The Secretary of
State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has claimed there has been
an "unprecedented effort across government and our public services"
in the year since the Grenfell Tower fire.
James Brokenshire
was making a statement to the House of Commons yesterday and his claim follows
the Prime Minister Theresa May's admission that the initial response to the
tragedy from local and central government had not been good enough.
As the public
inquiry into the fire continues, the Hackitt Review into building regulations
for high-rise building progresses and the police's criminal investigation
gathers pace, Mr Brockenshire told MPs that the consultation will be released
in full next week.
He also said help is
still being provided by a range of issues from advice on benefits to emotional
and mental health support.
"In total, we
have spent over £46 million of national government funds – and committed a
further £34 million to help meet rehousing costs, deliver new mental health
services and deliver improvements to the Lancaster West Estate," he said.
"Clearly, one
of the most pressing issues has been rehousing those who lost their homes.
"A large scale
programme of investment work has been under way to ensure they are of good
quality and personalised to meet the needs of families. The council has
acquired over 300 homes in and around the borough - 203 households needed new
homes; 198 have accepted permanent or temporary accommodation; which means that
all but 5 households have accepted offers; and 134 have now moved in.
"While there
has been progress in recent weeks, overall the pace has been too slow.
"My department
and the Independent Taskforce are continuing to provide scrutiny and challenge
to the council and we have provided additional resources directly to the
council to help them speed up this work."
He acknowledged that
all those affected also badly need answers and to see justice done.
"The Grenfell
Tower Inquiry and Metropolitan Police investigations will ensure this
happens," he continued. "But we must also learn from what has
happened.
"Over the past
year my department has been working closely with fire and rescue services,
local authorities and landlords to make sure other buildings like Grenfell
Tower are safe.
"Remediation
work has started on two-thirds of buildings in the social housing sector.
"And the Prime
Minister announced last month that the government will fully fund the
removal and replacement of potentially dangerous ACM cladding on buildings over
18 metres owned by social landlords, with costs estimated at £400 million.
"The private
sector must step up and I am not ruling anything out if they do not.
"In addition, I
recently welcomed Dame Judith Hackitt’s final, comprehensive report
following her Independent
Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety.
"In response, I
committed to bringing forward legislation to reform the system of fire safety
and give residents a stronger voice.
"Having
listened carefully to concerns, the government intends to ban the use of
combustible materials on the external walls of high-rise residential buildings,
subject to consultation. We will publish the consultation next week.
"It is
essential that people living in buildings like Grenfell Tower are not only safe
but they feel the state understands their lives and works for them."
