Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Prime Minister, whether the independent public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will have the power to compel witnesses; and how much funding has been set aside for (a) the inquiry and (b) legal representation to the inquiry for victims.

The independent inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will be set up under the Inquiries Act 2005 and will be publicly funded. This will include funding for legal representation for the victims and families of those affected the devastating fire. It will have the power to compel witnesses. As I said in my oral statement on 22 June, all those with an interest—including survivors and victims’ families—will be consulted about the terms of reference (22 June 2017, Official Report, column 168),

An announcement on the Inquiry will be made shortly.