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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how many of the former residents of Grenfell Tower have been rehoused in permanent accommodation as of 23 January 2018.

The latest figures from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC), as of 25 January 2018, show that 95 households from Grenfell Tower or Walk have accepted an offer of permanent accommodation, and that of this number, 54 households have moved into permanent accommodation. Figures also show that 96 households from Grenfell Tower or Walk remain in emergency accommodation, which includes those living in hotels, serviced apartments and some who are living with friends and family. The Council has assured me that no residents from Grenfell Tower or Walk are living in bed and breakfast accommodation.

Whilst permanent homes are being acquired and made ready for residents, the Council is working closely with residents to help them move into good quality, local interim homes. The Council has committed that the interim homes offered to residents are self-contained, fully furnished, big enough for each family and are not in a high rise building. The Council is also providing advice and help to residents in setting up their new temporary home. A total of 58 households from Grenfell Tower or Walk have moved into interim accommodation.

The Council has acquired hundreds of permanent homes for the survivors of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk to give people as much choice as possible. But while no-one should be rushed into making such an important decision about where they are going to live, for some the pace has been too slow.

I expect the Council to do whatever is necessary to ensure households can move into settled homes as swiftly as possible, but to do so sensitively and taking into account individual needs.