Private emails have revealed that the Scottish Government was informed by Glasgow City Council of Grenfell-style ACM cladding on a group of flats on the 17th August 2017, not the 5th September stated by the Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities, to the Scottish Parliament.
On 21st September 2017, Angela Constance stated in the Scottish Parliament that, “Scottish Government standards officials were informed late on 5 September that 56 privately owned buildings might have some form of ACM cladding.”
But a new Freedom of Information response has revealed the Scottish Government’s Head of Building Standards, Bill Dodds, was informed about a group of flats that had ACM cladding on the 17th August.
Scottish Conservative Housing Spokesman Graham Simpson asked the Cabinet Secretary to confirm when the Scottish Government had been informed of the discovery. Ms Constance was unable to provide any details.
Speaking after the exchange Mr Simpson said:
“This discovery is very troubling indeed and is further compounded by the Cabinet Secretary’s inability to answer our very simple questions.
“The fact is that the Cabinet Secretary for Communities is not on top of her brief and does not know what was going on in the Scottish Government in those crucial days after the Grenfell tragedy.
“How can we expect this administration to act efficiently and appropriately in such a serious situation?
“This mistake will not build confidence in this administration, nor will it help to reassure those living in the affected houses.”