Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2017 to Question 750, on building regulations: fires, what progress his Department has made on simplifying the fire safety guidance relating to Building Regulations (Approved Document B).
Answered by Lord Sharma
Work to simplify the guidance 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.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2017 to Question 750, on building regulations: fires, whether his Department plans to call for written submissions when reviewing fire safety guidance relating to Building Regulations (Approved Document B).
Answered by Lord Sharma
Work to simplify the guidance 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.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2017 to Question 750, on building regulations: fires, if the Government will make an assessment of the merits of bringing forward legislative proposals on installing automatic fire suppression systems in all new build residential premises.
Answered by Lord Sharma
It is already a requirement in the Building Regulations guidance for new buildings (dwellings and offices) over 30 metres to have a sprinkler system since. Following the tragedy at Grenfell Tower the Prime Minister has committed to look at wider issues, and in the light of the terms of reference for the public inquiry.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 6 July 2017 to Question 750, on building regulations: fires, to what extent the findings of the review of fire safety guidance will inform the Grenfell Tower fire inquiry.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Work to simplify the guidance 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, and in the light of the terms of reference for the public inquiry when published.
An independent expert panel has been set up to provide advice to the Government on any immediate measures needed to make buildings safe following the Grenfell Tower fire. The panel will be led by Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner and former Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. It will consider safety measures, policies, inspection and regulation, taking account of both the Grenfell Tower fire and ongoing fire safety inspections. It will look at any immediate action required to ensure public confidence that everything possible is being done to make all public and private buildings safe as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with Ministers in the devolved administrations on fire safety.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Ministers have been in contact with the devolved administrations since the Grenfell Tower fire to discuss action to improve fire safety.
After the Department wrote to local authorities and housing associations on the 22 June to outline the steps to ensure the safety of residential buildings, the Department then shared this letter with the devolved administrations, alongside all letters the Department has sent to local authorities and housing associations regarding the safety of residential tower blocks.
The Department wrote to devolved administrations on the 28 June to outline the steps to ensure the safety of public buildings, schools and hospitals. Devolved administrations are following the same process as local authorities and housing associations, including the Building Research Establishment screening and testing process, and are also receiving the same support from the fire and rescue services.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to carry out further consultations on changes to firefighter pensions in order to reach a settlement to the dispute on this issue.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
On 23 May we published a second consultation on the draft regulations to implement the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015. Under the scheme design a firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full career aged 60 will get a £19,000 a year pension. The Department will carry out further consultations during 2014 on the governance and transitional arrangements for the firefighter pension reforms. I do not intend to consult again on the draft regulations on which I am currently consulting. The Fire Brigades Union should engage in the current formal consultation process rather than pursuing unnecessary industrial action. The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-regulations-to-introduce-a-new-firefighters-pension-scheme-from-april-2015 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether his Department plans to carry out further consultations on changes to firefighter pensions in order to reach a settlement to the dispute on this issue.
Answered by Brandon Lewis
On 23 May we published a second consultation on the draft regulations to implement the Firefighters' Pension Scheme 2015. Under the scheme design a firefighter who earns £29,000 and retires after a full career aged 60 will get a £19,000 a year pension. The Department will carry out further consultations during 2014 on the governance and transitional arrangements for the firefighter pension reforms. I do not intend to consult again on the draft regulations on which I am currently consulting. The Fire Brigades Union should engage in the current formal consultation process rather than pursuing unnecessary industrial action. The consultation can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/consultation-on-the-regulations-to-introduce-a-new-firefighters-pension-scheme-from-april-2015 and copies have been placed in the Library of the House.