Summary

  • The External Relations Committee takes evidence on the Scottish budget

  • Scottish government ministers are quizzed during general questions

  • Nicola Sturgeon and Ruth Davidson clash over the budget at first minister's questions about what the Chancellor's budget means for Scotland

  • SNP MSP Ivan McKee leads a debate entitled: 'The Day of the Imprisoned Writer, 15 November'

  • MSPs debate building regulations and fire safety in Scotland, following the Grenfell Tower tragedy

  1. Background: Public sector 'must learn from Oxgangs wall collapse'published at 15:23 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Concerns were first raised when a wall collapsed at Oxgangs Primary School during high winds in January 2016Image source, PA
    Image caption,

    Concerns were first raised when a wall collapsed at Oxgangs Primary School during high winds in January 2016

    The entire public sector must learn lessons following the collapse of a wall at Oxgangs Primary School in Edinburgh, MSPs have said.

    Nine tonnes of masonry fell from the school during a storm in January 2016.

    A total of 17 schools across the city were ultimately forced to close amid concerns over building standards.

    MSPs said this was "an embarrassment for the construction industry" and said every public body in the country should study the report into the incident.

    The collapse at Oxgangs Primary during Storm Gertrude led to closures at 10 primaries, five secondary schools and two additional support needs schools due to fears about poor construction standards, with about 7,600 pupils affected.

    Checks and remedial works were subsequently carried out at schools in local authorities across Scotland.

  2. 'Builders going ahead without proper consent'published at 15:10 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Labour MSP David Stewart

    Labour MSP David Stewart says: "To ensure the safety of new buildings in Scotland requires strong and wide raging building regulations that are enforced without compromise."

    Mr Stewart says: "Of particular concern are reports that builders are going ahead withou the proper consent, raising questions about whether compliance can ever be eventually verified.

    "If delays are to be improved and safety guaranteed, the only real solution is for local authorities to be adequately resourced.

    "All other options are merely unsustainable sticking plasters."

    To this, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart interjects: "If any members have any evidence of this, I would want to know about it."

    Mr Stewart says he is bringing forward with a Member's Bill to ensure all new council and housing association properties have sprinklers fitted.

  3. Postpublished at 15:03 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

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  4. Tory MSP says new home buyers do not have the same rights as consumerspublished at 15:01 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Tory MSP Graham Simpson says consumer goods legislation gives consumers a range of remedies, but new home buyers do not automatcially have these rights.

    Mr Simpson says there is a voluntary code of practice in building.

    He says consumer rights are reserved and he says he will raise this issue with the UK government..

    Tory MSP Graham SimpsonImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Tory MSP Graham Simpson

    The Tory MSP says access to an ombudsman would be another layer of protection.

    He says currently there is no way of guaranteeing a building has been constructed correctly.

    The committee agreed the work of verifying should not go to the private sector, says Mr Simpson.

    He says poorly performing councils like Glasgow and Edinburgh have one year and then he says private companies should be considered and other councils should be considered

  5. Two working groups establishedpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says: "We've established two comprehensive working groups to review working standards"

    1. Fire safety standards
    2. Review building standards

    Housing Minister Kevin Stewart

    Our review group will consider building standards processes, inspection regime and the roles and responsibilities of the building owner, and the local authority verifier and enforcer, says the minister.

  6. Postpublished at 14:54 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

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  7. 'The fire at Grenfell Tower was a horrific tragedy'published at 14:51 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Local Government and Housing Minister Kevin StewartImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Local Government and Housing Minister Kevin Stewart

    Local Government and Housing Minister Kevin Stewart says the committee widened its remit following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower.

    Mr Stewart says the fire at Grenfell Tower was a horrific tragedy and his thoughts and sympathies remain with friends and family of everyone affected.

    He says the ministerial working group, set up after the tragedy by the Scottish government has reported priorities in three areas:

    • reassuring the public
    • establishing the fire safety of high rise buildings
    • strengthening of the building safety regulations
  8. Postpublished at 14:49 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

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  9. Some councils 'need to improve'published at 14:48 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Bob Doris

    Bob Doris says performances in some local councils "needs to improve."

