Scottish Parliament Petition Committee's Review of Wilson and Hannah Chowdhry’s RAAC Petition: Key Outcomes and Next Steps

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On 13th November, the Scottish Parliament Petitions Committee reviewed the UK RAAC Campaign Group petition, authored by Wilson Chowdhry and his daughter, Hannah Chowdhry. Here, we outline the key outcomes and next steps.

The outcome of the Scottish Government committee's consideration of the RAAC petition is largely supportive, with several actions agreed upon to address the concerns raised. Here’s a summary of the key points discussed and the steps the committee decided to take:

Scottish Government’s Response:

1. • SPICe (Scottish Parliament Information Centre - provides impartial research and analysis)  indicated that while funding specifically for RAAC-related repairs isn’t currently offered, the Scottish Government did previously have a scheme to support homeowners with structural defects and is open to discussions with the UK Government regarding RAAC funding.
   • The government stated that the presence of RAAC (Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete) in buildings doesn’t automatically mean they’re unsafe. Homeowners are advised to follow a risk-based assessment approach recommended by the Institution of Structural Engineers, as some buildings may not present immediate issues.
   • Local authorities are expected to have an “Assistance Scheme” strategy, which provides advice for homeowners needing home repairs, although it currently focuses on guidance rather than financial support.
   • There’s also mention of reviewing the Scottish home report to ensure buyers can make informed choices, possibly by including structural details and materials used, to understand future performance.

2. Next Steps and Actions:

   • Keeping the Petition Open: MSP David Torrance suggested keeping the petition open to gather more information and pursue further actions.
   • Consulting Relevant Bodies: The committee will write to professional organizations, including Built Environment Scotland, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Chartered Institution of Building, and the Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland, to review and respond to the concerns raised in the petition.
   • Engagement with the Minister of Housing: The committee will highlight that the current assistance schemes by local authorities mainly provide advice rather than tangible financial support, which is a concern for affected homeowners.
   • Exploring UK Government Funding: The committee will to seek an update on discussions with the UK Government on funding for RAAC remediation and management, including whether the Scottish Government will use funding resulting from the recent UK Budget to address this issue
   • Reviewing Home Report Standards: The committee will ask the Minister for Housing about plans to update the home report, ensuring it includes essential structural information to help future buyers make informed decisions.
   • Gathering Evidence: MSP Jackson Carlaw emphasized the importance of formally gathering evidence from stakeholders, including possibly hearing directly from the Housing Minister, to thoroughly explore the issues raised in the petition.

3. Conclusion:

• The petition will remain open as the committee proceeds with evidence gathering and requests further responses from the Minister for Housing and the UK Government. This ongoing engagement aims to address the concerns of homeowners impacted by RAAC and to explore meaningful solutions. There is potential for a future meeting where the committee will take formal evidence from the minister, reflecting the issue's significance.

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Some of the direct transcript of video:

SPICE: While the Scottish Government is not currently providing funding to local authorities or homeowners it has previously operated a scheme to support to homeowners who have recently bought a home with Inherent structural defects 

SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT: In response to the petition the Scottish Government set out the presence of RAAC does not necessarily mean that the building is unsafe.  Recommend that homeowners follow the Institution of Structural Engineers risk-based approach.  As for some properties there may be no issue to address.

The Scottish Government is committed to working with UK Government on this issue and also references the requirement for local authorities to have a Scheme for Assistance strategy that sets out support available to private homeowners to make repair to their homes.

Mention is also made to review the home report which is expected to consider how to ensure buyers can make an informed decision in relation to undertaking more detailed surveys. Including structural reports that establish how the property was built, what materials were used and how these will perform in the future.

Jackson Carlaw: How might we proceed with an important petition and one that many of us have seen some documentary coverage of the issues arising from.

David Torrance: Keep the petition open and writing to Built Environment Forum Scotland, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, Chartered Institution of Building, Royal Incorporation of Architects of Scotland  seeking review of the actions called of in this petition.  I wonder if the committee would also consider writing to the Minister of Housing highlight the petition submission including the concern that local authority schemes for assistance only offers advice and guidance rather than finding when repairs are required.  

Jackson Carlaw: Also seek an update and discussions with the UK Government on the funding for RAAC remediation and the management whether the Scottish Government can find any scope in relation to that.  And ask the Minister for further information on plans to review the Scottish Home report.  I also feel the issues raised in this petition merit some formal taking of evidence at some point, so I would think that the information we are seeking at this stage would help inform the committee.  But this is obviously of huge material concern to those individuals who have affected by RAAC and depending on whether or not we think the answers we receive allow the aims of the petition to advance in a meaningful way, or to be addressed by some other means.  I think we should flag up that it is very much an issue in which we might want to take up evidence with the minister at a future meeting

We will keep the petition open, we will take forward the evidence gathering that we have suggested this morning and we will also write to the Minister for Housing to seek responses to the points made by the petitioner to date together with information form the UK Government.  We will do that with a view to potentially hearing from the minister where we can explore these issue in more detail and therefore have some answers and some exploration of them  for the many people that have been affected by this issue.

(incorporating potential funding through £3.4bn treasury budget)