UK: Homeowners affected by the Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) crisis in Scotland have welcomed confirmation of two long-awaited meetings with the Cabinet Secretary to discuss the situation in private housing. 

The first meeting will take place in Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire, on 19th November, followed by a second meeting in West Lothian on 3rd December. These meetings mark the first time the Scottish Government has met directly with RAAC homeowners in private properties, following months of requests for dialogue. 

Scottish RAAC Crisis: Homeowners Demand Solutions, Not Photo Ops 

Representatives of the UK RAAC Campaign Group have written to the Cabinet Secretary’s office emphasising that both meetings must be resident-led, solutions-focused, and chaired by RAAC homeowners to ensure the voices of those directly affected remain central. Campaigners have stressed that these meetings must not become political or public relations exercises but genuine working sessions where progress can be achieved. 

Lynsey McQuater, Chair of the Tillicoultry RAAC Campaign Group, said: 

“We are grateful that the Cabinet Secretary has agreed to meet with us, but it’s essential that this meeting is led by the people who have been living through the hardship and uncertainty caused by RAAC.  

This cannot be a photo opportunity or a political stage — it must be a meaningful dialogue that drives solutions for families still trapped in unsafe or uninhabitable homes.” 

Similarly, Kerry Mackintosh, Vice Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group and Spokesperson for West Lothian Homeowners, added: 

“RAAC homeowners have endured years of anxiety, financial strain, and limited information. We are determined that these meetings deliver clear outcomes, not more delays.  

The people most affected by this crisis must lead the discussion — only then can we move toward practical and fair solutions.” 

UK RAAC Campaign Group Calls for Urgent Ministerial Meeting 

Meanwhile, Wilson Chowdhry, Chair of the UK RAAC Campaign Group, has called for the housing minister, Mairi McAllan MSP, to expedite a separate private meeting with the national campaign board — a meeting which he had previously requested take place after the regional discussions. 

Mr Chowdhry’s renewed call follows Ms McAllan’s recent announcement of a potential grant opportunity for Aberdeen City Council. However, while initially presented as a breakthrough, Ms McAllan’s comments in the Scottish Parliament revealed that the grant is tied to new-build housing, not to direct remediation or compensation for affected homeowners. This has left many residents deeply concerned that genuine financial relief remains out of reach. 

This approach, campaigners warn, could inadvertently strengthen the Scottish Government’s case for future compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) — potentially allowing local authorities to pressure RAAC homeowners into accepting unfair voluntary acquisitions or property swaps that would see families lose their long-held homes for smaller flats, or be displaced entirely from their communities. 

Ms McAllan told Parliament: 

“This will not only help the Council in turn to meet the cost of remediation from within its own budget but also make a valuable contribution towards Scotland’s supply of affordable housing.” 

However, even Aberdeen’s Deputy Council Leader, Cllr Christian Allard, appeared reluctant to use council funds to assist affected residents — seemingly ignoring the Minister’s advice that existing council budgets could be leveraged to support remediation. Cllr Allard commented: 

“To be able to apply for £10 million has got to be good news, but if it is coming out of the housing revenue account, that’s not just for RAAC, so I’d like to find out more about how this could help tenants and owner occupiers. And look at the legality of it.” 

This reluctance has only intensified calls for the Scottish Government to establish a dedicated national RAAC fund. 

If the UK Government continues to refuse to create a UK-wide fund, campaigners argue that Scotland’s Government is morally bound to act. There are only 17 privately owned RAAC homes in Wales and 2 in Basildon, Essex, where homeowners received fair and favourable terms from Basildon District Council — making the lack of support in Scotland increasingly indefensible. 

In a letter received on 8th October 2025, Samantha Dixon MBE MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Building Safety, Fire and Democracy, reaffirmed that housing is a devolved responsibility and that Scotland has the financial capacity to respond. She wrote: 

“Following the Spending Review, the Scottish Government is receiving the largest settlement in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29 since devolution in 1998. 
This record settlement will deliver an extra £9.1 billion over the Spending Review period for the Scottish Government to deliver public services. The Scottish Government will continue to receive at least 20% more per person than equivalent UK Government spending in the rest of the UK with £50.9 billion each year for Scotland, including £510 million in capital expenditure in order to deliver on priorities such as the NHS, education, transport and housing.”  Read full letter (here). 

This statement makes it clear that Westminster believes Scotland has both the devolved authority and financial capacity to find a solution. 

In a recent Scottish Parliament petition hearing authored by Wilson Chowdhry and his daughter Hannah, Fergus Ewing MSP expressed empathy and frustration at what he described as a “blame game” between governments. He urged both administrations to stop passing responsibility and instead meet directly to reach a solution. 

VIDEO: Watch Mr Ewing MSP slam both Scottish and UK governments for shirking responsibility 

Mr Ewing suggested that the new Cabinet Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland should meet to agree on a funding framework. In response, Mr Chowdhry has insisted that both Mairi McAllan MSP and First Minister John Swinney MSP attend the proposed private meeting with the UK RAAC Campaign Group. The group has confirmed that its board members are willing to travel any distance to meet in person and present the human cost of government inaction. 

Mr Chowdhry concluded: 

“The time for deflection is over. The Scottish Government cannot continue to point at Westminster when they have record funding, devolved powers, and a moral duty to protect their citizens.  

Families are losing homes, savings, and stability through no fault of their own. We are calling for decisive leadership and a dedicated Scottish RAAC fund that provides real hope and real help.”