Housing (Cladding Remediation) (Scotland) Bill: business and regulatory impact assessment

Consultation

9. This Bill is being introduced at pace and without the full standard consultation process due to the need to ensure the continued momentum of progress in addressing critical fire safety issues that may represent a risk to life. The Programme has engaged in all of the areas that featured in the Working Group and its recommendations. Engagement with stakeholders from the Working Group has continued through the Cladding Remediation Stakeholder Group and there has been specific targeted engagement on the subjects that the Bill addresses. This engagement continues in order to guide the Programme in a manner best aligned to its strategic purpose.

10. The Ministerial Working Group on Mortgage Lending and Cladding brought together representatives from key organisations including:

• Association of British Insurers
• Homes for Scotland
• Law Society of Scotland
• Property Managers Association Scotland
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• UK Finance
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Scottish Government

11. The Cladding Remediation Stakeholder Group has been the principal stakeholder engagement forum for the Programme. Specific engagement sessions were held with members of the group, collectively and individually, while the policy for the Bill was developed to inform its contents. Its membership includes:

• Scottish Government
• Association of British Insurers
• Building Societies Association
• High Rise Scotland Action Group
• Homes for Scotland
• Institution of Fire Engineers
• Law Society of Scotland
• Local Authority Building Standards Scotland
• Property Managers Association
• Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
• Scottish Fire and Rescue Service
• Scottish Futures Trust
• UK Finance
• Scotland's Regeneration Forum
• Chartered Institute of Business

12. Certain Scottish Government teams such as Building Standards Division and Planning, Architecture and Regeneration Division have been closely involved in the development of the Bill and have had the opportunity to input throughout its development.

13. Initial discussions have also taken place with other teams across Scottish Government including:

• Directorate for Local Government and Housing: Building Standards Division
• Directorate for Local Government and Housing: Better Homes Division
• Directorate for Local Government and Housing: Planning, Architecture & Regeneration Division
• Directorate for Energy and Climate Change
• Directorate for Economic Development: Industrial Transformation and Office of CSA.

14. The Scottish Government also has regular discussions with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to understand and where appropriate learn from the cladding remediation work it is undertaking in England. There has also been engagement with the Welsh Government about cladding remediation activity in Wales.

Public Consultation

15. Whilst there has been no formal consultation process to date due to the expedited nature of the Bill, we are committed to working collaboratively with partners. The BRIA will be updated to reflect this engagement in due course.