Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report Debate
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Jim Shannon
Main Page: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)Department Debates - View all Jim Shannon's debates with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report
Jim Shannon Excerpts(1 day, 15 hours ago)
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Angela Rayner
I absolutely agree with my hon. Friend, and I too pay tribute to Rod and his colleagues. Not long after my appointment as Secretary of State, there was another fire in the borough of Barking and Dagenham. The same first responders went out again, and the trauma and the fact that they put themselves in harm’s way without question or fear are a testament to the work that they do. We owe them a debt of gratitude, and we also owe them the ongoing support that the Government continue to provide.
Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)
I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for her statement, and for the update on phase 2. I think we are all encouraged by her commitment to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law of the land, and also to ensure that safety is improved.
Last December, the Government embarked on plans to ban the firms involved in the Grenfell fire from public procurement. That is a welcome step, but what further steps can be taken to make all firms involved in building works liable for ensuring that all materials and other products are fit for purpose? Lessons must be learnt for the future from this awful tragedy.
May I also ask the Deputy Prime Minister to share the conclusions of the report with all regional administrations, especially the Northern Ireland Assembly, so that safety can be improved throughout this great United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and we all gain?
Angela Rayner
My hon. Friend the building safety Minister was in Northern Ireland yesterday. I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman that we should all work together to improve safety. We must ensure that the Building Safety Regulator, and what we have put in train, produce the results that we need. Hopefully this will be a clearer path, clarifying what people’s legal obligations are and making it plain that if they do not do what they will be expected to do, there will be absolute enforcement of the rules.