Edinburgh Labour's Andrew Burns has challenged Council leader Jenny Dawe on a claim that the Liberal Democrat/SNP Administration "has built the first council housing in Edinburgh for a generation". 

At today’s Council meeting Councillor Dawe was forced to withdraw the claim, printed in her leaders report, and also admitted that more social housing was provided year on year under the previous Labour administration than is currently being provided by the Lib Dem/SNP coalition. 

Figures presented to the meeting by Councillor Burns show that affordable housing completions are expected to drop from a high of 639 in 2005/06 to approximately 500 in 2009/10.

After the meeting Councillor Burns said:

"Jenny Dawe admitted that it was difficult to find something that the Lib Dem/SNP Council actually delivered, and it is clear that this housing claim was simply untrue.  Indeed, figures show that the under Labour more social housing was delivered in Edinburgh than under this Liberal/SNP Council.

"With the private sector struggling from the effects of the recession and many within he construction industry out of work there is an opportunity for public sector investment both to provide more social housing, and get people back to work.  The Liberal/SNP Council need to show some leadership on this issue, not simply provide more spin."