Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Fire Safety: Buildings under 18 Metres

Monday 19 April 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial support includes a scheme for buildings between 11 and 18 metres to ensure cladding remediation with leaseholder contributions capped at 50 a month.
  • The Government has set aside 1 billion through the building safety fund for remediation of dangerous cladding in buildings over 18 metres.
  • Over 5.1 billion has been allocated for remediation of taller high-rise buildings addressing issues with combustible materials in new medium-rise buildings as well.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Housing Environment
Context

The question stems from concerns about residents living in buildings under 18 metres facing significant fire safety risks due to the presence of dangerous cladding.

Question

What steps he is taking to support leaseholders living in buildings under 18 metres in height with (a) dangerous cladding and (b) other fire safety defects. Many leaseholders have spent their third lockdown stuck in buildings with serious safety defects and are unsure when the works will be completed.

Answer from Christopher Pincher

We are establishing a scheme to ensure cladding can be remediated on buildings between 11 metres and 18 metres, with leaseholders paying no more than £50 a month. For buildings over 18 metres, funds of £1 billion have been set aside through the building safety fund for dangerous cladding material; work has begun in 106 buildings and will start in another 338 by September.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a clear timeline or specific funding amount for remediation of blocks under 18 metres, only stated it is 'generous'.

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Q2 Janet Daby Lab Lewisham East
Housing Environment
Context

The question is prompted by the four-year anniversary of the Grenfell disaster, highlighting that many residents remain trapped in dangerous homes due to government decisions.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that no leaseholder should have to pay for fire safety problems that are simply not their fault, and that people should not be required to pay even £50 or less a month, regardless of whether their building is 7 metres, 18 metres or even lower?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

Great progress has been made in remediation of high-rise properties. Remediation is either completed or underway in 95% of aluminium composite material-clad buildings, and we are clear that buildings below 18 metres also need help, which is why we have tabled a generous package of support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the questioner's specific ask about leaseholders not having to pay at all for fire safety issues beyond their control.

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Q3 Rushanara Ali Lab Bethnal Green and Stepney
Housing
Context

The question is related to the uncertainty of when remedial works will be completed for residents facing serious safety defects.

Question

Can he explain to the House how generous that programme is, how much is being committed and when our constituents can expect the works to be completed—both for blocks under 18 metres and blocks over 18 metres that require remedial works—so that people do not have to continue to live in potential death traps?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

With respect to buildings over 18 metres, £1 billion has been set aside through the building safety fund; 106 buildings have begun remediation, with another 338 expected by September. For buildings below 18 metres, we are prioritising affordability and accelerating remediation where it is required.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific funding details or a clear timeline for blocks under 18 metres.

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Q4 Mike Amesbury Lab
Housing Environment
Context

The question is prompted by concerns about the use of combustible materials in medium-rise buildings despite a proposed government ban.

Question

Can the Minister explain why three quarters of cladding systems on new medium-rise buildings have used combustible insulation materials despite a proposed Government ban on them? At what stage are the ministerial team going to get a grip of this chaos?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

The Government has undertaken work to ensure addressing the complex issue involving buildings, building owners, warranty providers, insurers and leaseholders. Over £5.1 billion has been allocated for remediation of taller high-rise buildings and a scheme is proposed for properties between 11 and 18 metres.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the specific ask about why combustible materials are still being used despite the ban or when they will resolve it.

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