Building Safety 2021-10-25
2021-10-25
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Concerns over building safety, particularly regarding cladding and costs for leaseholders.
What steps is the government taking to improve building safety? The Government's programme has not been fast enough or sufficient for thousands of leaseholders in Putney who face unsafe buildings and increased costs. They need faster action and a solution through a building works agency as proposed by Labour, to find, fix, fund, and certify these buildings safely.
The Government is investing £5.1 billion in removing unsafe cladding from high-rise buildings through a new tax on industry and has distributed £734 million for 689 identified buildings, with 65,000 homes undergoing remediation. Ninety-seven percent of buildings with unsafe aluminium composite material cladding have been remediated or are in the process.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Labour's plan for a building works agency was not addressed
We Want To Speed Up The Process And Work With Developers, Local Authorities, And Fire Services
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
▸
Context
Leaseholders in Putney face issues with unsafe buildings, increased costs, and a lack of confidence in building safety.
What steps is the government taking to improve building safety? Leaseholders cannot sell their homes due to ongoing costs for waking watch or insurance and remediation works. They need Ministers to solve this crisis now. Will the Minister agree to Labour's plan for a building works agency?
The Government has distributed £734 million through the Building Safety Fund for 689 identified buildings, with 65,000 homes in remediation. Ninety-seven percent of buildings with unsafe aluminium composite material cladding have been addressed.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Labour's plan was not directly addressed or agreed to
We Want To Speed Up The Process And Work With Developers, Local Authorities, And Fire Services
Response accuracy
Q3
Direct Answer
▸
Context
Leaseholders in North West Leicestershire are concerned about costs and accountability for building safety.
How will the building safety charge benefit leaseholders living in North West Leicestershire? The charge is intended to ensure a powerful regulator oversees building safety from design through operation. Leaseholders need assurance that costs will be transparent and sensible.
The Building Safety Charge ensures the new regulator is responsible for building safety throughout its lifecycle, with accountable persons for buildings. Leaseholder costs will be limited and transparent to ensure clarity.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy
Q4
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Building Safety Bill is in Committee, and there is concern about protecting leaseholders from remediation costs.
Given the high expectations for resolving this crisis, will the Minister work with us to bring forward necessary legislation? Does he agree we face a closing window of opportunity? We need protection for leaseholders from remediation costs and a comprehensive plan to resolve these issues.
During the Building Safety Bill's Committee stage, we have been working to ensure that leaseholders are not exposed to unfair costs. This effort started after the Grenfell disaster and will continue.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitments or timelines for bringing forward necessary legislation were not provided
Collegiality During Amendments
Response accuracy
Q5
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The Building Safety Bill is in Committee, and there is concern about tackling root causes to protect leaseholders.
Given the need for resolution, will he tackle root issues by protecting leaseholders in law? Does he accept that bringing forward a comprehensive plan to assess, fix, fund, and certify all tall buildings before costs escalate is crucial?
We have committed to raising funds through taxes and levies on residential developers, ensuring buildings needing remediation are addressed. The Building Safety Bill mandates building owners pursue funding routes before passing costs to leaseholders, which can be challenged in tribunals.
▸
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitments or actions addressing root causes were not provided
Further Evidence On Cladding Prevalence Will Help Finalise Decisions
Response accuracy
Q6
Partial Answer
▸
Context
The question arises from ongoing discussions about the financial burden on innocent leaseholders who have been wrongly charged for remediation costs.
The Minister has been very accessible, and I have had conversations with him over this issue, but I am still not clear what people can do if they have already been stung with costs in respect of remediation. To go to a tribunal is a gamble, because legal costs may be incurred. Can he give further thought in his approach to this matter to how to get money back for people who have wrongly been charged when they are merely innocent leaseholders?
I am obliged, as ever, to my right hon. Friend. He is right. We have met on a number of occasions to discuss these issues. I will not labour the point about the public funds we have already expended on remediation or the plans we have to bring forward further support for those who find themselves in this very difficult and distressing situation. I will always talk to him and consider the thoughts and ideas he presents.
▸
Assessment & feedback
The Minister did not provide specific steps on how people can recover wrongly charged remediation costs or details about tribunal processes.
Response accuracy