Hansard

I am pleased to provide Parliament with an update on the work that has been going on across the public sector to identify and manage reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, or RAAC, as it is better known.

Where RAAC has been used in Scotland, it has typically been for roofs in different types of buildings, with only limited use in walls and floors. RAAC started to be used in the 1950s and continued to be used through to the 1980s. There is currently no manufacturing in Scotland or in the rest of the United Kingdom, and it is no longer used here. However, it is still manufactured and used in other countries, including Germany, South Korea and Mexico.

In response to emerging concerns across the sector, a working group was formed in the summer of 2023. The group pulled together people from across Scotland with an interest in RAAC, including professional advisers and academics, to ensure that knowledge, understanding and best practice could be shared. RAAC is not just a Scottish issue, of course; it is also present across England and Wales, with engagement taking place between the Scottish Government and other Governments on the topic.

RAAC came to public prominence in late August 2023, following the UK Government Department for Education’s decision to change its approach to risk with regard to RAAC in schools in England. Work had already been undertaken in Scotland by that time, particularly in the health, justice and school sectors.

The Institution of Structural Engineers notes that properly maintained RAAC should perform no differently to any other comparable building material. It may remain serviceable and does not need to be removed simply because it is RAAC. The cross-sector working group has heard from experts and professional bodies who have refuted claims such as those about the limited 30-year lifespan of RAAC. If RAAC has been properly manufactured, specified, installed and maintained, it can continue to fulfil its function in the long term. If RAAC is not properly maintained, it can deteriorate and will need to be managed appropriately. That may include on-going monitoring, remediation or replacement. The Scottish Government advises building owners to use the guidance produced by the Institution of Structural Engineers for assessment.

We continue to urge building owners with RAAC to seek appropriate professional advice and follow the guidance. My thanks go to everyone who has engaged with us to allow an understanding of RAAC across the public sector in Scotland. It is only with that engagement that we have been able to develop the complete picture.

A total of 40 schools were found to have RAAC, and that number is now down to 29. A number of those schools will be replaced through the £2 billion learning estate investment programme. Schools that still have RAAC are taking appropriate measures to manage it and have longer-term plans to address it.

Our national health service estate has also been affected. Members will no doubt be aware of the work to remove RAAC at Knoll hospital in the Borders. Fifty other NHS properties were found to have RAAC. Some of those buildings, such as Denburn health centre in Aberdeen, were due to be vacated before RAAC was discovered. NHS Scotland Assure is working with NHS boards to further assess the condition of RAAC to allow a national programme to be developed. Patient and staff safety has not been compromised because of RAAC. Where areas have had to be closed, services have been provided from elsewhere. Nothing is more important than the safety of patients and staff in our NHS.

There has undoubtedly been a considerable focus on housing. In Scotland, local authorities, social landlords and the Scottish Housing Regulator have undertaken a comprehensive assessment of their stock. Although the vast majority of social landlords do not have RAAC, there are about 3,000 homes, around 1,000 of which are privately owned, that do have it. I am pleased with the progress that social landlords are making to assess and remediate RAAC, where required, and to manage properties in the longer term.

The housing sub-group on RAAC brings together Scottish Government officials, social landlords and other professionals to share best practice and to test approaches to RAAC management. My colleague the Minister for Housing, and his officials have engaged closely with local authorities as they have addressed the issue of RAAC in the various council areas. They have also met the Association of British Insurers and have engaged with UK Finance and with residents groups.

I encourage lenders and insurers to treat homeowners fairly and ask that they consider the condition of any RAAC, rather than just responding to the fact that there is RAAC in a property. Mortgage lenders and insurers must pay heed to the ISE guidance, just as building owners do.

Earlier this month, the Minister for Housing met with residents in Aberdeen who are affected by RAAC to hear their concerns directly. He also heard some of the alternative solutions they have been proposing to councils. A visit to meet similarly affected residents in Dundee is also being arranged.

The Scottish Government remains committed to supporting local authorities with flexibilities within their existing budgets. They are responsible for supporting housing in their areas, for example through the scheme of assistance in place to help homeowners. It is for each local authority to decide the support that it will make available, based on its resources and local priorities.

Having said that, each area is different and what one local authority is doing to address RAAC may not be appropriate for another, not only because of the number of properties affected but because of the condition of the RAAC. In North Lanarkshire for example, due to the low number of affected properties, the local authority is making grants to help homeowners cover their costs. Meanwhile, Dundee and Edinburgh are carrying out pilots to provide a permanent solution to concerns about RAAC without removing it and incurring significant costs. We are ready to work with any local authority to develop solutions to address residents’ concerns.

To assist landlords and owners, I am also pleased to confirm that the Institution of Structural Engineers, with support from the Scottish Government, is currently developing guidance that is specific to RAAC in domestic properties. That guidance will include potential ways to effectively support any RAAC in situ or, where that is not possible, advice on how it can safely be removed. We expect that guidance to be published in the summer. The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors will also publish a consumer guide shortly.

The approaches being taken reflect what I said earlier. RAAC is not a fundamentally defective material and, if it is in good condition, it can be managed and remain in situ for many years. The Scottish Government will not be imposing a deadline for the removal of RAAC from public buildings. Rather, it is for those with RAAC to manage their estates as they consider necessary, taking their priorities into account.

Since RAAC first came to prominence almost two years ago, the Scottish Government has repeatedly called on the UK Government to make a dedicated RAAC remediation fund available, but so far that has not been forthcoming. We have written again, ahead of the UK Government spending review, to repeat that call.

Taking learning from the issue of RAAC into account, we are establishing a cross-sector building safety forum with external stakeholders to work to identify potential future safety issues. The forum, which is made up of representatives from across the public sector, met for the first time last week and will report to the ministerial working group on building and fire safety.

I thank all those who have been involved in identifying, managing and addressing concerns caused by RAAC. Although there are, undoubtedly, still issues to address, we have a far greater understanding of RAAC across the public sector in Scotland. Where RAAC has been found, building managers will have taken appropriate steps to ensure the safety of buildings and users.

Finally, anyone who has a building with RAAC should seek professional advice and follow the appropriate guidance.