Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 June 2025
18 Jun 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
RAAC in Council and Former Council Housing
I will come to some of the solutions that are on the table in a second, but Liam Kerr included the point about a meeting in his motion, so I want to do him and residents the courtesy of addressing it. I know that solutions are the most important thing.
Before I come on to talk about solutions, I will pick up on a couple of points that are important to put on the record. First, Meghan Gallacher talked of there having been no progress. With the greatest of respect, she is incorrect. I refer her to my colleague Ivan McKee’s statement on 29 May, in which he set out the progress that has been made in identifying and rectifying RAAC in the public sector.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-17216, in the name of Liam Kerr, on recognising reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank colleagues from the Greens, Labour, the Liberal Democrats and, of course, the Scottish Conservatives for signing my motion. It is notable, but regret...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 17:47
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
I thank Liam Kerr for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is an issue that impacts on our constituents and, although we are on different parts of the poli...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I congratulate my colleague Liam Kerr on achieving cross-party support on the topic of the debate. I also congratulate him for his work on it—he is not just ...
Martin Whitfield (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I start with an apology, Deputy Presiding Officer, to you, Liam Kerr and other members in the chamber for missing the opening sentences of what was a powerfu...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
I am grateful to Liam Kerr for securing the debate, and I echo other members’ comments in welcoming the cabinet secretary to her new role. At the heart of t...
The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to hear members’ reflections on the debate, and I am grateful to Liam Kerr for securing it. I am very pleased...
Liam Kerr
Con
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I will take the intervention in a second. I want to reassure them that they do not need to worry that there will be any lack of continuity between their meet...
Liam Kerr
Con
I will cut to the chase. I am sure that residents would be grateful for a meeting, but they would be even more grateful if you would just release the £20 mil...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Always speak through the chair.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I will come to some of the solutions that are on the table in a second, but Liam Kerr included the point about a meeting in his motion, so I want to do him a...
Meghan Gallacher
Con
If memory serves me well, my point was about having more talking shops, more ministerial engagements and so on. That is not progress. What people need is con...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I appreciate Meghan Gallacher’s point. As I have said, I will come on to talk about solutions very soon, but it is important not to mislead the public. Progr...
Maggie Chapman
Green
The cabinet secretary says that residents should seek help and get a survey, but the cost of that is a challenge in the first place. There are also people wh...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
That point underlines the importance of identifying and remediating RAAC wherever it exists, particularly in mixed-tenure properties. I turn to some of the ...
Liam Kerr
Con
Will the cabinet secretary accept an intervention?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I am very short of time. Do I have any time in hand?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back.
Màiri McAllan
SNP
Thank you. I will take the intervention.
Liam Kerr
Con
Residents will, of course, ask exactly the question that I am about to ask. We do not have a lot of time, so how soon will that decision be made?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
I appreciate that and will endeavour to make the decision as soon as possible. Liam Kerr will understand that I must consider the terms of that decision very...