Knowledge gap

How astonishing is it that Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander, attempting to defend the coalition’s bedroom tax (Perspective, 17 April), seems not to know that housing is a devolved responsibility.

He brags about the coalition’s affordable housing plans as if they include Scotland, but they don’t.

As the government knows but doesn’t like to mention, most tenants will find it impossible to downsize because there are not enough smaller houses.

There aren’t enough social houses of any size because the UK government sees private ownership as a higher priority.

The SNP hasn’t done as much as it could to redress the balance – but at least the Holyrood 
administration understands what the problems are.

Michael Lloyd

Stanley Place

Dunbar