Government statement on building safety

The Government announced proposals today for sprinklers to be installed in new high-rise blocks of flats.

The Secretary of State told MPs,

"I want to update the House this morning accordingly on actions that I intend to take immediately. Firstly, I am consulting on changes to fire safety regulations for new build blocks of flats. We will seek to commit to requiring sprinkler systems as standard in a wider range of new flats. I am minded to reduce the height at which those sprinklers are required down to 18 metres. I'm open to hearing evidence for other relevant thresholds and I will be led by the evidence wherever that takes us."

Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow Minister John Healey asked,

"Why, Mr Speaker, two years and three months after that terrible Grenfell tragedy, are 324 high rise blocks still cloaked in the same dangerous Grenfell style cladding? And why have 72 private block owners not even got a plan in place to fix the problem?" 

• Watch Parliament TV: statement on building funding
• Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.

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