BEFS Bulletin – 338 : Politics, parliament, and new people (in the BEFS team)

Consultations

Call for Evidence: Restoration and Renewal Recall
UK Government
The Public Accounts Committee has previously reported on the failures of transparency and “wasteful, nugatory spending” in the Restoration and Renewal programme, and expressed serious concern about ongoing risks and hazards in the deteriorating UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are seeking written evidence submissions regarding the ‘real and rising risk” that the Palace of Westminster will be destroyed by a catastrophic event before it is restored.
Closes 6 October 2023

Energy Performance Certificate Reform Consultation
Scottish Government
The purpose of this consultation is to set out the Scottish Government’s final proposals for Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) reform and to seek stakeholder views ahead of the introduction of new legislation.
Closes 16 October 2023

Enhancing the accessibility, adaptability and usability of Scotland’s homes
Scottish Government
This consultation sets out proposed updates to Part 1 of the Housing for Varying Needs design guide and to building standards and guidance.
Closes 19 October 2023

Building Warrant Fees
Scottish Government
This consultation seeks to obtain the views on proposed increases to the building warrant fees required to deliver change to strengthen the building standards system and the development of a new building warrant fees model in Scotland.
Closes 24 October 2023

Mandatory training on planning for elected members
Scottish Government
The Scottish Government is intending to implement mandatory training on planning for elected members as part of a wider package of measures to improve the performance of the planning system as a whole. This consultation is seeking views on the proposed approach to implementing this training.
Closes 26 October 2023

Heat networks regulation: consumer protection
UK Government
The UK Government is seeking views on consumer protection requirements such as pricing, which will be introduced as part of the heat networks regulatory framework.
Closes 27 October 2023

Management of burial grounds, application for burial, exhumation, private burial and restoration of lairs: regulation in Scotland
The consultation paper sets out a range of proposals and approaches with the aim of clarifying and streamlining existing burial practices as well as introducing new provisions; including the management of burial grounds and restoration of lairs.
Scottish Government
Closes 17 November 2023

Proposed Desecration of War Memorials (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill
Scottish Parliament
This consultation relates to a draft proposal lodged as the first stage in the process of introducing a Member’s Bill in the Scottish Parliament, to ensure that war memorials in Scotland receive the protection that they deserve by creating the specific offence of desecration of a war memorial.
*NEW* Closes 19 December 2023

Outline Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park
HES
This survey on the Outline Strategic Plan for Holyrood Park will gather public views to help deliver a new future for the Park that reflects community aspirations, the needs of the City and the inherent value and sensitivity of Holyrood Park.
*NEW* Closes 19 December 2023

Culture Counts Response to Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee’s Budget Scrutiny 2024-25: Funding for Culture – call for views (Culture Counts 01/09/2023)

Effective Community Engagement in Local Development Planning Guidance (BEFS 13/09/2023)
BEFS response welcomes this guidance on effective community engagement in local development planning, for communities and local authorities, and supports all moves towards clarity on how planning authorities can comply with their legal duties to engage with the public when preparing their local development plans. Questions around delivery – in particular around capacity of local planning authorities’ duties regarding monitoring and reporting – remain.

Visitor Levy Bill – call for views – published responses (Scottish Parliament 15/09/2023)

Visitor Levy Bill – Call for Views (BEFS 15/09/2023)
In response to this call for views on the Visitor Levy Bill, BEFS statement reiterates previous comments given on this topic, and continues to emphasize the central role that the historic environment specifically – and the built environment more widely – play as a direct contributor to the tourism offer of Scotland. BEFS notes that the historic environment can be directly impacted by tourism; the economic, cultural, environmental, and social value of Scotland’s places, sites, and landscapes being appreciated by visitors comes at a price. As such, any legislation and ensuing revenue must be part of a wider conversation towards a successful management plan to simultaneously celebrate and protect our natural and built heritage, whilst ensuring quality of life for Scotland’s communities.

Draft energy strategy and Just Transition plan: consultation analysis (Scottish Government 28/09/2023)

New National Parks – appraisal framework: consultation analysis (Scot Gov 02/10/2023)

 

News Releases

France launches a major national initiative to protect its religious heritage, which includes over 100,000 churches (Future for Religious Heritage Europe 14/09/2023)

Economic Impact of Scotland’s Museums and Galleries – Summary Report (Museums Galleries Scotland 21/09/2023)

Supporting Improvement in the Planning System (Improvement Service 27/09/2023)
Craig McLaren, Scotland’s new National Planning Improvement Champion, sets out how he intends to work with planning authorities and others to create a high performance planning system.

