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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what recent estimate he has made of the number of professionals who are qualified to undertake fire risk appraisals of external wall construction in accordance with the code of practice entitled PAS 9980:2022.

We recognise the importance of an appropriately skilled workforce to assess the risk to life of fire in buildings, in line with the new British Institutions Standard PAS 9980. We are continuing to work with the fire safety sector to develop a sustainable, long-term workforce equipped with the necessary skills to assess the fire risk of external walls. This includes engagement with firms to establish existing market capacity as well as measures to invest in long-term training and improved career pathways for fire risk professionals.