THE Scottish government was accused of showing a “shameful lack of leadership” on the housing emergency as figures showed today that councils shelled out more than £100 million on B&Bs and hostels last year.

The data, released to Scottish Labour under freedom of information, shows that spending on such temporary accommodation has sky-rocketed by 128 per cent in four years, from £44m in 2020-21 to £100m in 2024-25.

Scottish government figures reveal numbers of households in temporary accommodation continued to rise, up 6 per cent in the year to September 30 2024, to 16,634, with 1,283 in hostels, and 2,680 — among them 480 children — languishing in B&Bs.

Labour housing spokesman Mark Griffin said: “These miserable conditions were banned for a reason, but hundreds of children are still being subjected to the insecurity and instability of living in a hostel or B&B.”

Slamming SNP Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan’s plan presented to Holyrood on Tuesday, Mr Griffin added: “When 10,000 kids don’t have a home to call their own, the SNP’s paltry pledge to help a few hundred of them is an insult.

“The SNP has failed to get to grips with this housing emergency.”

Ms McAllan responded: “We are determined that everyone in Scotland should have a safe, warm and affordable place to call home.

“I set out plans this week to invest up to £4.9 billion over the coming four years in the delivery of affordable homes. 

“This is part of our total investment of £808m in affordable housing this year to increase the supply and help reduce homelessness and the number of people in temporary accommodation, including families with children.”