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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, how much funding per council the Government has provided for the retrofitting of sprinklers in the most recent period for which figures are available; and if he will list the councils that have received such funding.

In May, the Prime Minister announced that the Government would fully fund the removal and replacement of unsafe Aluminium Composite Material cladding systems on social residential buildings 18 metres and over owned by councils and housing associations. MHCLG is allocating £248 million to replace cladding on 135 buildings.

We will also provide financial flexibilities for local authorities who need to undertake other essential fire safety work, including retrofitting sprinklers where these are considered to be essential, but the Government is not providing funding for this work. Forty-four local authorities have contacted the department to discuss their options for funding fire safety work, including sprinklers, for buildings they own. To date none have opted to take advantage of the flexibilities available.