Developers will face legal action to force them to remove dangerous cladding from residential properties if they fail to do it themselves, the First Minister has said.

There are more than 100 buildings across Scotland being assessed for dangerous cladding and if there is an “immediate fire risk” Humza Yousaf said action will be taken.

In Glasgow, several buildings have been identified as having dangerous cladding.

Work has been under way at some developments to remove and replace cladding and special fire safety measures put in place at Lancefield Quay, in Finneston, after it was discovered there.

Kaukab Stewart, SNP MSP for Glasgow Kelvin, asked the First Minister what further action could be taken to move the works forward where residents feel it is not being carried out quickly enough.

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The MSP said she has spoken extensively with residents about the issues they are facing.

She said: "Many have had to put their lives on hold while they await remedial works being carried out. 

"Meantime, they are living in a building with unsafe cladding, many are finding it nearly impossible to sell or even re-mortgage."

She said “People’s lives have been put on hold and some of them are at the end of their tether.

“Local authorities are asking for building warrants for remediation work, developers are putting safety measures in place that are severely imposing on the lives of people living in these buildings.

“And yet many residents and my constituents feel that remediation is not moving quickly enough.”

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She said “My constituents just want their lives back” and asked what more the government could do “to remove unsafe cladding from these buildings more quickly?”.

The First Minister said it was expected that agreement would be reached with developers to carry out work and they would pay for it.

He said: “This means I also expect developers to take responsibility to remediate their buildings so the public purse is not needed to do so.”

He added: “While I urge them to do so voluntarily, we will use all of the levers at our disposal, including legislation if necessary to remediate buildings and protect residents.”

He said the safety of residents was “at the very heart of the cladding remediation programme”.

The First Minister said: “Developers must also do the same, they must step up and fix their buildings.

“Our preference has always been that voluntary agreement with developers and getting agreement of the accord.

“But let me be we are putting the safety of residents first and foremost and we will use all the powers we have, and I reiterate that if necessary we will use legislation to ensure developers do the right thing so we can get on with remediating buildings in line with Scottish building standards.”