RICS launches new manifesto for the built environment ahead of party conferences (RICS 28/09/2023)

European Heritage Awards Ceremony 2023 in Venice: 5 Grand Prix and Public Choice Award unveiled (Europa Nostra 28/09/2023)

 

 

Publications

Motivations and barriers associated with adopting domestic heat pumps in the UK(CaCHE April 2023)

PAS 2035:2023 Retrofitting dwellings for improved energy efficiency – Specification and guidance (The British Standards Institution September 2023)

Sustainable Traditional Building Alliance and Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Scotland Sustaining Buildings Conference Report 2022 (STBA-SPAB September 2023)

RICS – Whole life carbon assessment (WLCA) for the built environment (RICS 19/09/2023)

Towns Vitality Roadmap: A new policy framework for the UK’s towns (Social Market Foundation 19/09/2023)

Unleashing the potential of the UK’s cities (RSA 28/09/2023)

Historic Environment Scotland – Archaeology Short Guides: Identifying and Recording Scotland’s Prehistoric Rock Art (HES 28/09/2023)

Built Environment Carbon Database (BECD 01/10/2023)

 

 

Scottish & UK: Governmental & Parliamentary Publications

Constitution, External Affairs and Culture: FM letter to Cabinet Secretary (Scot Gov 05/09/2023)
First Minister sets out agreed priorities on how the 2023-2024 commitments in the Policy Prospectus will be delivered.

Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC): Parliamentary statement (Scot Gov 07/09/2023)

Local authorities publish RAAC data (Scot Gov 08/09/2023)

Just transition sector plans: letter to Just Transition Commission – September 2023 (Scot Gov 08/09/2023)

Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee Report: Culture in Communities: The challenges and opportunities in delivering a place-based approach(Scot Parl 14/09/2023)

Correspondence between Lord Callanan and the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee regarding the launch of the Great British Insulation Scheme (UK Gov 14/09/2023)

Correspondence between Shona Robison MSP and the Finance and Public Administration Committee regarding the timing of the 2024-25 Scottish Budget (Scot Gov 14/09/2023)

Registers of Scotland – September Update (Scot Parl 15/09/2023)

Financing the green economy: First Minister’s speech (Scot Gov 18/09/2023)

Bringing empty homes back into use: audit of privately owned empty homes (Scot Gov 19/09/2023)

Correspondence between the Minister for Housing and the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee on the publication of independent research on long-term empty homes (Scot Gov 19/09/2023)

HSE Correspondence to Work and Pensions Select Committee – RAAC (HSE 19/09/2023)

Approaches to achieving net zero across the UK (Audit Scotland – all UK Audit bodies 20/09/2023)

UK Shared Prosperity Fund Grant (revenue) Scotland determination update (UK Gov 20/09/2023)

Future of National Parks: strategic environmental assessment – environmental report (Scot Gov 21/09/2023)

Correspondence relating to the Draft Climate Change Plan:
Correspondence between the Local Government, Housing and Planning Committee and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (Scot Parl 20/09/2023)
Correspondence between the Economy and Fair Work Committee and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (Scot Parl 21/09/2023)
Correspondence between the Constitution, Europe, External Affairs and Culture Committee and the Net Zero, Energy and Transport Committee (Scot Parl 22/09/2023)

Correspondence between the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee and Tom Arthur MSP regarding the Visitor Levy (Scotland) Bill – Delegated Powers (Scot Parl 22/09/2023)

SPICe briefing Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 22/09/2023)

Building standards – ministerial view: compartmentation (Scot Gov 26/09/2023)

Statement by the Deputy Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism: Cadw: Engaging communities with heritage (Welsh Senedd 26/09/2023_

Non-domestic rates revaluation appeals statistics (Scot Gov 27/09/2023)

Proposed Desecration of War Memorials (Prevention) (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 27/09/2023)

Social Security and Social Justice Committee 23rd Meeting, 2023 (Session 6), Thursday, 28 September 2023 2024-25 Pre-budget scrutiny (Scot Parl 28/09/2023)

Ministerial Statement: Vision for Scotland’s future energy system (Scot Gov 28/09/2023)

Autumn Budget Revision 2023-24: Supporting document (Scot Gov 28/09/2023)

