By Jack Matthews
The Scottish Parliament are today voting on a decision whether to end the right of tenants to buy their council houses in Scotland.
The debate over this issue arose after concerns over the cost of keeping such a law in force, as the Right to Buy means that as more tenants buy their council houses from the government, more schemes must be implemented and funded to compensate for those homes lost to the private market.
It is unsure, however, how effective a cost cutting measure this will be on the true face of things. Studies found that recent support services in Scotland which cost £107m to implement, saved a total of £129m.
On the other hand, the bill, if passed today, would have positive ramifications for many homeless people across the country, as it will free up many of the council houses that would otherwise be snatched up by tenants asserting the Right to Buy.
Alistair Cameron, Chief Executive of homelessness charity Scottish Churches Housing Action, said today ‘We are delighted by this measure.’
He added, ‘Whatever benefits the right to buy policy has had for individuals, it has intensely damaged the ability of councils to carry out their homelessness duties.’
The parliament’s decision on the ballot will be announced at close of parliament today.
The Scottish Government scheme, LIFT, which allows people on low incomes to buy a shared equity home on the open market have allocated all 2009-20010 funding for the east of Scotland. 
