

“This inept SNP government has completely refused to take responsibility for its shameful record.

“Thousands of Scots are being deprived of their fundamental human right to housing on the SNP’s watch, and families are stuck living in limbo for months and even years on end.

“The Greens’ decision to give the SNP government a free pass on its record of failure is a betrayal of the most vulnerable people in Scotland.

“The housing minister cannot stay in post after failing so badly on the basics of his job.

“John Swinney must stop rewarding failure and demand more from his Ministers – because Scotland deserves better than this.”