Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 January 2026 [Draft]
08 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1
Nobody could possibly doubt the far-reaching implications of the most appalling human tragedy at Grenfell tower in 2017, nor the importance of ensuring that nothing like that can ever happen again. In that spirit, I say to the minister that, irrespective of the bill, the Scottish Government has an obligation to answer the question that Mr Hoy and Mr Kerr posed to him about exactly how much of the £97.1 million has been spent, because we are not getting the true facts about that.
It is absolutely right that measures be put in place to improve building standards, especially so that the people who are engaged in the new-build sector fully recognise and adhere to their responsibilities. It is also right that there be a legislative process to secure that for the future. However, the question that we, as parliamentarians, face in this stage 1 debate is whether the bill is the right procedure. For Conservative members and, I suspect, several other colleagues across the parties, there are serious doubts, not because improving building standards is not the right thing to do but because the evidence that was taken at stage 1 points to several important failings in the bill.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20285, in the name of Ivan McKee, on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill at stage 1. I invite member...
The Minister for Public Finance (Ivan McKee)
SNP
The tragic events at Grenfell tower in 2017 shocked us all and highlighted the need to address the issue of unsafe cladding across all four nations of the Un...
Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I understand the financial pressures that the Scottish Government is facing, but it has already received nearly £100 million specifically for cladding remedi...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I have been clear in the numbers that I have just indicated that between £1.7 billion and £3.1 billion will be required for cladding remediation. That money ...
Stephen Kerr (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
I think that the minister may have misunderstood Craig Hoy’s question. He was asking about the £97.1 million that the Government received from the Treasury f...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The member is aware that that money will all be spent on cladding remediation. Of course, we first need to identify the buildings and go through the proper p...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (Ind)
Ind
I thank the minister for being generous with his time. How would he respond to those who say that not all developers are guilty in the use of cladding and th...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I have already indicated that the amount that we are asking developers to pay is a small percentage of the total bill for cladding—I will come on to talk abo...
Michelle Thomson (Falkirk East) (SNP)
SNP
Will the minister take an intervention?
Ivan McKee
SNP
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back, minister.
Michelle Thomson
SNP
I appreciate that, and I will be very quick. In relation to the minister’s comment that no further proposals were forthcoming, does the minister accept that ...
Ivan McKee
SNP
The Government will, of course, listen to people who come forward with proposals, and it is no secret that that work has been under way for a period of time....
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I call Kenneth Gibson to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, for around eight minutes. 15:09
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to speak on behalf of the Finance and Public Administration Committee, which was the lead committee for stage 1 scrutiny of the Building Safety ...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Nobody could possibly doubt the far-reaching implications of the most appalling human tragedy at Grenfell tower in 2017, nor the importance of ensuring that ...
John Mason
Ind
I agree with Liz Smith in that I am not wildly enthusiastic about the package, but does she accept that Westminster has put us in a corner and we do not have...
Liz Smith
Con
No, I do not entirely accept that. The bill is a specific, Scotland-centred bill and we, as Scottish parliamentarians, have to take a decision on its merits....
Mark Griffin (Central Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
It is no small thing for a committee to fail to support a bill at stage 1. It happens very rarely in this place, but in this case it is entirely justified. T...
Ivan McKee
SNP
I would like some clarification from Mark Griffin. Is it the Labour Party’s position that it does not support taking forward a levy in Scotland in the same w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mark Griffin, I will give you the time back.
Mark Griffin
Lab
I challenge the assertion that the Scottish Government is taking forward a levy in the same way as the UK Government is. It is not the same policy. I was goi...
Ivan McKee
SNP
Mark Griffin says that there is no understanding of the impact on the market; I would argue that there is. Will he explain what analysis of the impact on the...
Mark Griffin
Lab
That is a different housing market, and it is an area where the Government has not declared a housing emergency. Ivan McKee’s Government has declared a housi...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the stage 1 debate on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill. I am aware of the issues, having been involved in ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I call Willie Rennie to open on behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats. You have a generous six minutes, Mr Rennie. 15:35
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The Government has put us in a hellish position today. Who on earth would want to vote against a building safety levy to deal with the many homes that are af...
John Mason
Ind
Will the member give way?
Willie Rennie
LD
Not just now. The minister knows the answer to that. He knows that a pitifully small amount of money has been spent on dealing with the issue. He knows that...
Michelle Thomson
SNP
I have a lot of sympathy with what the member has said so far. However, I point out to him that the residential property developer tax is already in place in...