Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth on 22 December 2017 (HL4184), what assessment they have made of the introduction of mandatory sprinkler systems for new buildings in Wales in considering (1) the benefit of introducing such measures in England, and (2) the cost of such measures in England.

The Government has commissioned Dame Judith Hackitt to lead an independent review of the Building Regulations and fire safety system. Any decision on future fire safety requirements will be taken following the completion of that review, which is expected to be published this Spring, and will involve consideration of the likely impact of those changes. The department is taking preliminary steps to gather information that would assist us in doing so.