Hansard

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...