Order, order!

Our first item of business today is a Ministerial Statement on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government.

Statement from the Tòiseach on RAAC in Scottish public sector buildings

Leas-oifigear riaghlaidh,

I come to this chamber with unfortunate news, though I am sure that each and every member knows about it from the news and their constituents.

RAAC, or reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, was used in construction, chiefly in the public sector, between the 1950s and 1990s. RAAC has a lifespan of 30 years; therefore, nearly all RAAC is now beyond its lifespan by a considerable amount. In 1999, crossbench peer Jack Lewis, chairing the Standing Committee on Structural Safety, claimed that “complacency [regarding RAAC] can preclude recognition of increasing risks”. In July 2018, after RAAC having a low profile, a RAAC roof collapsed in Kent. Thankfully Leas-oifigear riaghlaidh, nobody was hurt, but it was a warning sign for the future.

On Thursday, the Health and Safety Executive announced that RAAC is now past its lifespan, and may collapse with little to no notice. Ever since this notice was released, my government has been investigating what to do regarding RAAC.

Like the prif weinidog Cymru, I was hoping my first statement to Pàrlamaid would be a more positive one, but part of the job brief of the Tòiseach-ship is being able to react to adverse events like this one.

Currently, to the best of our knowledge, 37 schools are affected by RAAC.

Therefore, I believe it is important that Pàrlamaid is aware of our course of action regarding RAAC.

I will now read our guidance for public authorities regarding RAAC:

• Should public authorities, local authorities or the Government find RAAC, they are immediately to produce a RAAC Action Plan; this Plan may encompass multiple locations

• Should RAAC be determined to be an immediate danger, the relevant building/rooms are to shut, and alternate buildings must be used

• Should RAAC affect an entire building, such as a school or hospital, and no alternate locations are available, the building must shut as soon as possible unless the relevant authorities believe it would be dangerous to shut said buildings immediately, in which case they are to shut the buildings if/when it may be safe to do so

• Whilst we do not believe any schools should shut immediately, if it becomes apparent that they should, the relevant local authorities / independent school shall shut them, and provide other educational provisions, preferably at another school, but should this option not be available, via online learning.

In terms of funding, I have chosen not to commit to an exact number, not because I do not want to commit to fighting this crisis, but because that information would be outdated by the time this debate is over. I can however commit that funding will be proportional to levels given out of the recent UK National Budget for England, and the Welsh Budget, using a formula similar to the Barnett one.

Thank you Leas-oifigear riaghlaidh, and I will expand in debate if members want more detail on specific aspects.

This statement was given and written by the Tòiseach, model-avtron, on behalf of the 21st Scottish Government

Debate under this statement shall end at 10pm BST on Monday, the 11th of September