RAAC Petition Update: Progress at Holyrood Amid Urgency and Injustice
Published: 25th September 2025
By: Wilson Chowdhry
Yesterday, 24th September 2025, members of the UK RAAC Campaign Group stood outside the Scottish Parliament in peaceful protest ahead of the second hearing of our petition (Petition No. 2113), which calls for action to support communities affected by Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC).
Inside Holyrood, the Petitions Committee met once again to discuss our concerns — and while time is running out in the current parliamentary session, the fight is far from over.
Facing the Clock, But Not Backing Down
The Committee began with a sobering message: with around 120 open petitions and the end of the session approaching, time is tight. Some petitions may not see full resolution and could need to be resubmitted in the next session. However, our petition was not dismissed or delayed — it was heard, discussed, and most importantly, kept open.
This is a small but vital victory.
What We’re Asking For
Petition 2113, lodged by Wilson and has daughter Hannah Chowdhry, makes three clear demands:
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A national fund to support homeowners and tenants whose properties are impacted by RAAC.
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A public inquiry into how councils and housing associations have managed the crisis.
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New legislation to ensure accountability for substandard building materials, require full disclosure of building risk, and establish a national register of high-risk buildings in Scotland.
What the Committee Heard
The Committee had previously gathered views from professional bodies including the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the Built Environment Forum Scotland (BEFS), and others.
While RICS acknowledged that a national fund might be useful, they questioned its necessity, citing data suggesting RAAC isn’t prevalent — a claim which starkly contrasts with the lived experience of so many affected homeowners.
Meanwhile, the Scottish Government highlighted the existence of local assistance schemes but admitted to wider public finance challenges.
Notably, most of the consulted organisations were not supportive of a public inquiry, arguing it would divert resources away from urgent remediation — an argument many of us in the gallery found disappointing, if not dismissive.
Frustration at Government Inaction
Committee member Fergus Ewing MSP spoke with real urgency and empathy. He expressed frustration at the "blame game" between the Scottish and UK Governments, highlighting that Scottish homeowners are facing bankruptcy through no fault of their own while English counterparts in similar situations have received financial help.
Mr. Ewing urged both governments to stop passing the buck and instead collaborate meaningfully. His suggestion: that the new Scottish Cabinet Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland meet directly to find a solution.
The Convener wryly interpreted this as the Committee acting as “marriage guidance counsellors” — but they agreed to take up this diplomatic task nonetheless.
Recognising the Reality
Another member, Morris Golden MSP, also backed Mr. Ewing’s calls, adding that the Scottish Government should provide an update on how local authorities are working with affected residents — especially in light of wide inconsistencies in approach. He pushed for monitoring and sharing best practices, echoing concerns we’ve raised repeatedly as a campaign group.
The Outcome: Petition 2113 Stays Open
Despite significant time pressures, the Committee made a clear decision:
✅ The petition will remain open.
✅ Letters will be sent to both Scottish and UK Government ministers urging urgent collaboration.
✅ A formal update will be requested from the Scottish Government on how they are monitoring and supporting local authorities’ responses.
The UK RAAC Campaign Group team were joined by Alastair Macrae, who travelled to the petition hearing to discuss with Wilson Chowdhry a potential solution his company has been developing to address the RAAC crisis.
What Comes Next
We are deeply grateful to the MSPs who took our petition seriously and recognised the unacceptable situation facing RAAC-affected homeowners. But we are under no illusions: the road ahead remains steep, and many homes, families, and futures still hang in the balance.
As the current parliamentary session draws to a close, we may need to resubmit our petition in the next session — but our resolve remains unshaken. Our campaign will continue, our voices will grow louder, and we will not rest until justice is done.
We are now in discussions with Alistair Macrae of Structured Carbon and Lee Sapphire of Structural Repairs Ltd, whose products present cost-effective solutions to the RAAC crisis.
In addition, we are writing to the new UK Housing Minister to request the support that his predecessor refused to provide.
"This further step by the Petitions Committee is encouraging — but let’s be clear: time is rapidly running out for affected homeowners. Councils are already threatening legal action against those who cannot accept their pittance offers, and without urgent intervention, many struggling families will be pushed into bankruptcy and homelessness.
"We urgently need the new Cabinet Secretaries for Housing in both the UK and Scottish Governments to show real leadership. Their predecessors deferred, deflected, or did nothing. That cannot continue. We call on the new Secretary of State for Scotland to step up and help broker a workable, fair solution — before more lives are shattered.”
— Hannah Chowdhry, Co-Petitioner and Co Vice Chair, RAAC Campaign Group
"This housing crisis is not the fault of homeowners — and that fact has been recognised by politicians in both the UK and Scottish Governments. Yet it’s ordinary people who are now paying the price.
No one should be facing financial ruin because of local government building policies that led to the development of RAAC homes on the cheap, often using UK Government Right-to-Buy funds. That’s simply not fair — and it’s time those in power take responsibility for fixing it.”**
— Kerry Mackintosh, Co Vice-Chair, RAAC Campaign Group
Join the Fight
If you or someone you know is affected by RAAC, or if you want to support our campaign, follow us on social media and get in touch. Together, we can make sure no one is left to face this crisis alone.
📧 Email: wilson@aasecurity.co.uk
📢 Twitter/X: https://x.com/WilsonChowdhry
#RAACScandal #Petition2113 #ScottishParliament #SupportRAACVictims #EndTheSilence
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