ACTION ON REPOSSESSIONS LONG OVERDUE - FINNIE

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 13th Jan 2009

ACTION ON REPOSSESSIONS LONG OVERDUE - FINNIE

Commenting on the announcement of a new debt action forum to help Scots struggling with debt and provide safeguards to protect family homes, Liberal Democrat Housing spokesperson Ross Finnie said:

"I welcome the news that the Scottish Government will be looking at whether or not legal protection for homeowners in Scotland needs strengthening.

"This is long overdue because at the beginning of December last year, a cross party campaign against repossessions first called for the Scottish Government to address this issue.

"The Government must ensure that home repossessions are used as a last resort. Vulnerable families at risk of repossession should be given an automatic right to legal aid."

Ends.

Notes to Editors:

Mr Finnie, along with MSPs from Labour, the Greens and independent Margo Macdonald, issued a joint signatory to a motion on the 3rd of December 2008, urging the Scottish Government to bring about a Scottish equivalent to measures introduced in England to make sure that repossession is genuinely a last resort.