Agriculture and Rural Communities (Scotland) Bill (Scot Parl 28/09/2023)

Updated NPF4 Delivery Programme (Scot Gov 29/09/2023)

Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance writes to Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee  Visitor Levy. (Scot Gov 29/09/2023)

Community Ownership in Scotland 2022 (Scot Gov 03/10/2023)

SPICe Spotlight: How is Scotland Performing? (Scot Parl 03/10/2023)

 

 

Opinion & Comment

Appeal: Landscape impacts of wind farm outweigh renewable energy benefits (The Planner 04/09/2023)

Building ‘passports’ could prevent RAAC-style safety failings – engineers (The National 07/09/2023)

SNP could cut civil service and shut offices instead of raising taxes (The Herald 10/09/2023)

Venice awaits UNESCO heritage ruling as beds for tourists outnumber residents for first time (The Guardian 11/09/2023)

Preserving traditional construction skills is an ‘absolute must’ (Project Scotland 11/09/2023)

Scottish Government sees off challenge to short-term lets scheme (Holyrood Magazine 13/09/2023)

Short-term lets licensing scheme ‘could breach human rights laws’ (Scottish Legal News 18/09/2023)

Built environment body response to PM’s Net Zero scale backs (Politics Home 20/09/2023)

What happened to Portofino? A cautious tale of losing authenticity (Taste Atlas 20/09/2023)

Glasgow EnerPHit trial led to ‘astounding’ drop in bills (The Herald 22/09/2023)

How do we upskill our heritage professionals? (Construction Management 25/09/2023)

Humza Yousaf has ‘no intention to change’ key net zero targets (Independent 25/09/2023)

Does Aotearoa need a National Spatial Plan? (World Landscape Architect 25/09/2023)

Rishi’s EPC U-turn slammed by RICS (Property 118 27/09/2023)

SNP Arts Cuts: ‘We have lost our international reputation for culture’ (The Herald 28/09/2023)

£300,000 funding recognises the power of Glasgow’s built heritage (The Herald 29/09/2023)

Police Scotland to sell 30 more buildings in £19m budget warning (BBC News 29/09/2023)

 

Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Questions marked with a triangle (?) are initiated by the Scottish Government to facilitate the provision of information to the Parliament. Questions in which a member has indicated a declarable interest are marked with an “R”.

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14/08/2023
S6W-20627 R
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-17172 by Patrick Harvie on 11 May 2023, whether it will provide (a) a breakdown of the 10 applications and the reasons that they have been rejected, invited to resubmit following feedback or referred to alternative funding sources and (b) details of any additional applications since the question was answered.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 11 September 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 14/08/2023
S6W-20631
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19778 by Graeme Dey on 25 July 2023, when the Scottish Funding Council guidance on reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete will be delivered.
Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 11 September 2023
S6W-20632
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-19677 by Shona Robison on 31 July 2023, when the scoping exercise will be completed.
Current status: Answered by Shona Robison on 11 September 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20654
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce land value capture.
Current status: Answer expected on 12 September.

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20653
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to exempt mid market rent properties from regulations in the Cost of Living (Tenant Protection) (Scotland) Act 2022.
S6W-20655
To ask the Scottish Government how much has been spent from the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund in each year since its creation.
S6W-20656
To ask the Scottish Government how many homes have been retrofitted through the Social Housing Net Zero Heat Fund in each year since its creation, also broken down by local authority area.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 12 September 2023

Miles Briggs, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20657
To ask the Scottish Government when it plans to roll out the Winter Heating Payment to households in 2023-24.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 8 September 2023

Alexander Burnett, Aberdeenshire West, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20665 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many homes in each parliamentary region Warmworks Warmer Homes Scotland is planning to improve to at least EPC grade C; by what date this work will be completed; how many homes in each region have received such assistance to date; what other schemes are working alongside Warmer Homes Scotland to ensure that no homes are listed below EPC grade C, and by what date it anticipates that this target will be achieved.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 12 September 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 15/08/2023
S6W-20670 R
To ask the Scottish Government how frequently its Innovative Finance Steering Group meets; on what dates it has met since it was established; what its full (a) remit and (b) membership is; whether its remit extends beyond the affordable housing supply programme, and where the minutes of its meetings can be accessed.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 11 September 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 24/08/2023
S6W-20844 R
To ask the Scottish Government how many applications from (a) registered social landlords and (b) local authorities have been (i) received and (ii) approved for the National Acquisition Plan since it was announced on 19 July 2023.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 13 September 2023

