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Programme for Government published
Yesterday's Programme for Government outlined plans to introduce a Rural Housing Fund, a successor to the Help to Buy (Scotland) scheme and a Private Tenancies Bill. It also signals the intention to introduce a Social Security Bill in the first year of the new Parliament, which will provide for the earliest possible abolition of the 'Bedroom Tax'.
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New shared equity scheme
We are to spend £195m over the next three years on a new 'shared equity' scheme, with a greater focus on affordable homes. This will help around 6,500 households buy a new-build home.
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Help for town centre communities
We've just launched the Town Centre Communities Capital Fund. It's open to community organisations to support capital projects which will make real and lasting improvements to town centres. Here's the news release.
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Energy efficiency fund to help thousands
Nearly 2,000 of Scotland's poorest households will benefit from a £5 million fund to make their homes cheaper to keep warm. Meanwhile, a Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force has been established to find ways to make it easier and more affordable for people in rural and remote Scotland to heat their homes.
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Universal credit guidance
The Scotland Bill will give us new powers to develop flexibilities over how Universal Credit is paid and we're working with the Department for Work and Pensions on this.
Meantime, we want to ensure everyone, particularly benefit advisors and those in contact with claimants, has up-to-date guidance (PDF) on how to apply for Alternative Payment Arrangements.
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Code of Practice: seeking your views
We're looking for your views on proposals to implement a new code of practice for letting agents. We're inviting written responses by 15 November.
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