To ask the Scottish Government what it is doing to address any issues in relation to the presence of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the college and university estate. (S6O-03415)

The Scottish Government has confirmed, via the Scottish Funding Council, the extent of reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete in the college and university estate, including information on planned remediation and related costs, the measures in place to ensure the safety of staff and students and any plans implemented to ensure that students’ welfare and learning are not affected. We continue to work alongside the SFC to provide advice and support to institutions as they undertake necessary works.

The minister is aware that RAAC was found in the Kingsway campus of Dundee and Angus College last year and that vital safety work to replace RAAC panels and make buildings safe could cost as much as £12 million, with work having to be completed within three to five years.

In a letter from the minister to the college principal in December last year, he revealed that the Scottish Government would not commit any money whatsoever to the replacement of RAAC in the college estate. The minister knows that colleges have no means by which to borrow or raise money. Amid the chaos of the past two weeks, the publication of the Government’s infrastructure investment plan has been delayed yet again. What on earth does the minster suggest that Dundee and Angus College does?

I met the principal and chair of Dundee and Angus College a couple of weeks ago, which allowed me to gain an initial broad understanding of their thinking on future estate provision, taking account of RAAC and the age of the buildings, which, as Michael Marra knows, is an issue at Kingsway. I look forward to the college progressing those aspirational and creative plans for possible consideration by the SFC and the Government, although Michael Marra will appreciate that, given my constituency interest, I would not be involved in any such process.

Let us pick up the pace, colleagues.

Seven of Scotland’s colleges have RAAC. Audit Scotland’s 2022 report said that colleges are already £321 million short of what they need in capital funding, and no funding has been provided to date to rectify the RAAC issue. Can we take it from the minister’s answer that Scotland’s Government will provide no financial help to Scotland’s colleges to deal with RAAC?

That is a brave and bold question from Mr Kerr, given that, despite his Government stating that it would spend whatever it would take to address RAAC, we have heard not a whisper from it. There is no indication of any money being provided to this Government in order to tackle this very substantial issue.