Chamber and committees

Scottish Universities, as with all those with responsibility for building ownership and property management, should follow the advice and guidance on the identification, management and mitigation of risks associated with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) provided by professional organisations such as the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE).

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) continues to engage with colleges and universities on estate-related matters, including issues relating to RAAC, and keeps the Scottish Government informed of sector-wide developments.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Responsibility for the management, maintenance and safety of university buildings rests with the institution as the owner of the estate. Responsibility for engagement with institutions on these matters lies with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the SFC engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector.

The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding it’s assessment of sector-wide risks, issues and impacts.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a separate assessment of the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within university estates.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Our commitment to the university sector is clear. Our overall 2026-27 investment will exceed £1.4bn, which includes a combined increase of over £55m in resource and capital funding for universities via the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) - equivalent to a 5% uplift on last year’s budget. We also continue our collaborative project between Scottish Government and Universities Scotland on the Framework for Sustainability and Success of Scotland’s Universities launched in December 2025. This will explore options that will ensure our universities are sustainable and well positioned to respond to current and future challenges. I am grateful to cross-party colleagues for their engagement in this work, which I hope will continue as we consider these complex long-term issues.

The Scottish Government position on the responsibility for addressing the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has not changed. RAAC is primarily a building maintenance issue and responsibility lies with the owner of the building.

The SFC continues to engage with colleges and universities on estate-related matters, including issues relating to RAAC, and keeps the Scottish Government informed of significant sector-wide developments. Institutions are expected to take a risk-based approach to identifying, managing and mitigating any risks associated with RAAC, taking account of relevant professional guidance. The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding estate-related risks affecting the tertiary education sector and will continue to monitor the position.

On 4 September 2023, the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provided the Scottish Government with details of institutions where reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) had been identified. Edinburgh Napier University was reported as having RAAC in one building on its Merchiston Campus, with its removal planned as part of the university’s wider campus redevelopment programme.

Responsibility for the management, maintenance and safety of university buildings rests with the institution as the owner of the estate. As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the SFC engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector.

The Scottish Government has not carried out an assessment of the impact of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) on staff and students within university buildings and campuses.

The safety of staff and students is of paramount importance. Responsibility for the management and safety of buildings rests with institutions as estate owners. Institutions are expected to take a risk-based approach to identifying, managing and mitigating any risks associated with RAAC, taking account of relevant professional guidance.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

The Scottish Government has not undertaken a specific assessment of any potential impact on Merchiston Castle arising from the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) within buildings on Edinburgh Napier University's Merchiston Campus.

As part of its outcomes framework and assurance model the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) engages directly with institutions on estate matters and has maintained oversight of issues relating to RAAC across the tertiary education sector. The Scottish Government remains in regular contact with the SFC regarding it’s assessment of sector-wide risks, issues and impacts.

I refer the member to the answer to question S7W-01597 on 30 July 2026. All answers to written Parliamentary Questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/written-questions-and-answers.

Scottish Government funded the Institution of Structural Engineers to develop guidance on the identification, assessment and remediation of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in residential properties. Scottish Government officials met with members of the Institution of Structural Engineers on 21 January 2026 to discuss this guidance.

Members of the Institution of Structural Engineers attended a meeting of the RAAC in Housing Leadership Group meeting on 28 January 2026, to deliver a presentation on the guidance. The meeting was chaired by the former Cabinet Secretary for Housing, Miri McAllan. Scottish Government officials also joined this meeting.

The Scottish Government position on the responsibility for addressing reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) has not changed. RAAC is primarily a building maintenance issue and responsibility lies with the owner of the building.

The Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) Cross Sector Working Group was established on a limited term basis to support the co-ordination of data collection and information sharing about RAAC across the public sector estate in Scotland. The aims and objectives of the Working Group are now met by the Cross Sector Building Safety Forum which, with a broader remit, meets to discuss a range of building safety issues with representation from across key sectors. Information about the Forum is published here: Building safety: cross sector forum - gov.scot.