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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with reference to Ministerial Statement, Building safety update, HCWS1757, whether his Department plans to (a) commission large scale fire tests on or (b) issue advice on B-rated and D-rated timber cladding following the BS 8414 test result on high pressure laminate cladding and combustible insulation.

The Independent Expert Advisory Panel (IEAP) has issued some advice to building owners with regards to non-Aluminium Composite Material cladding material the advice note is available at the following: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/765761/Expert_Panel_advice_note_on_non-ACM.pdf

The Department has currently no plan to commission a large scale test of timber cladding.