Question reference: S5W-31787
- Asked by: Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 11 September 2020
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Current status: Answered by Kevin Stewart on 24 September 2020
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to engage with homeowners faced with costs arising from the need to replace dangerous cladding on their properties.
Answer
The Scottish Government is very conscious that homeowners affected by cladding issues following the terrible events at Grenfell tower are facing difficulties through no fault of their own.
On 30 March 2020, Scottish Ministers agreed to set up a Technical Working Group to develop a Scottish Advice Note to determine the fire risk posed by external wall systems in existing multi-storey residential buildings. The Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety met on 11 June and it was agreed that a targeted consultation with key stakeholders including residents and tenants will be taken forward.
On the related issues of mortgages and cladding, as I indicated to the Local Government and Communities Committee on 4 September, I have asked that representatives of home owners provide evidence to the next scheduled meeting of the Ministerial Working Group on Mortgages and Cladding at the end of this month, so the group can consider the market and mortgage issues owners have faced as a result of these issues.
Housing officials have also met with a number of homeowners, and I have a personal meeting scheduled with the High Rise Scotland Action Group on 30 September. As I made clear at Committee, I am sympathetic to calls for potential funding support and will work with members of the Working Group to determine a clear picture of those people who are most affected by this issue.