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

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans he has to strengthen requirements for residential lifts for use by disabled people during a fire to include prevention of smoke inhalation.

The Government published, on 18 December 2018, a call for evidence to form the basis for a technical review of Approved Document B (Fire Safety). Paragraphs 35 and 36 address means of escape for disabled people and paragraphs 38 to 41 address the issue of smoke and toxicity.

The call for evidence closed on 15 March 2019. The Department is in the process of reviewing the evidence provided. My Department is also committed to reviewing Approved Document M (Access to and use of buildings) and a key objective is to ensure that these two projects deliver consistent and co-ordinated advice on this important matter.