Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:30 pm on 20 June 2024.
Richard Leonard
Labour
2:30,
20 June 2024
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes provided by social landlords have been identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. (S6O-03609)
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Housing Regulator has been engaging with social landlords to understand the context of RAAC in their properties. The latest figures from the regulator show that 13 social landlords have identified the presence of RAAC, and 1,994 homes are affected.
Richard Leonard
Labour
Last week, we marked the seventh anniversary of the Grenfell tower tragedy. It has taken the Scottish Government seven years to bring forward and get passed the Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Act 2024. In seven years, only two multistorey dwellings in Scotland—out of more than 100—have had any remedial action taken to remove inflammable cladding. People have been evacuated from their homes, from Tillicoultry to Torry, because of the dangers of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete. How long will they have to wait? What is the Government’s timescale for ensuring that all those living with RAAC in their homes, across Scotland, are safe?
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
There are a number of issues in that. The cladding issue is similar in some ways to RAAC, but it is different in many other ways. RAAC can be present in buildings without posing an immediate risk. I have engaged with a number of local authorities—for example, West Lothian Council and Aberdeen City Council—over the specific options that they are looking at. We await option appraisals from a number of local authorities. I meet them regularly on the subject.
As I have said, there are specific guidelines to recommend whether a property is safe. I will continue to engage with local authorities in that regard, and with the regulator. I am happy to discuss that further with Mr Leonard.
Gordon MacDonald
Scottish National Party
Given that the Scottish budget is already stretched to the limit by Westminster capital spending cuts, will the Minister call on the incoming United Kingdom Government to prioritise a dedicated RAAC fund as a matter of urgency, with appropriate consequentials for Scotland?
Paul McLennan
Scottish National Party
As members will be aware, the Chancellor of the exchequer had committed to
“spend what it takes”
to deal with the issue of RAAC. However, no funding has been forthcoming, and neither the Labour Party nor the Conservatives have committed to any financial support in their election manifestos. In addition, the UK Government failed to inflation-proof its capital budget, which has resulted in nearly a 9 per cent real-terms cut in our UK capital funding between 2023-24 and 2027-28. I hope that members across the chamber will join me in calling on an incoming UK Government to deliver a dedicated fund. [ Interruption .] I can hear Mr Leonard talking about that. If he can speak to, and use any influence that he has, with an incoming UK Chancellor or UK housing Minister, I will be happy to discuss that with him.
Annabelle Ewing
Scottish National Party
Members, this is not a free-for-all across the chamber. Speak through the chair, please. Thank you.
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