Cole-Hamilton calls for fund to help schools and hospitals replace dangerous concrete

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton has called on the First Minister to establish a national fund to help authorities make safe public buildings such as schools and hospitals which need to replace a dangerous form of concrete used in public sector construction for decades.

Speaking in the chamber, Mr Cole-Hamilton said:

"Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete is a light and bubbly material that was used in public sector construction for decades.

"Think of the inside of an Aero bar, and you get the idea.

"In February, NHS Scotland issued a safety action notice.

"It warned that roofs, walls and flooring made of this material are, and I quote, at “risk of catastrophic structural failure” which could occur “suddenly” and “without warning”

"A school roof has already collapsed in Kent.

"Now Liberal Democrat research published in The Times has established that this concrete has so far been found by at least four Scottish health boards and in 37 schools up and down our country. It’s above patients and it’s above pupils.

"I’m not trying to frighten people here, but we need to identify the buildings at risk and fix them. That could cost tens or hundreds of millions of pounds.

"So will the First Minister establish a national fund to help hard-up health boards and councils make these buildings safe?"