The Scottish Government has been urged to rethink its housing budget by campaigners who claim it falls “far short” of what is needed.

Shelter Scotland said the settlement meant a real terms cut of 6 per cent in funding for affordable housing in year one. The budget rises to 12 per cent in year three, but isn’t enough, the charity said. It also said its call for 30,000 affordable rented homes had been ignored.

As well as lobbying ministers, Shelter Scotland is urging the public to email their MSPs to protest against the proposed budget.

"This year we have heard from many MSPs that housing is an issue which comes up again and again when constituents visit their surgeries,” said Archie Stoddart, director of Shelter Scotland. “Many therefore agree that housing is a top priority - so we were sorely disappointed when we listened to the budget on the 14th of November to find out that next year's housing budget has been cut.

"The Scottish Government's main response so far has been to seek to discredit the evidence on which the case for 30,000 homes is based. We firmly stand by that estimate and would be happy to meet the minister to explain why our estimate is robust.

"Failure to meet the target will keep thousands of people stuck in temporary accommodation and on the main house waiting lists."