Hansard

The Scottish Government and the wider public sector have already done much to understand the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete—RAAC—issues in Scotland, and we recognise that there is more to do. Everyone with a responsibility for building safety takes the matter very seriously, and I assure the public that the Scottish Government is working at pace with partner organisations across the public sector on that challenge and that it has been doing so for some time.

The risk that is associated with the presence of RAAC in buildings is not a new issue in the construction sector. To fully understand the scope of RAAC, including in the school estate, we have been working with local authorities, NHS Scotland and other public sector organisations as they have conducted reviews of RAAC in their properties, which has allowed us to understand the extent of the issue, ensure that risks are managed and, where required, be reassured that remedial work and mitigations have been put in place.

The Institution of Structural Engineers first published guidance on RAAC to raise awareness among the structural engineer community in March 2022. My officials were made aware of that publication through engagement in professional channels at that time and have supported responsible building safety throughout. For example, in July 2022, learning directorate officials made contact with Scottish heads of property services and the Association of Directors of Education in Scotland to discuss RAAC; in December 2022, NHS Scotland Assure commissioned a survey team to establish the extent and condition of RAAC across the national health service estate; in early summer this year, my officials have met the Health and Safety Executive to discuss school estate matters, including RAAC, and met several local authorities individually to discuss their specific issues; and in July this year my officials issued a RAAC survey to all local authorities via the SHOPS network.

Furthermore, the ministerial working group on building and fire safety discussed RAAC, pressing for and tracking progress on that issue since December 2022. The cross-sector working group on RAAC now supports our work, as my officials join up with their sector counterparts, key public sector partners and representatives of the private sector. That working group has been established as a more formal forum to share good practice and discuss recent professional advice, which builds on the work that was already under way.

More recently, my officials have been invited to join the cross-United-Kingdom Government working group on RAAC. In various recent meetings, we have once again been assured that the current Institution of Structural Engineers guidance and the risk-based approach remains appropriate for the assessment and management of RAAC in schools and other buildings. The most recent discussion with the Institution of Structural Engineers was on 5 September, when my officials met the director, who confirmed that its RAAC guidance has not changed and remains a good and valid practice measure in this area; we have issued it to local authorities for their information.

The Institution of Structural Engineers remains of the view that its guidance is in keeping with the Health and Safety Executive’s approach to managing risk in a proportionate manner and considers all relevant factors.

Although the issue of RAAC has been under discussion for some time and action has been taken, the UK Government Department for Education changed its approach for RAAC specifically in schools on 31 August—a change in approach that Scottish ministers learned about through the media. Events of recent weeks have highlighted a deeply concerning level of chaos in the UK Government, overseen by the Secretary of State for Education. It is totally unacceptable that UK ministers prioritised briefing the media before alerting or sharing crucial information with devolved Governments. In what can only be described as a complete dereliction of duty, it was not until 18:56 on Sunday 3 September that the UK Government shared four pages of RAAC photographs dating as far back as 2018—not detailed or comprehensive structural reports but photographs with the bare minimum of supporting context. To be frank, the engagement has been insulting.

I confirm to the chamber that, following receipt of the photographs, we are still awaiting detailed and comprehensive structural reports, which we requested on Sunday 3 September and again on Tuesday 5 September. The withholding of that information was completely reckless and irresponsible. The secretary of state’s disregard of the work of devolved Governments could not be clearer. More importantly, it has spread unnecessary alarm among parents, staff and children.

As I stated earlier, work has been under way to deal with RAAC in the school estate. To date, RAAC has been identified in 40 school buildings across Scotland, although in some of those schools it is in parts of buildings that have not been in use for some time. Wherever RAAC has been found, mitigations have been put in place. For example, St Kentigern’s academy in West Lothian has closed parts of its estate, including dining and kitchen areas, and Preston Lodge school in East Lothian has taken action to close off impacted classrooms and other areas. Riverside primary school fully closed its building over the summer holidays and moved pupils into alternative provision. The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities has confirmed that safety is the central consideration and that there is robust guidance that is followed by every local authority to ensure that those buildings are safe to be in for pupils, staff and the public.

Local authorities have a clear responsibility to ensure that their schools are safe for pupils, staff and their users, and I know that they take that responsibility very seriously. They are carrying out assessments of their school buildings. We are aware that some parts of the school estate in some councils still need to complete full surveys. Ministers have been clear to authorities that those must be carried out as a matter of the highest priority and have offered assistance to councils in the matter where appropriate.

However, it is imperative that there is transparency around the schools where RAAC has been identified and the mitigations that are in place. We are working with COSLA to ensure that all local authorities will have published information about the schools that are affected by the end of this week. The cross-Government working group that we established is enabling a centralised understanding of how RAAC is affecting other sectors of the public estate. Work is on-going to assess properties across the public sector.

It is important to state again that the assessment process is proportionate and based on the guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers. Once again, I reassure members in the chamber that, where RAAC has been identified, mitigations are in place in accordance with that guidance. What is clear is that significant work will need to be undertaken across the public sector estate in Scotland and right across the UK to deal with RAAC in the longer term. The First Minister has been clear that, although we do not have contingencies within Government to spend on RAAC, we will of course spend what we need to in order to ensure that our buildings are safe for those who use them.

I was pleased to see the Chancellor of the Exchequer seeming to commit over the weekend to the UK Government spending what is needed on the issue. However, the more recent briefings coming out of the UK Government indicating that there will be no new money are deeply worrying. Let me be clear: after a decade of Tory austerity and cuts to capital budgets, it is simply not sustainable for the UK Government to say that no new money will be made available.

We have been alive to the issue for some time, and long before the change in approach by the Department for Education. On 16 August, the Deputy First Minister wrote to the Treasury seeking clarity on new capital funding to deal with RAAC. On 3 September, our Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills wrote to the Secretary of State for Education to seek clarity on funding. Thus far, neither has received a response. Again, the ignorance is simply astounding in such a serious situation.

The UK Government cannot put its head in the sand. New capital money has to be made available, including to the devolved Governments, to allow us to take any action that may be required. Anything else would be a dereliction of duty from the Prime Minister and the chancellor. I hope that I can count on the support of all members in the chamber in making that case to the UK Government.

I will close as I started. The safety of buildings and their occupants is of the utmost importance. The actions that the Government is taking, along with public sector and industry partners, is designed to ensure that the appropriate measures are in place and provided for in the short and long term to ensure the safety of buildings for their occupants.