Pam Duncan-Glancy, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/08/2023
S6W-20851
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria it used to identify and nominate railway stations for the UK Government Department for Transport’s Access for All programme.
Current status: Answered by Fiona Hyslop on 22 September 2023

Mark Griffin, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 25/08/2023
S6W-20861 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it anticipates that the £60 million for the National Acquisition Plan will be spent in full in 2023-24.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 22 September 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/08/2023
S6W-20685
To ask the Scottish Government what information it holds on the total number of public sector buildings and their carbon footprints, broken down by public body responsible for managing the buildings.
S6W-20686
To ask the Scottish Government what the electricity consumption was of public sector buildings in (a) 2022, (b) 2019 and (c) 2018.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 September 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/08/2023
S6W-20874
To ask the Scottish Government what the status is of the £9.6 million loan granted by the Scottish Partnership for Regeneration in Urban Centres (SPRUCE) fund in 2012 for the development of 110 Queen Street, Glasgow.
Current status: Answered by Joe FitzPatrick on 25 September 2023

Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 30/08/2023
S6W-20918
To ask the Scottish Government how the Energy Consents Unit assesses the potential impact on communities of battery storage sites that are to be built around them when approving or denying an application.
Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 19 September 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/08/2023
S6W-20922
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Just Transition Fund will be announced.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20958
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Holding Answer by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20959
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on how many public buildings in Scotland have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-20960
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on what action it is taking to ensure that public buildings that have been built with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete are safe to be used.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023

Paul Sweeney, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20968
To ask the Scottish Government when it will publish a list of all hospital buildings that are (a) suspected and (b) have been confirmed to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
S6W-20969
To ask the Scottish Government how many of the reported 255 NHS buildings that are suspected to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete have been inspected by structural engineers.
S6W-20970 R
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will publish an inspection schedule for all NHS buildings that have still to be inspected for reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 19 September 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 05/09/2023
S6W-20984
To ask the Scottish Government when it next plans to review the regulation of property factors.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 15 September 2023

Ariane Burgess, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
Date lodged: 06/09/2023
S6W-21093
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment has been made of any risk related to the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in domestic housing.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 15 September 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/09/2023
S6W-20964
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on whether it plans to carry out an assessment of the cost of fixing any elements of the school estate that have reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete present; whether any such costs will be met by local authorities or the Scottish Government; if they are to be met by local authorities, whether it anticipates that they will be met from existing funding or funding from other sources, and, if other sources, which sources.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 19 September 2023

Pauline McNeill, Glasgow, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 07/09/2023
S6W-21106
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide an update on how many prison estates it estimates were built using reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 19 September 2023

Culture and Major Events (Skills and Careers) Debate
Scottish Parliament
Date: 20 September 2023

Roz McCall, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 05/09/2023
S6W-21046
To ask the Scottish Government how many public buildings in the Mid Scotland and Fife region have been identified as containing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 20 September 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 06/09/2023
S6W-20962
To ask the Scottish Government, further to its statement on 31 August 2023 that it had already “received returns for the majority of the school estate” and that it expected “to have full returns from all local authorities this week”, whether it will publish all of the returns that it has received from local authorities regarding the (a) presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in school buildings and (b) projected cost to remedy any issues, and, if so, when.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 21 September 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 30/08/2023
S6W-20922
To ask the Scottish Government when the next bidding rounds for the Just Transition Fund will be announced.
Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 26 September 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 11/09/2023
S6W-21167
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6F-02316 by Humza Yousaf on 7 September 2023, whether it can confirm when it first provided education leaders with guidance from the Institution of Structural Engineers regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC); on what dates the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills met with local authorities to discuss the presence of RAAC, and whether minutes of those meetings will be published.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 September 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/09/2023
S6W-21168
To ask the Scottish Government how many Scottish schools have been closed or partially closed since 1 September 2023 due to structural or safety concerns not caused by the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Answered by Jenny Gilruth on 26 September 2023

Donald Cameron, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/09/2023
S6W-21210
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can provide details of its reported expansion of the Home Energy Scotland advice service.
Current status: Answered by Patrick Harvie on 26 September 2023

Jamie Greene, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/09/2023
S6W-21311
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether households and their guests who are engaged in the specific scenarios of pet-sitting, house-sitting or house-swapping, where no financial transaction is involved nor any business or commercial activity has taken place, will require a short-term let licence under the new licensing scheme.
Current status: Answered by Paul McLennan on 26 September 2023

Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 11/09/2023
S6W-21248
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether the implementation of a four-tiered agricultural payment structure, as consulted on in relation to the Agriculture Bill, would require the appointment of external consultants in order to administrate such a system.
S6W-21249
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide further details on whether payments under a four-tiered payment structure in the Agriculture Bill would be weighted towards base support (tiers 1 and 2) or tied to results (tiers 3 and 4).
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 26 September 2023

Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/09/2023
S6W-21475
To ask the Scottish Government who will provide the education and training services that will be offered to farmers and crofters under the planned Agriculture Bill.
S6W-21479
To ask the Scottish Government how much it has budgeted for the education and advisory services that are being proposed in the Agriculture Bill.
S6W-21480
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to the concerns raised in the consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill that the use of the Whole Farm Plan for base level payments in Tier 1 would be a “one-size-fits-all solution” to what is a more complex issue.
S6W-21481
To ask the Scottish Government when the previously ring-fenced £33 million of funding allocated to the agriculture sector as a result of the Bew Review will be returned to its budget for the portfolio covering agriculture.
S6W-21482
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to respond to concerns raised about incentivising tree planting on agricultural land in the consultation on the proposed Agriculture Bill.
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 27 September 2023

Katy Clark, West Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 14/09/2023
S6W-21350
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will list, by local authority, any buildings where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has been used on the justice estate since 2007, and whether any action was taken following structural inspection of these buildings.
Current status: Answered by Angela Constance on 28 September 2023

Monica Lennon, Central Scotland, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/09/2023
S6W-21696
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on financially supporting the reparation of historical artefacts that reside in Scotland as the result of colonialism or imperialism, in light of reports that it did not initially wish to pay for the return of the House of Ni’isjoohl memorial pole from the National Museum of Scotland to the Nisga’a Nation in Canada.
Current status: Answered by Christina McKelvie on 2 October 2023

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 04/09/2023
S6W-20958
To ask the Scottish Government when it became aware of the safety concerns regarding reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete.
Current status: Holding Answer by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 19 September 2023

Tess White, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 19/09/2023
S6W-21458
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the national survey programme of the NHS estate to identify the use of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in NHS buildings, including the number of buildings at risk and their location.
Current status: Holding Answer by Michael Matheson on 3 October 2023

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 19/09/2023
S6W-21463
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to expedite the physical survey of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete within the NHS.
Current status: Answered by Michael Matheson on 28 September 2023

Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 22/09/2023
S6W-20944
To ask the Scottish Government how many organisations applied to develop pilots for the launch of the Culture & Business Scotland Marketplace in May 2023; how many organisations were awarded places beginning in May 2023; how many organisations had, in addition to the pilots, or the launch of the Marketplace, developed and tested programmes ready to be rolled out across companies, and which of those organisations had the resources to do so; whether any of the organisations that were subsequently awarded places in the Culture & Business Scotland Marketplace had previously been turned down for funding or had funding reduced by Creative Scotland; if so, whether there has been any communication between the Scottish Government, Creative Scotland and Arts & Business Scotland or Culture & Business Scotland regarding the Marketplace, and how many organisations had informed Arts & Business Scotland or Culture & Business Scotland by January 2023 that they had already developed and tested programmes that had a wealth of evidence to show their effectiveness, and had teams of practitioners who are leaders in the field of arts-based wellbeing and development.
Current status: Answer expected on 6 October 2023

Meghan Gallacher, Central Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 22/09/2023
S6W-21665
To ask the Scottish Government what changes in its budget it is considering to prevent any further closures or reduction of essential community facilities and services.
Current status: Answer expected on 6 October 2023

Liam McArthur, Orkney Islands, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 26/09/2023
S6W-21745
To ask the Scottish Government how it plans to apply its proposed Energy Performance Certificate reforms to traditional buildings, and whether consideration has been given to changes to the building standards or minimum energy requirements for such properties.
Current status: Answer expected on 24 October 2023

Pam Gosal, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 26/09/2023
S6W-21754
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to address the reported significant challenges in relation to the availability of a skilled and competent workforce that is able to carry out Single Building Assessments at scale.
Current status: Answer expected on 24 October 2023

