About the Inquiry
The Committee agreed to undertake a short inquiry in June 2017 into school infrastructure and the safety of school buildings. This work is in context of the closure of school buildings in Edinburgh in early 2016, the publication of Professor Cole's independent report into these closures, and the response of local authorities across Scotland.
The Committee has focused on the inspection and remedial work of the school estate since early 2016 and the quality assurance practices for new school buildings.
The Committee wrote to a number of stakeholders, including all 32 local authorities in Scotland, seeking views and information for this inquiry.
For more information, please contact Ned Sharratt, Assistant Clerk to the Committee, on 0131 348 5204 or [email protected].
Timetable
The Committee took oral evidence on this inquiry on:
Evidence
Stakeholder submissions
The Committee received a number of submissions from stakeholders.
Local authority submissions
Correspondence
The Scottish Building Federation raised a number of concerns about craft Modern Apprenticeships. The Committee agreed to follow up these concerns and the Convener wrote to the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and Construction Industry Training Board (CITB).
After the Committee published its report, the Convener wrote to a number of other committees in the Scottish Parliament highlighting some of the Committee's recommendations.
The Convener wrote to the Minister for Local Government and Housing regarding fire detection equipment in schools.
The Committee received a letter and report from the Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning enlosing a report on New Housing and Future Construction Skills – Adapting and Modernising for Growth
Work by other Committees
On 1 June 2017, the Committee wrote to the Finance and Constitution Committee, the Local Government and Communities Committee, and the Public Audit and Post-legislative Scrutiny Committee to highlight this inquiry. Aspects of this work may touch upon the remits of those Committees.
The Local Government and Communities Committee replied on 5 June 2017.
Report
The Committee has received the following responses to its report.