Government investment directly supports the provision of a range of affordable housing types throughout the country and helps to unlock activity more broadly throughout the housing system. The Scottish Government's aim is to deliver 30,000 affordable homes over the lifetime of this Parliament (2011-12 to 2015-16). Devolved building regulations also mean that new homes are built to increasingly higher standards and contribute towards the Government's ambitions on climate change and accessibility. The Government also encourages a housing system that is more integrated, responsive to demand and therefore better able to reduce market volatility and improve affordability. How is Scotland performing? The supply of new housing in Scotland decreased by 2%, from 17,267 in 2010-11 to 16,882 in 2011-12. The recession has clearly impacted on private house building, with only 10,039 houses being built by the private sector in 2011-12 - this is a 6% fall from 2010-11 and is the lowest level of private sector new build for more than three decades. This decline, however, has been partly offset by an increase of nearly 500 in the number of local authority new build homes. Criteria for recent change This evaluation is based on: any difference within +/- 1,000 houses of last year's figure suggests that the position is more likely to be maintaining than showing any change. An increase of 1,000 houses or more suggests the position is improving; whereas a decrease of 1,000 houses or more suggests the position is worsening.