Chamber and committees

I thank Liam Kerr for bringing the debate to the chamber. It is an issue that impacts on our constituents and, although we are on different parts of the political spectrum, I think that we are united in our belief that a meaningful and fair solution can, and must, be found, following what has been a traumatising and life-changing experience that is not yet over.

As we have heard, RAAC has been used in buildings in the UK for many decades. However, the risks that are associated with RAAC have become more commonly known only following failures of the material, which have prompted investigations in both housing and public buildings.

In my constituency of Aberdeen South and North Kincardine, more than 500 dwellings that were built using that material in the construction of the monopitch roofs sit within the Balnagask area of Torry. Twenty months ago, Aberdeen City Council assessed around 360 of the 500 homes or council houses as being at high risk from RAAC. The remainder—around 138 privately owned properties—had previously been sold by Aberdeen City Council under right-to-buy legislation, with many being resold since, and they, too, are assessed as high risk.

Torry is a Scottish index of multiple deprivation priority area, part of which sits in the bottom 10 per cent of deprived areas in Scotland. Generations of families have grown up, and live, in Torry, with practical support flowing across generations in both directions. People know each other well and there is a strong sense of belonging and connection. Crucially, the community does not have particularly high expectations or demands in life—people just want to have a good life.

Following the discovery of RAAC, Aberdeen City Council confirmed its intention to demolish the estate on safety grounds, and tenants have since been rehoused across the city. Home owners now face a choice of compulsory purchase or agreeing a sale at a reduced price that reflects the impact of RAAC on valuations. That has significant financial implications for home owners, many of whom stand to lose many tens of thousands of pounds through no fault of their own.

Over the past year or so, I have engaged with well over 100 constituents, who are bewildered and frightened and feel powerless. I commend council officers and many other professionals who have worked tirelessly to support home owners, including Dr Adrian Crofton and his team at the Torry medical practice, and Eleanor Sheppard, executive director of families and communities in Aberdeen City Council, whom I thank for her engagement and solution-focused approach.

Although the issue that we are discussing is nothing short of a major incident, cost has become a central and challenging theme. On that, I have engaged with all tiers of government and numerous stakeholders to look under the bonnet of the issue to see how we can address the plight of home owners in such a way that they do not lose out. That is simply the right thing to do. It has been a frustrating process, and I deeply regret that we are not there yet.

I also commend the former Minister for Housing, Paul McLennan, for his engagement with me and community members on the situation that faces private owners. I am also grateful for his feedback on his latest engagement with Aberdeen City Council, in which he set out a range of actions that reflect the Government’s commitment to supporting Aberdeen City Council to resolve the situation.

To conclude, I welcome the Cabinet Secretary for Housing to her new role, which reflects the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling that priority area, and I would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue with her in early course.

I strongly urge strong leadership—strong local leadership—to effect a timely and collaborative response that is centred on people, not cost, and fairness for everybody who has been impacted.

To ask the Scottish Government how its marine fund Scotland 2025-26 will support businesses and organisations in coastal communities. (S6O-04800)

The landscape of general practice in Scotland has changed significantly in recent years, with rising numbers of people living longer and with more than one condition. What reform opportunities are being considered to enable general practitioners to offer a greater specialist response, meeting the needs of population groups across areas such as cardiac and frailty?

The next group is entitled “Virtual attendance: criteria for when virtual attendance applies”. Amendment 33, in the name of Pauline McNeill, is grouped with amendments 35 to 40.

Our next agenda item is an oral evidence-taking session on the draft Home Detention Curfew (Amendment of Specified Time Periods) (Scotland) Order 2025, which is an affirmative instrument. I welcome to the meeting the Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs, who is joined by Scottish Government officials Ruth Swanson, solicitor, and Kevin Fulton, community justice division. I refer members to paper 2. I intend to allow up to 20 minutes for this evidence session.

I invite the cabinet secretary to make some opening remarks on the SSI.

The next group is on the use of digital productions. Amendment 44, in the name of Liam Kerr, is grouped with amendments 1 to 4, 45, 5, 6 and 46 to 49.

I remind members that, if amendment 8 is agreed to, amendment 52 will be pre-empted.

Amendments 8 and 9 moved—[Angela Constance]—and agreed to.

Amendment 53 not moved.

Amendments 10 and 11 moved—[Angela Constance]—and agreed to.

Section 7, as amended, agreed to.

Section 8 agreed to.

After section 8

The next group is on review of jurisdiction for connected proceedings. Amendment 54, in the name of Maggie Chapman, is the only amendment in the group.

The next item of business is consideration of a motion to approve the draft affirmative SSI on which we have just taken oral evidence.

Motion moved,

That the Criminal Justice Committee recommends that the Home Detention Curfew (Amendment of Specified Time Periods) (Scotland) Order 2025 [draft] be approved.—[Angela Constance]

The question is, that motion S6M-17635 be approved. Are we agreed?

Members: No.