Pam Gosal, West Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: 28/09/2023
S6W-21849
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to accelerate (a) the Single Building Assessment programme and (b) remedial works to ensure that buildings are safe.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 October 2023

Daniel Johnson, Edinburgh Southern, Scottish Labour
Date lodged: 28/09/2023
S6W-21858
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the Heat in Buildings Workforce Assessment Project outlined in its Heat in Buildings Strategy.
Current status: Answer expected on 26 October 2023

Alex Cole-Hamilton, Edinburgh Western, Scottish Liberal Democrats
Date lodged: 29/09/2023
S6W-21882
To ask the Scottish Government what action it has taken to ensure that the key stakeholders in the private sector are aware of the issue of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete and know where to go for advice, as referenced in the minutes of the meeting of the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group on 14 August 2023.
S6W-21883
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the meeting of the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group on 14 August 2023, what action it has taken to “signpost and share information which supports effective assessment and reporting on RAAC as a potential building defect”.
Current status: Answers expected on 27 October 2023

Liam Kerr, North East Scotland, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date Lodged: 29/09/2023
S6W-21921
To ask the Scottish Government when an updated Estates Condition Survey for the college sector will be conducted and completed, in light of the last survey, which was completed in 2017 and estimated that £360 million of work was required in the subsequent five years to bring the college estate to a generally sound (wind and watertight) condition.

Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 02/10/2023
S6W-21956
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether its Infrastructure Investment Plan is compatible with the emissions targets set out in the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009, in light of a reported breach of statutory duties identified by the Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland and Good Law Project.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 30/10/2023

Alexander Stewart, Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date Lodged: 03/10/2023
S6W-21929
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that some local residents were required by Clackmannanshire Council to evacuate their homes, in a majority council-owned block of flats, and move into short-term accommodation due to reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete being found and the flats being deemed unsafe, what immediate action it can take to (a) help provide suitable long-term accommodation and (b) support any proposals for repairs of these properties.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 31/10/2023

Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
Date Lodged: 03/10/2023
S6W-21970
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide a list of the 30 police buildings that Police Scotland plans to dispose of, as detailed in its proposals submitted to the Scottish Police Authority.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 31/10/2023

Open University in Scotland and National Trust for Scotland Partnership
S6M-10511
Submitted by: Sue Webber, Lothian, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.
Date lodged: 20/09/2023
That the Parliament recognises that the Open University (OU) in Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland have signed a joint memorandum of understanding; welcomes the partnership working between what it sees as two of the country’s leading institutions to achieve their common aims; understands that a successful series of staff development roadshows have already taken place to promote the OU’s support of the Trust’s staff development programme to promote lifelong learning in the workplace; further understands that the OU will also help the Trust to support the development of its volunteers, through access to free learning and employability resources; notes that the OU and the Trust will work together to organise events that bring together professionals from both organisations, providing opportunities for networking and knowledge sharing and contributing to the Scottish Government’s objective of fostering collaboration and partnership working, and wishes both organisations every success with their partnership.

 

Events

 

For further listings, please see our events calendar.

AHSS Lecture – Making Our Industrial Heritage Work for a More Sustainable Future
Date & Time: Monday 9 October 2023; 6:30-8pm
Location: Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EL (wheelchair accessible)
Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
As the world comes to terms with the worsening climate crisis, Dr Miles Oglethorpe, Head of Industrial Heritage at Historic Environment Scotland, considers how we can better harness the potential of our industrial heritage to help us bring about a more sustainable future for our communities.

Scottish Historic Buildings Trust – Edinburgh: Twentieth-Century City
Date & Time: Wednesday 11 October 2023; 5:30-7:30pm
Location: Riddles Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
Edinburgh’s architectural heritage is usually defined in terms of the medieval Old Town and the eighteenth-century New Town. This talk by Dr Alistair Fair, Reader in Architectural History, University of Edinburgh however, will argue that the city has a substantial body of notable twentieth-century architecture, and that the decades since 1945 have, in fact, seen substantial interventions in the built environment which have fundamentally shaped the city of today.

The Mark Turnbull Symposium – Designing the Landscape of Power: Balancing Climate, Energy Transition and Communities
Date & Time: Thursday 12 October 2023; 5-8pm
Location: Royal College of Physicians, Queens Street, EdinburghEH12 1JG/Hybrid event
Cost: £5 – £25
Hosted by Dr Sarah Govan, Project Manager ClimateXChange, join this debate that considers the power of collaboration, the value of sensitive management and design in landscape scale change decisions to help reduce land use conflicts and to create more sustainable and equitable results in addressing the challenges that Scotland faces.

