James Brokenshire: Ministers and officials meet and speak regularly with the Independent Grenfell Recovery Taskforce to support their work in both challenging and supporting the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; and providing assurance on the Council’s capacity and capability to deliver a recovery strategy.
James Brokenshire: The Department believes that it has identified all residential buildings in the social sector (local authority and housing association-owned) over 18 metres with aluminium composite material cladding that does not meet the requirements set out in building regulations guidance. We are in regular contact with local authorities and housing associations and will update our records and monthly...
James Brokenshire: The Department is committed to carrying out a review of selective licensing. The launch of the review will be announced in due course.
James Brokenshire: There are no plans to carry out any building specific testing but we have commissioned further research on the fire performance of external wall systems, which we expect to publish later this year. The advice note referred to in my earlier answer to Question UIN 145539 on 29 May 2018 sets out how building owners can assess the safety of other cladding systems for themselves, with appropriate...
James Brokenshire: The screening tests, sponsored by the Government, are designed specifically to identify the type of core material that has been used in an aluminium composite material panel. As such these tests would not be suitable for assessing other products. Instead, building owners with other types of cladding should consider the advice referenced in my earlier answer to Question UIN 145539 on 29 May...
James Brokenshire: The Cutland report made a number of recommendations on the operation of Building Regulations competent person schemes. As a result this Department revised the Conditions of Authorisation under which the schemes operate to make them more robust as to the competence of members and to provide enhanced consumer protection. In addition all schemes are now required to be accredited to a quality...
James Brokenshire: I thank the right hon. Gentleman for his response. I can say to him that, yes, we are very firmly focused on the outstanding issue of those needing to move into permanent accommodation. Since my last statement to the House, I have been pressing the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea and its contractor. It is fair to say that, as I indicated in the initial response, the council had issues...
James Brokenshire: I certainly understand the concerns that my hon. Friend and other hon. Members have expressed, which is why I have met a number of building owners directly to set out our expectations. The industry is considering how to ensure that those obligations are not passed on to leaseholders, but there is a growing sense of doing the right thing. It is notable that more building owners have determined...
James Brokenshire: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for her comments and for the indication about the Scottish Government working with us as we seek to take a number of these proposals forward. Judith Hackitt’s report was very much focused on high-rise residential blocks, but she did indicate a need for reflection on whether the requirements she set out should have broader application. Clearly, as we move...
James Brokenshire: A considerable body of work needs to be advanced, and we are advancing it. My hon. Friend mentions the fire service, but we are also engaging with others on taking forward the implementation of the Hackitt review. It will require legislation and we want to get that right, and I will certainly be updating the House on the next steps in the coming weeks so that we can make that a reality. We...
James Brokenshire: I am grateful to the hon. Lady for highlighting the particular case in her constituency. The purpose of the consultation that I set out—the technical consultation that I intend to issue next week in relation to the banning of combustible cladding—is absolutely about seeking to give that clarity. It will obviously allow people to respond to that to ensure that this is in the right...
James Brokenshire: Trust lies at the absolute heart of all this, and the issue of escalation is one that Judith Hackitt refers to starkly and clearly in her report; it is one of the key recommendations. Obviously, all of it sets out change that needs to happen, but it is important that the complaints—the voices—are listened to and that there is a means of escalation so that change can happen.
James Brokenshire: We will certainly be looking at steps that can be taken sooner rather than later in respect of the Hackitt review. As I said to the House when the review was published, while some of this will require primary legislation, not all of it will. Therefore, as we look at how to take this forward, I have charged my officials to set out what we may be able to do sooner rather than later, and where...
James Brokenshire: I hear that message loud and clear. It was a message that was conveyed to me very firmly at the leaseholder roundtable that I convened to hear directly from those who are really suffering at the moment—the concerns, the risks, the fear, the anxieties that they have. I think industry is starting to listen. I indicated some of the progress that has been made, but that needs to be at...
James Brokenshire: I know that that is an issue of particular concern to the hon. Gentleman. He will know that the Government have committed £400 million in respect of the remediation of combustible cladding. He makes a slightly different point, but we obviously have given financial flexibilities to local authorities in respect of other measures, and we are looking to provide any further technical detail...
James Brokenshire: I have already set out the position of the sprinkler issue in relation to new buildings. Obviously, it is for building owners to assess risk and consider what is appropriate for them. We have sought to support the sector in relation to remediation of combustible cladding with the £400 million and give financial flexibilities to local authorities, too. We will continue to keep the...
James Brokenshire: I must confess to the hon. Gentleman that I am not conscious of his early-day motion, but I will certainly look at it in due course to see the specific point that he has made. If any issues come through, I certainly commit to write to him in respect of his early-day motion. Obviously, we continue to keep the regulations under review, and, of course, the inquiry itself will be looking at a...
James Brokenshire: We must look at the overall position of safety in buildings. I suppose that we could point to the fact that the Hackitt report drew that out. It is for building owners to seek professional advice and to decide whether to fit sprinklers on the basis of their assessment of the particular risk in a particular building. I must point out that my Department did write to local authorities and...
James Brokenshire: With permission, Mr Speaker, I would like to make a statement on the Government’s response to the Grenfell Tower fire, meeting our commitment to update the House following the Opposition day debate on 16 May. I am also writing to the Chair of the Select Committee on Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide a formal report on progress, a copy of which will be placed in the...