Scottish Parliament e-Brief
Issue 244, 3rd May 2005

SECTION 1 - BUSINESS THIS WEEK

THE CHAMBER

IN COMMITTEE
This week’s likely highlights in the Committee Corridors include:

SECTION 2 - NEWS

Funding to improve learning opportunities
More than £2.5 million will be invested in two learning programmes to help workers develop and improve their skills.

£1.4 million has been awarded to the STUC for union learning services to develop an infrastructure for learning. And £1.25 million has been awarded to 25 Sector Skills Councils to continue their work in addressing the skills needs of industries.

Deputy Enterprise Minister, Allan Wilson, said that, "Unions can play a crucial role in delivering our lifelong learning agenda. They are able to reach employees directly and ensure employees are able to take up the learning opportunities available to them."  The funding, he added, "will help improve the infrastructure through which unions promote workplace learning. It will allow the STUC to develop a union learning service in parallel with developments in England and Wales."

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New building standards system
New regulations for building standards in Scotland came into force on Sunday May 1st 2005.  Building standards are set for new buildings and building alterations to protect the health, safety and welfare of people in and around buildings, and cover concerns such as fire safety, energy efficiency and noise issues.

The Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) has been set up to undertake the functions related to the new system, which brings Scotland in line with European standards.

Building warrants
Some of the work people intend to do on their homes, like simple alterations to internal walls, could break building regulations or impact on an adjacent property.  Legal permission - a "building warrant" - may therefore be required for certain types of building work. Application forms can be obtained from a council's building standards service and, at present, around 55,000 warrants are processed each year.  Under the new system, however, more building work will be possible without a warrant.

Exemptions
People will not need a warrant provided that:

• There is no structural alteration;
• The floor area is not increased;
• The roof of the building is not altered; and
• The alterations do not include a change to the waste water system.

Exemptions, then, could include work such as re-fitting the kitchen or installing a stairlift.  Detached buildings such as a garage or shed, can be built up to 30 square metres floor area, providing they are at least one metre from the house or three metres from a flat. Replacing doors, windows and central heating boilers will not require a warrant but these items must meet the full new standards.

Procedures for obtaining a building warrant
Anyone ordering building work is responsible for ensuring that building standards are met. Councils will check compliance with building standards and can advise people about warrants.

Appointed architects, or other qualified persons to prepare plans, should know the procedures for obtaining a warrant and those employing them can ask them to act as an agent to apply on their behalf. This is recommended as the best course for people not experienced in undertaking or commissioning building work.

A fee is charged for a warrant and this is based on the value of the work proposed. Fees start at £100 for work valued up to £5000, and rise in proportion to the value. A warrant lasts for three years after it is granted. An applicant must either finish the work within that period or apply for an extension of the warrant.  Warrants can be obtained retrospectively if building work has already started.  However, the cost will be more, plans will still be required, and the council may wish to make modifications to the plans.  These changes would need to be complied with prior to a completion certificate being submitted for approval.

Contacts
Members of the public and those working in the building trade should refer to their council's building standards team as their first point of contact.

The SBSA can be contacted on 01506 600400. Advice and information, including Frequently Asked Questions can be found online at: www.sbsa.gov.uk

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