AHSS Lecture – Glasgow City Heritage Trust; 15 years – 15 projects
Date & Time: Thursday 19 October 2023; 7:30-9pm
Location: St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow
Lectures will also be streamed online via Zoom
Niall Murphy, Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust, discusses the work of the Trust over the last 15 years, focusing on 15 key projects drawn from across that period for what they reveal about the Trust, its mission and objectives and why the Trust does what it does.

National Lottery Heritage Fund – Digital Skills for Heritage: Reflect, Share, Inspire
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 October 2023; 11am-5:30pm
Location: British Museum, London/Online
Digital Skills for Heritage has raised digital skills and confidence across the UK heritage sector over the past three years. This free hybrid event celebrates the wealth of resources created by this initiative, bringing together speakers from Digital Skills for Heritage projects to reflect and share the achievements and learning from their digital journeys to help inspire the wider sector. This event is for anyone working or volunteering in a UK heritage organisation, to allow for reflection on the achievements of Digital Skills for Heritage over the past three years.

RIAS – Conservation 2023: Climate, Policy and Practice
Date & Time: Tuesday 31 October 2023; 1-4:30pm
Location: Online
Booking is now open for the RIAS online Autumn Conservation Seminar. Presentations will be from RIAS Conservation Accredited architects on: the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Palm House restoration project and the historical research and carrying out of practical conservation at Invereshie House in the Cairngorm National Park. Learn about Historic Environment Scotland’s Climate Change policy in relation to the historic built environment and various aspects of retrofit, including issues of moisture, damp and condensation and other key issues.
Further information and bookings

Historic Environment Scotland – An Introduction to Building Conservation
Date & Time: Tuesday 10 October 2023; 9:30am-1:30pm/9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Join HES to explore the strategies and philosophies governing architectural conservation in Scotland. The course will examine the nature of traditional Scottish building materials, and outline how international standards of good conservation practice can be applied to offset or adapt to the impact of climate change on our historic built environment. A networking lunch will provide an opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed and the full-day experience includes an afternoon site visit to Bannockburn House for a technical tour of this remarkable late 17th-century mansion and to identify conservation techniques in practice.Scottish Lime Centre Trust – Lime Pointing
Date & Time: Date & Time: Friday 13 October 2023; 9:30am-4:30pm
Location: Merryhill Training Centre, Charlestown, Dunfermline KY11 3DR
Would you like to undertake repointing works as part of a renovation project or simply as general maintenance to traditional masonry structures? This practical ‘hands on’ training day will give participants the skill to undertake repointing works with confidence. This course will provide a sound understanding of traditional building technology, repair techniques and the materials to use when carrying out repointing.Historic Environment Scotland – Heritage Planning
Date & Time: Wednesday 18 October 2023; 9:30am-1:30pm/9:30am-4pm
Location: The Engine Shed, Stirling
Members of Historic Environment Scotland’s Heritage Team and Stirling Council will discuss how they manage change to Scotland’s built heritage, both in strategic terms as well as practical matters. This includes how proposals to alter listed buildings or build new developments in conservation areas are reviewed, considered and determined both fairly and transparently. A networking lunch will provide an opportunity to continue discussions and explore the Engine Shed and the full-day experience includes an afternoon tour through Stirling’s Old Town to discuss recent developments in the conservation area, key buildings of concern for the council and other matters affecting the significance of the city’s historic townscape.Culture & Business Scotland – Legacy giving: now is the time if you do it right!
Date & Time: Tuesday 24 October 2023; 11am-3pm
Location: Online
From triggering interest to cultivating prospects, this excellent four-hour crash course on integrating legacy giving into your fundraising programme (at little or no cost!) is delivered by legacy specialist Richard Radcliffe and is backed up by data and practical advice.

 The National Trust for Scotland – Heritage Compliance Officer
Salary: £34,376-£38,027 (subject to experience)
Status: Full-time (flexible working possible)
Location: Hybrid working, available for meetings in Edinburgh
The National Trust for Scotland is looking to recruit a heritage compliance officer to help identify and manage the conservation and operations risks. This is a unique opportunity to work across all aspects of a major heritage organisation, liaising with colleagues in all disciplines.
All enquiries and applications should be addressed to: Diarmid Hearns, Head of Public Policy, Risk and Environment.