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For months, homeowners affected by the RAAC crisis in Scotland have been told that the Scottish Government is “considering matters,” “preparing responses,” or “working through processes.” Yet when residents ask for something as basic as official meeting minutes, written commitments, or updates on emergency funding requests, they are met not with action, but delay after delay.
The latest correspondence from Scottish Government officials perfectly illustrates a growing pattern: assurances are given, deadlines are missed, and excuses are substituted for accountability.
A Meeting Without Transparency
On 19 February 2026, members of the UK RAAC Campaign Group met Scottish Government officials at Atlantic Quay in Glasgow to discuss the ongoing RAAC crisis affecting homeowners across Scotland.
The meeting covered major issues including:
- Clackmannanshire Council’s urgent funding request;
- The absence of a national remediation fund;
- Mortgage and insurance barriers;
- Potential governance failings surrounding historic RAAC oversight;
- Calls for a Public Inquiry;
- Legal protections for displaced homeowners.
Following the meeting, a formal open letter was submitted requesting:
- Official meeting minutes;
- A written summary of agreed actions;
- Clarification of promised follow-up responses.
That letter made clear the urgency facing affected residents:
“The issues raised concern homeowners facing catastrophic structural failure, financial displacement, and prolonged uncertainty. It is therefore essential that a clear and accurate public record exists.”
Yet more than three months later, no substantive response has been delivered.
Promise After Promise
On 11 March 2026, Scottish Government official Louise Thompson acknowledged the delay and assured campaigners a response was imminent:
"Dear Mr Chowdhry
I wanted to send a quick note to say we are preparing a response to your letter and will also share the note of the meeting at the same time. This has taken a little longer than expected due to staff illness but I will try and get a full response to you next week.
Best wishes,
Louise"
That “next week” response never arrived.
After waiting almost two more months, a follow-up email was sent on 1 May 2026 asking why the promised response from November 2025 had still not materialised.
Only then did another explanation emerge — this time blaming election restrictions:
"Hello,
I hope this email finds you well, and thank you for your patience as I was unable to respond last week.
There are limitations on the civil service during the pre-election period which began on 26 March 2026. Now that the Scottish Parliament election has taken place, new Ministers will be appointed. At that stage we will be able to resume correspondence. New Ministers are expected to be in post within the next few weeks although may be slightly quicker.
Best wishes,
Louise
This explanation raises serious questions.
If civil service restrictions began on 26 March, why was the promised response — due “next week” after 11 March — not issued before purdah started?
Why did officials wait until after another chasing email before citing the election period?
And most importantly: why are homeowners facing displacement, financial devastation, and structural crisis continually expected to accept indefinite delay as normal?
Moreover, homeowners’ frustration has only deepened following yet another ministerial reshuffle within the Scottish Government. Mairi McAllan is no longer responsible for housing, having now taken on the role of Education, Culture and Gaelic Secretary, while Shirley-Anne Somerville has become the new Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice and Housing. For RAAC residents, this marks the third change of Housing Minister in just two years. Many homeowners now fear that months of engagement, correspondence, and campaigning risk being reset once again, forcing residents to repeatedly brief incoming ministers while urgent decisions affecting their homes, finances, and futures remain unresolved.
In response, Wilson Chowdhry has written an open letter to the new Housing Minister requesting urgent meetings with affected homeowners in Tillicoultry and Renfrewshire, while also seeking immediate clarity regarding ongoing delays to Clackmannanshire Council’s funding application. Mr Chowdhry has additionally been attempting to obtain updates directly from Clackmannanshire Council for over two months, but says repeated emails and telephone calls have gone unanswered. This includes correspondence with the Strategic Director for Place, Kevin Wells, who informed Mr Chowdhry in March that the grant application was in its finalisation stage before subsequently ceasing communication altogether. An additional open letter has now been issued to Mr Wells seeking answers on behalf of displaced residents.
Clackmannanshire Council Left Waiting
One of the most concerning elements of the February meeting involved Clackmannanshire Council’s funding request submitted on 23 January 2026 under the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
During the meeting, officials explicitly stated that Clackmannanshire Council’s funding application would be “expedited” and acknowledged the impending Scottish Parliament election, indicating they hoped to conclude matters before pre-election restrictions began. Despite this, no meaningful update or decision was issued before purdah commenced — raising serious concerns that the election is now being used as justification for delays officials were already aware were approaching.
UKRCG's formal letter requested clarification on:
- when a decision would be made;
- whether additional information had been requested;
- whether interim support was being considered.
No answer was ever provided.
For residents in Tillicoultry and elsewhere who remain displaced from their homes, this silence is not administrative inconvenience — it directly prolongs uncertainty, hardship, and fear about their future.
Accountability Continues to Be Avoided
The February letter also raised deeply uncomfortable issues for government:
- allegations of prior knowledge of RAAC risks;
- failures in oversight;
- councils allegedly losing track of affected properties;
- calls for a Public Inquiry;
- lack of equivalent protections to those available under the Building Safety Act 2022 in England.
Campaigners requested transparency about who reviewed evidence, what thresholds were applied, and what escalation mechanisms existed.
Again, there has been no substantive response.
Instead, homeowners are being trapped in a cycle of acknowledgement without action.
A Government That Responds Only When Pressured
What is becoming increasingly apparent is that responses tend to emerge only after repeated chasing by residents, campaigners, or the media.
Even then, those responses frequently contain:
- vague assurances;
- references to internal processes;
- staff shortages;
- election restrictions;
- or promises of future updates that never materialise.
At no stage has the Scottish Government publicly demonstrated the urgency that homeowners themselves are living with every single day.
The lack of published minutes is itself telling. If the meeting was constructive and meaningful, why has it taken months to release even a summary note?
Why are campaigners still asking basic questions about actions and timelines?
Residents Deserve Better
RAAC homeowners are not asking for special treatment.
They are asking for:
- transparency;
- timely communication;
- meaningful engagement;
- and evidence that government is actively fighting for solutions rather than managing political inconvenience.
The Scottish Government repeatedly states that it understands the seriousness of the RAAC crisis. But understanding means little without action.
At present, many affected residents see only delay, avoidance, and broken promises.
The RAAC crisis is not just about concrete—it is about accountability.
And we are far from finished.
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence
