Chamber and committees

SFRS Investigation Report and the Glasgow School of Art

Letter from Convener to the Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, 7 February 2022

I am writing to you following recent publication of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service’s Fire (SFRS) Investigation Report into the second fire at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) Mackintosh building. 

Our predecessor Committee – the Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Relations (CTEER) Committee – undertook an inquiry to ascertain what lessons could be learned from the second fire. The Committee’s report, The Glasgow School of Art Mackintosh Building: The loss of a national treasure, was published in March 2019, and stated: 

“The Committee considers from the evidence gathered that the Mackintosh fires raise a host of associated issues which go beyond the cause of the fire itself and as such require further examination.” 

Furthermore, in its Legacy Report, published at the end of session 5, the CTEER Committee concluded: 

“The Committee highlights the recommendation, to a successor Committee, that after the conclusion of the SFRS investigation, the Scottish Government should establish a public inquiry with judicial powers into the 2014 and 2018 fires at the Glasgow School of Art. The inquiry should also examine the risks posed by fire in historic buildings nationally and the ability of custodians to manage these properties, drawing on the lessons learned from the GSA. In response to the Committee’s report, the Scottish Government committed to explore what options there may be to carry out a fire mitigation review of A listed buildings in public and major institutional ownership. The Committee understands this work is ongoing and is being carried out in conjunction with Historic Environment Scotland. Our successor may consider it appropriate to write requesting an update regarding this work.” 

Having now considered the matter, my own Committee has agreed, in the first instance, to write to the Scottish Government requesting an update in light of the SFRS report. 

We would welcome your response at the earliest opportunity.

Yours sincerely

Clare Adamson MSP, Convener of the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee 

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