The right-to-buy scheme, allowing council tenants to buy their home was introduced by the Thatcher government in the early 80s. But Malcolm Chisholm, the communities Minister in Scotland, may now place greater restrictions on the scheme, in a bid to reduce homelessness.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Mr Chislolm said: "We are going to do a comprehensive report on the right-to-buy for the Scottish Parliament this year, and that means next year we are going to be reviewing the policy."

However the Conservative Party are not as keen to get rid of the scheme. Speaking in the Scotsman newspaper, a spokesman said: "It is one of the greatest success stories in giving home ownership to hundreds of thousands of people and playing a major part in revitalising communities across Scotland". "This policy helped transform some of the poorest estates around Scotland", he added.