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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to the Answer of 11 February 2019 to Question 217589 on Buildings: Insulation and with reference to the interim report of the Building Research Establishment for his Department entitled Fire Performance of Cladding Materials Research – Experimental methodology and performance criteria, for what reasons the bespoke testing methodology does not include measurement of the production of toxic smoke from burning materials.

At this stage the study is aimed at developing a better understanding of the behaviour of a range of cladding products when exposed to fire and their possible contribution to fire spread. The findings will help determine, in consultation with the expert panel, any further action we should take. This could include further testing at large scale and/or advice to building owners.