GGF raises its profile with key visit to the Scottish Parliament

The visit in December to the Scottish Parliament in Holyrood, Edinburgh included:

• GGF exhibition
• meetings with over 20 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs)
• input at the Scottish Cross Party Group Meeting on Fuel Poverty in Traditional Buildings
• exclusive GGF Members lunch and tour in the Garden Lobby of the Parliament Buildings

Alex Gray, Chairman of GGF Scotland: “It’s been an amazing week and so important for the profile of the GGF to be raised in Scotland’s political arena. Sincere thanks to Margaret McCulloch MSP and Nigel Don MSP who helped facilitate the GGF’s Exhibition and arranged the lunch and tour of The Scottish Parliament buildings for our Members.”

Nigel Don MSP: “It was good to see an industry authority like the GGF exhibit at the Scottish Parliament. They made an excellent job of explaining why we must make buildings more energy efficient; it not only saves money but also helps reduce fuel poverty.” 

Ann-marie Waugh, GGF Regional Executive: “It has been a very productive week and many MSPs are now aware of the GGF and our campaigns and in particular our drive on energy efficiency in existing buildings. It was pleasing to receive positive feedback from our Members who visited The Scottish Parliament representing GGF Scotland.”

Many of the MSP’s who visited the GGF stand responded well to GGF initiatives for addressing both the energy efficiency of the existing Scottish housing stock and ensuring replacement windows and doors meet the Scottish Building Regulation requirements.

Two new GGF initiatives for Scotland

• creating a voluntary competent person scheme (CPS) similar to FENSA in England and Wales,
• development of a dedicated to create a Scottish version of the GGF Good Practice Guide for the Installation of Windows and Doors

The GGF expects that these two new GGF initiatives will help address the issue of poor compliance of the Scottish Building Regulations (especially in the area of energy efficiency) by informing both the homeowners in Scotland and companies operating in the home improvement industry. In addition both initiatives should further elevate the GGF’s profile in Scotland and build on the progress made.

Highlights of the week

• GGF representatives meeting former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond MSP
• Richard Lyle MSP mentioning the GGF and the Federation’s “Cut the VAT” campaign in his speech in The Meeting of Parliament

Richard Lyle MSP:

“At an event before I came to the Chamber, I had a discussion with representatives from the Glass and Glazing Federation. Those representatives informed me that the UK Government is charging 20 per cent VAT, instead of 5 per cent VAT, on replacement windows. That is another example of where we could improve matters and help to address fuel poverty, if we were minded to do so and if the UK Government would do so.”

James Lee, Head of Group Marketing and Communications at GG: “This has been an outstanding week for the GGF at the Scottish Parliament. We have made direct contact and held good discussions with over 20 MSPs, who have taken a genuine interest in the GGF, our campaigns and our industry.”

In addition to the events at The Scottish Parliament, GGF Scotland also held two well attended exclusive Members’ events.

• Russell Day – Fire Resistant Glazing (FRG) Training Course for installers
• FRG Training + GGF Scotland Members met to discuss key issues

Alex Gray, Chairman of GGF Scotland summed up the week: “It was clear that Members enjoyed themselves at the Scottish Parliament and the related GGF events with good networking and topical discussions throughout. Thanks to all the Members for attending and also thank you also to the GGF staff for their tremendous efforts in making this a week to remember for GGF Scotland.”

Contact:

Glass and Glazing Federation
40 Rushworth Street
London
SE1 0RB
LONDON

t: 0207 939 9101

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