    He says the reasons cited for delays has been:-

    • increased workloads
    • budget cuts
    • Loss of staff

    Mr Doris invites all the members in the chamber to contribute to the report, external this afternoon.

    He says they will return to this work in the new year and will give a final report, taking into consideration everything they hear today.

  10. Postpublished at 14:47 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

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  11. Committee prefers verification status quopublished at 14:42 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Mr Doris says the committee wanted to know why for some people their homes were not built as well as they wanted.

    The SNP MSP says the inquiry, external started looking at the verification process.

    Mr DorisImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Mr Doris

    He says some people argued opening up verification to competition, while others argued the current verification service from local authorities was good.

    Mr Doris says the committee believed on balance the status quo was the better option, although some councils needed to improve.

  12. Background: 'Combustible cladding' found at 57 buildings in Glasgowpublished at 14:40 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Grenfell Tower

    Combustible cladding was found in 57 private high-rise properties in Glasgow, council officials said in September.

    Checks had under way at buildings across Scotland in the wake of the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in London.

    Council official Raymond Barlow told MSPs cladding had been found on some residential buildings in Glasgow, but said "it's not public information yet".

    Scottish ministers were informed about the concerns on 8 September, but flat owners in the buildings were not told.

    The council later stressed that there was "no suggestion that these buildings are a particular fire risk", and said that it would now be telling property owners.

    MSPs and ministers have been conducting inquiries into fire safety and building and planning standards in Scotland in the aftermath of the Grenfell fire, which killed an estimated 80 people.

    Read more here

  13. New ministerial working group 'welcome'published at 14:38 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Local government committee convener Bob Doris

    Local Government Committee convener Bob Doris tells the chamber that they welcome the new ministerial working group who are looking at fire safety in Scotland.

    He says: "This will give us a comprehensive picture of high rise buildings across Scotland."

    He welcomes new fire inspection processes, and says the committee are "sympathetic to national fire inspection processes" including new "intrusive and unannounced inspections."

    Mr Doris adds: "The committee will continue to monitor the progress of the ministerial working group."

  14. Postpublished at 14:34 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

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  15. Background: What happened at Grenfell Tower in London?published at 14:31 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Media caption,

    London fire: Footage shows the extent of damage

    At least 80 people died and over 70 were injured in the Grenfell Tower fire.

    The fire was reported at the 24-storey block in North Kensington at 00:54 BST (23:54 GMT), leading to 40 fire engines and more than 200 firefighters tackling the blaze.

    It took until 01:14 BST the following day to get it under control, with the fire affecting most floors of the building and destroying 151 homes, both in the tower and surrounding areas.

    Read more here

  16. MSPs debate fire safety following the Grenfell Tower tragedypublished at 14:30 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Building Regulations and Fire Safety in Scotland reportImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Building Regulations and Fire Safety in Scotland report

    MSPs will now debate Building Regulations and Fire Safety in Scotland, external.

  17. Coming uppublished at 13:45 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    The parliament will now debate the building regulations and fire safety in Scotland.

    Grenfell TowerImage source, PA
    Image caption,

    Grenfell Tower

  18. Imprisoned writers matter to uspublished at 13:43 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Gallery
    Image caption,

    Ms Hyslop says the legal protections we have in Scotland are essential

    Ms Hyslop says the legal protections we have in Scotland are essential.

    The external affairs secretary says there has been a significant decline in press freedom as highlighted by Reporters Without Borders, external.

    She says imprisoned writers matters to us.

  19. 'In Scotland we defend fiercely the right to say what we think'published at 13:41 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Fiona Hyslop

    Culture and External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop talks about freedom of expression and the Human Rights Act.

    "In Scotland we defend fiercely the right to say what we think."

    "This right is protected in law."

    She adds: "We all have an obligation to respect the rights of others, perhaps especially those views which we disagree."

  20. Green MSP highlights oppression of Kurdish writers in Turkeypublished at 13:36 Greenwich Mean Time 23 November 2017

    Green MSP Ross GreerImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    Green MSP Ross Greer

    Green MSP Ross Greer says journalism remains one of the most important and dangeorous jobs on earth.

    Mr Greer highlights the case of Kurdish writers in Turkey.

    He says we must tell these writers they are not alone and tell the Turksih government we are watching and demand an end to their oppression.