Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Oral contribution of 19 October 2017, Official Report, column 1002, on Grenfell Tower, what plans he has to audit the management, operation, facilities and safety of all social housing.

Following the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, the Government has established a comprehensive Building Safety Programme with the aim of ensuring that high-rise residential buildings are safe, and that residents feel safe in them.

We have identified all Aluminium Composite Material cladding likely to constitute a significant fire hazard on social housing buildings in England over 18 metres in height; we are working with local authorities and housing associations to ensure that interim measures are in place to guarantee the safety of residents, and that there is a clear remediation plan for each affected building.

We have also asked local authorities to identify such cladding systems on privately-owned residential tower blocks, using their powers under the Housing Act 2004 as appropriate, to ensure necessary action is being taken to ensure residents’ safety, and to report their findings to government.

The Secretary of State has also appointed an Independent Expert Advisory Panel which is considering what further steps can be taken to ensure the safety of residents, and will provide further advice to building owners in due course.

In addition, the Government has announced an independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, which is being led by Dame Judith Hackitt. It is expected that the review will present an interim report before the end of the year, and a final report by April 2018.

Alongside the Building Safety Programme, we are committed to bringing forward a Green Paper on social housing. I am meeting tenants and landlords of social housing across England to hear their views, and the resulting Green Paper will be a wide-ranging review of the issues.