Written questions and answers

The Coroner’s report into Lakanal House recommended simplifying the fire safety guidance relating to Building Regulations (Approved Document B). This work was being progressed.

Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, we will need to consider the position on guidance further alongside the Prime Minister’s commitment to look at wider issues. This work will now need to be informed by any recommendations that the independent inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire makes.

In the interim, we have set up an expert panel to advise us on any immediate steps that should be taken to ensure fire safety. The role of the expert panel and the advice already given following Grenfell is set out in a note published last week at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-note-on-safety-checks-and-testing

The Coroner’s report into Lakanal House recommended simplifying the fire safety guidance relating to Building Regulations (Approved Document B). This work was being progressed.

Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower, we will need to consider the position on guidance further alongside the Prime Minister’s commitment to look at wider issues. This work will now need to be informed by any recommendations that the independent inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire makes.

In the interim, we have set up an expert panel to advise us on any immediate steps that should be taken to ensure fire safety. The role of the expert panel and the advice already given following Grenfell is set out in a note published last week at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/explanatory-note-on-safety-checks-and-testing

All homes should be of a reasonable standard and all tenants should have a safe place to live. Under the Landlord and Tennant Act 1985, landlords have a general obligation to ensure that they keep in repair the structure and exterior of any property they rent out. Local authorities have strong and effective powers to deal with poor quality unsafe accommodation and we expect them to use those powers. Under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System, local authorities can issue an Improvement Notice or a Hazard Awareness Notice if they find a defect in the property. In extreme circumstances, the local authority may decide to make repairs themselves, or to prohibit that property from being rented out.

The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places a duty on housing providers to undertake a fire risk assessment of the common parts of their properties and to put in place and maintain adequate fire precautions to manage the risk that lives could be lost in a fire. The Order is enforced by fire and rescue authorities.

All social landlords have been instructed to carry out fire safety checks on tower blocks and ensure the appropriate safety and response measures are in place. This is being done in co-operation with local fire and rescue services. We are testing cladding in all relevant tower blocks. It is the landlord’s responsibility to ensure that people are safe through funding fire safety improvements. Where works are necessary to ensure the fire safety of a building, we will ensure that lack of financial resources will not prevent them going ahead.

The Treasury may authorise issues out of the Fund subject to the limit set on the capital of the Fund by the Contingencies Fund Act 1974. The methodology for calculation can be found at the following link to the Act:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/18/pdfs/ukpga_19740018_en.pdf