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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps is he taking to improve the regulation of Approved Inspectors in the building industry.

Approved Inspectors are an important part of the future system proposed by Dame Judith Hackitt’s Independent Review of the Building Regulations and Fire Safety System. In line with Dame Judith’s recommendations, the Government will end the ability of a developer to choose which building control body oversees the construction of higher-risk buildings. We are working with the Joint Regulators Group and representatives of Approved Inspectors to identify the best way to achieve this while retaining sufficient regulatory capability and capacity under the new system. The Department will also commission a review of the future role of the Approved Inspectors under the new regime.