Figures published this week have revealed the extent of the homelessness crisis in Scotland. On the Scottish National Party Government’s watch, 40,685 homelessness applications were recorded last year, which is the highest number in a decade. As of 31 March this year, there were almost 32,000 live homelessness applications.

Every number represents a human being in desperate need of help and support, but the SNP Government is failing them. In the face of the homelessness crisis, the Parliament shamed the Government into declaring a housing emergency earlier this year, but, despite that, the Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, insists that the Government has a good track record on tackling homelessness, which is at a decade high.

First Minister, is there a housing emergency or not?

Yes, there is a housing emergency. The Government recognises that and is taking action to remedy it. A range of action is being undertaken to ensure that we improve the availability of accommodation through tackling the issue of voids. Further work is being undertaken to strengthen investment in the construction of new homes and the refurbishment of existing homes to be available for rent, and steps are being taken in the planning system to tackle the housing emergency. The Government is absolutely focused on building on its strong record of house construction to tackle the challenges that we face.

I welcome the fact that the First Minister recognises that there is a housing emergency, but his broader answer demonstrates a Government with its head in the sand—one that is oblivious to the struggles of thousands of Scots who face homelessness as we speak.

Let us look at the facts. Under the present SNP Government, we have the lowest levels of home building by housing associations since Thatcher. Overall, house building is down by 17 per cent, and the affordable home building target is in tatters. Shamefully, we now have record numbers of children in temporary accommodation without a home to call their own—more than 10,000 children have been left homeless on the Government’s watch, and the number of young people living in bed and breakfasts has soared by more than 900 per cent in just the past three years.

First Minister, with record levels of homelessness, and with you now agreeing with the declared housing emergency, will you change course, or will you back your out-of-touch housing minister?

I would be grateful if you could speak through the chair, Mr Sarwar.

Mr Sarwar has challenged me on the Government’s record, and he has talked about facts, so allow me to share some facts with the Parliament. Between 2007 and 2024, the Government has been responsible for the construction of an average of 7,750 affordable homes each year. During that period, we endured the financial crash and 14 years of austerity under the Conservative Government. Of course, we now have the prolonging of austerity under the new Labour Government.

Between 1999 and 2007, when Mr Sarwar’s party was in charge of the Scottish Government—Jackie Baillie was a Minister in that Government for a short period—and when money was so flush that the Labour Government left money in the Treasury kitty unspent, an average of 5,448 affordable homes were built each year. Just so that everybody hears that clearly, I repeat that, at a time of plenty, when the money literally could not be spent in time, an average of 5,448 homes were delivered each year by the Labour Party. Under this Government, the number is 7,750 homes each year, so we are getting on with the job.

The First Minister wants to talk about a time when I was 16 years old, not a time when 10,000 children are homeless in Scotland—right now, under this Government’s watch. That is the devastating consequence of what the First Minister admitted was a Government that has been too focused on what it cannot do, rather than on what it can do. Scots are left to pay the price for an SNP Government that has lost its way, that is incompetent in government and that is bad with people’s money.

Housing in Scotland is completely the responsibility of the SNP Government. After 17 years, when will it take responsibility, rather than always looking for someone else to blame? For the Minister for Housing to claim that the Scottish Government has a proven track record on tackling homelessness when it is at record levels is not just inept but shameful. Paul McLennan simply cannot continue.

Will the First Minister recognise that he has a choice: put up with more failure or get to grips with the housing emergency, sack the housing minister and change direction?

I would just point out to the Parliament that, as usual, when Anas Sarwar is faced with facts that rebut his argument, he always plays the man and not the issue. That is what Anas Sarwar always does.

Let me come back to the facts. I am not evading our responsibility. Under this Government, we have built 7,750 affordable homes each year on average. In comparison, when Mr Sarwar’s party was in charge, when the money was so abundant that ministers could not actually spend it, Labour managed to build only 5,448 houses a year. [ Interruption .]

Let us hear one another.

That says to me that this Government is getting on with the job.

Mr Sarwar said that this area of policy is all under the responsibility of the Scottish Government. To an extent, that is true—housing policy is our responsibility. However, there is a budgetary question here. I point out to Mr Sarwar that our capital budget, which is what builds affordable homes, was facing a cut of nearly 9 per cent under the spending plans of the Conservative Government, and the incoming Labour Government is going to carry on with those plans. Our financial transactions budget has been cut by a whopping 62 per cent.

Briefly, First Minister.

I have raised with the Chancellor of the exchequer and the Deputy prime minister the total stupidity and folly of presiding over a 62 per cent cut in the financial transactions budget. If Mr Sarwar would like to help Scotland in any way, shape or form, why does he not persuade the United Kingdom Labour Government to desert the Tory agenda and start investing in our country?