Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, whether the Government funding for remediation combustible cladding includes the remediation of (a) combustible insulation, (b) wooden timber balconies and (c) other non-cladding related building safety defects.

The Government’s existing funding schemes are providing £1.6 billion to remove and replace unsafe cladding systems from high rise residential buildings. This is because unsafe cladding acts as an accelerant to fire spread, and funding will remove the biggest obstacle to remediation proceeding. Eligible items covered by funding includes works directly related to the replacement of the unsafe cladding system. Detailed information on eligible items can be found in the relevant prospectus for each fund, available at: www.gov.uk/guidance/building-safety-programme.

Works which are not directly related to the remediation of unsafe cladding systems will not be covered by public funding. Non-cladding defects are therefore not included unless they are integral to the cladding. Government guidance is clear that building safety is the responsibility of building owners and we have given expert advice on a range of safety issues to provide clarity. We will publish more details on how the additional £3.5 billion funding for the removal of unsafe cladding announced on 10 February will work alongside existing funds as soon as possible.