Grenfell Tower

I would like to reassure you that we will continue to do absolutely everything possible to help all of those affected by this tragedy through the difficult days, weeks, months and years ahead.

I am assured that the Government is checking quickly with local authorities 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. Further, the Government is making available a dedicated testing facility for landlords who are concerned about the cladding of their buildings. I have also received assurances for the Chief Executive of Tendring District Council that there is no rogue cladding on any of the publicly owned buildings in the Clacton constituency.

A new £5 million Grenfell Tower Residents’ Discretionary Fund will be made available to help those who had to flee their homes in the middle of the night leaving their possessions behind. Every household whose home has been destroyed as a result of the fire will receive a guaranteed £5,500 minimum down payment from the fund. People who lost their homes in the disaster must be rehoused at the earliest possible opportunity. We will aim to do this within 3 weeks at the latest, and guarantee that we will rehouse people as close as practically possible to where they previously lived, so they can continue to access the same public services such as their local school or local GP. And we are also sending significant Government support to the Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Once more immediate strands of work are underway, there needs to be a full public inquiry into the tragic events at Grenfell Tower. Residents’ voices must be heard by the inquiry and we will provide funding for their legal representation to make sure this happens.