Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 18 December 2025 [Draft]
18 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Portfolio Question Time
House Building (Impact of Regulations on Construction Costs)
Social Justice and Housing
As I have said a number of times, we have recently set out plans for us to continue our track record on the delivery of affordable homes with a major delivery programme over the coming four years. Of course we are mindful of all the things that have a bearing on the deliverability of that.
However, I am not clear which aspects of, for example, fire safety regulation, accessibility regulation or, indeed, regulation that will ensure that we have warmer, energy-efficient homes Douglas Lumsden thinks are not required. For my part, I believe that they all ought to be taken forward, but I will always be mindful of the impact that that can have on costs.
In the same item of business
8. Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact that increased regulations have had on the construction costs of house building. (S6...
The Cabinet Secretary for Housing (Màiri McAllan)
SNP
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that regulatory changes are introduced following full consideration of their wider implications, including i...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Research by Homes for Scotland found that regulations introduced since 2021 have increased the cost of house building by more than £20,000 per home, and thos...
Màiri McAllan
SNP
As I have said a number of times, we have recently set out plans for us to continue our track record on the delivery of affordable homes with a major deliver...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I will call Emma Harper for a brief supplementary question, but I encourage members at the back of the chamber to cease their conversations.
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
As the cabinet secretary has touched on, the largest contributor to rising construction costs is the Tories’ botched Brexit.
Douglas Lumsden
Con
What nonsense.
Emma Harper
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary expand on the impact that Brexit, which is now backed by Labour, is continuing to have on the construction industry?
Màiri McAllan
SNP
Douglas Lumsden shouted “nonsense” as Emma Harper asked her question, but the people who do business in Scotland do not think that what she said was nonsense...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
That concludes portfolio questions. There will be a brief pause before we move to the next item of business, to allow members on front benches to change.