Statistics released to me in answers to parliamentary questions that I laid down show that Fife is suffering above average cuts to the Home Owners Support Fund. The Scottish Government must do more to support home owners in the Kingdom.

During 20011-12 the Fife Council Area has suffered cuts of 56% in the total amount paid out to those under threat of losing their home compared to a national average cut of only 28%, this is despite a 9% increase in applications in Fife.

Therefore, whilst the number of applications is increasing, there has been a reduction in the amount of people receiving support from 55% in 2010/11 to only 22% of those who applied in 2011/12. Further cuts to the Home Owners Support Fund are due in 2012-2013.

With the ever increasing cost of living and the pressures households are feeling across the Kingdom many people are finding themselves one pay check away from being unable to pay their mortgage.

I meet recently with the Fife Citizen Advice Bureau in parliament and they highlighted that the struggle to make mortgage payments is one of the biggest issues facing households across the Kingdom.

It is vital that during these harsh economic times the people of Fife are giving all the help and support that they need to ensure they are able to stay in their own home.

I am disappointed that these figures highlight the bad deal that Fife seems to be getting from the Scottish Government and I will be raising this issue at the earliest opportunity in Parliament.

The Home Owners Support Fund should be there to help people that are on the verge of losing their homes but these continuing Scottish Government cuts, disproportionately falling on Fife are resulting in a drop in successful applications and could potential force people out into the streets.

The Home Owners Support Fund aims to help those in danger of having their home repossessed to continue to stay in their homes through a mortgage to rent and mortgage to shared equity scheme.

The mortgage to rent scheme will see a successful applicant’s home being bought by the council or housing association, however they will continue to live there as a tenant. With the mortgage to shared equity scheme the Scottish Government takes a financial stake in the applicant’s home, however ownership will still remain with the applicant.