Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 May 2025
29 May 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (Public Sector)
First, given the situation in which we find ourselves—and, more importantly, that in which homeowners find themselves—it is not helpful for the member to scaremonger to that extent. As I indicated in my statement—and the member should know this if she is familiar with the issue—RAAC is not necessarily a problem if it is properly maintained; it depends on the findings of the risk assessments that are undertaken. Professional advice from the Institution of Structural Engineers and others points to that important fact.
On the funding aspects, the Government has given local authorities a record settlement in this year’s budget. We continue to engage with affected local authorities to understand how we can best work with them to provide support as necessary. It is also worth reflecting that, although the RAAC issue affects properties across the UK, the Conservative Government formerly in power at Westminster refused to put in place a financial support scheme for affected homeowners.
I urge the member to tone down her language and focus on the facts when addressing the issue.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a statement by Ivan McKee on responding to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the public sector across Scotland. The mini...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
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 ae...
The Presiding Officer (Alison Johnstone)
NPA
The minister will now take questions on the issues raised in his statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes for those questions, after which we will move...
Meghan Gallacher (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank the minister for advance sight of his statement. Despite knowing for years that RAAC presents a serious safety risk, the Scottish National Party has...
Ivan McKee
SNP
First, given the situation in which we find ourselves—and, more importantly, that in which homeowners find themselves—it is not helpful for the member to sca...
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Across Scotland, lives have been turned upside down by problems with RAAC in homes. It is not scaremongering to say that some people are stuck in unsaleable ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
We recognise the impact of the current situation on homeowners, which is why we continue to engage with local authorities. As I indicated earlier, the Minis...
Stuart McMillan (Greenock and Inverclyde) (SNP)
SNP
The previous UK Government committed to “spend what it takes” to deal with remediating RAAC. However, the Conservatives did not deliver a remediation fund, a...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Yes. It is a case of a promise not being honoured by the previous UK Government or, indeed, the current one. That is why Scottish ministers have written to a...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
In September last year, the Scottish Government published a report on RAAC in the public sector, which said that, in the NHS estate, it was likely that the n...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I identified in my statement that a number of public sector buildings are involved. I did not list them all, but, if Graham Simpson is interested in the deta...
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
Can the minister update the Parliament on engagement between the Scottish Government and local authorities regarding steps that are being taken to remove RAA...
Ivan McKee
SNP
We will continue to engage with local authorities, including Aberdeen City Council, in that regard. I indicated in my statement that the work and approach th...
Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
It is disappointing that the Scottish Government does not recognise its own role and responsibility in this regard, as housing is a devolved policy area. I ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The review of the home report system will be evidence led, so, if there is evidence that suggests that it would be beneficial to include RAAC, it will be con...
Audrey Nicoll (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
I am grateful to the Minister for Housing for his engagement with me on the RAAC situation that is impacting about 500 council and privately owned houses in ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
When local authorities come to us with solutions that require flexibility in existing funding settlements, we are more than willing to consider them. I know ...
Maggie Chapman (North East Scotland) (Green)
Green
More than 1,400 homes in the north-east—many of which are council owned—are affected by RAAC. However, councils still do not have accurate numbers of all aff...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Councils have a responsibility to assess such properties, and we are working with them to ensure that that happens as rapidly as possible. Clearly, there are...
Alex Cole-Hamilton (Edinburgh Western) (LD)
LD
Members will recall that I was the first in the chamber to raise the problem with RAAC, some two years ago at First Minister’s question time. Almost every mo...
Ivan McKee
SNP
On the issue of funding, as I have indicated in answer to previous questions and in my statement, we will continue to engage with local authorities to explor...
Jackie Dunbar (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
Will the minister provide an update on the work of the RAAC cross-sector working group and say how it can support the sharing of learning and best practice i...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The cross-sector working group on RAAC was established just prior to the UK Government’s decision to close schools because of the condition of RAAC. The grou...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
Despite the minister’s amnesia, £95 million in Barnett consequentials for RAAC remediation was given to the Government, but it was absorbed into the Scottish...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I stand to be corrected, but, as far as I and my colleagues on the front bench are aware, no specific RAAC fund has come to the Scottish Government from the ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
Let us hear the minister.
Ivan McKee
SNP
That is, if that had been the case, the UK Government would not have been slow to come back and point that out to us. The member is perhaps a bit confused in...
George Adam (Paisley) (SNP)
SNP
On that point, much has been said today about the UK national remediation fund. The minister will be aware that the UK RAAC campaign group has been calling f...
Ivan McKee
SNP
As I have indicated, we are very supportive of calls for a UK-wide remediation fund. We are aware of the calls that have been made by the UK RAAC campaign gr...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
In his statement today, the minister has called for insurers and mortgage lenders “to treat home owners fairly”. Will he also instruct the SNP administration...