Housing minister outlines progress made a year after Grenfell

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."