Many constituents have contacted me regarding the terrible loss of life following the Grenfell Tower fire in West London. Constituents have asked what is being done at a national level but also in our constituency to ensure local residents are safe.
My thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and their families and friends who have experienced such terrible trauma and loss. The response of the people who have provided help, compassion and support has been outstanding and I pay tribute to our emergency services, who put their lives in danger to save others.
I completely understand the shock, concern, anger and frustration that exists as a result of the fire. The Prime Minister has ordered a full, judge-led public inquiry, which will give people the answers they deserve.
A Grenfell Tower Recovery task force has been set up in the aftermath of the tragedy to ensure a coordinated response. It is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes representation from a number of government departments. The Government is working with the local authority to ensure that people who lost their homes in the disaster are rehoused in the local area at the earliest opportunity (within 3 weeks at the latest). The Government is also working with local authorities, housing associations, fire and rescue services, and fire safety experts to ensure that all similar buildings are checked and that residents are assured of this.
A new £5 million Grenfell Tower Residents’ Discretionary Fund has also been made immediately available to help those who had to flee their homes. Every household whose home has been destroyed will receive a guaranteed £5,500 minimum down payment from the fund. This money could be used to cover loss of possessions, funerals and emergency supplies. I understand that the fund will be kept under review and will increase if necessary.
I know that the Government is checking quickly with local authorities and housing associations to ensure that all high-rise buildings in their areas have complied with recent fire orders and is conducting a fire safety review of all building similar to Grenfell Tower. As an immediate step, the Government is making available a dedicated testing facility for landlords who are concerned about the cladding of their buildings.
At a constituency level, I have been in contact with our local authorities and the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service to establish what action is being taken locally. As constituents may be aware, the high-rise buildings in our constituency tend to be on the coast, are privately owned and do not comprise social housing. They tend, however, to house those who are elderly. I therefore asked the Prime Minister, during her statement today to the House of Commons on the tragedy, to ensure that the recommendations arising from this tragedy apply to every high-rise building. I made the point that every resident of a high-rise building deserves equal protection from fire and assurance. Here is the exchange from Hansard:
Huw Merriman MP (Bexhill and Battle): I note that the Prime Minister said in her statement that all social landlords have been instructed to carry out additional fire safety checks, but that private landlords will be advised that they have the option of taking up the same facility. Can we ensure that the inquiry looks at both private and social tower blocks, because all citizens should be equal when it comes to safety and assurance.
Prime Minister: The inquiry will obviously focus on what happened at Grenfell Tower, but any implications of the inquiry may very well affect not just social landlords, but private landlords.
I can assure constituents that police and fire investigations are already underway to establish what happened and the Government will take action on findings as they emerge. An initial report will be delivered in a matter of months with a more detailed public inquiry report to follow once the investigation is complete. We need to establish all the facts to make sure nothing like this happens again.
I thank all constituents for taking the time to contact me.