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Displaying 2095 contributions
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
Many thanks for those answers.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
I am the MSP for the constituency of Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
It is good to get that on the record, as people have probably never heard of RAAC, and probably neither had we, until recently. However, we have all heard of and seen breeze block being used in construction, so it is good to know that it is a different material and that there are no concerns about it.
Another question arises from an issue that Ailsa Macfarlane touched on earlier. Why is there no requirement to record what a building is made of? Now that we suddenly find ourselves having to run around, inspecting and surveying, to figure out what is in buildings, the question must be: why was it never made a requirement in the industry—or wherever—to record what something was made of?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
That has perfectly answered my next question, Chris, which was on the international experience. Do other jurisdictions and countries record what their buildings are made of, or does no one do that?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
Okay. Many thanks for that, everyone.
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
That is a helpful response.
When people are buying a house or a home, if they are interested in understanding and knowing what their house is made of, who would they ask? Would it be the builder or the selling agent? Who would have the information?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
Thanks for that, Ivan.
Looking ahead, if the process around RAAC builds up to a degree that requires remediation across the public sector landscape, does the Government see itself as having a role in co-ordinating the procurement of structural engineering and construction services so that we do not see bidding wars? We heard from the earlier panel, particularly from Peter Drummond, about skills shortage issues. Do we see a role in assisting local authorities to deal with that in a methodical and consistent manner?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
Cabinet secretary, you mentioned in your remarks that the UK Government has changed its approach to schools. It announced whatever the change was on 31 August. Will you outline what that change was? What are the implications for Scotland?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
My last query is on funding. Has there been any indication from the UK Government about potential funding to address the issue as it develops?
Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee
Meeting date: 3 October 2023
Willie Coffey
You mentioned the various mitigations that are under way. Could you explain whether that is replacing the RAAC or reinforcing it with other materials? If it is being replaced, what are we replacing it with?