Karen Buck
Main Page: Karen Buck (Labour - Westminster North)
Sajid Javid
As I said in my statement, there will certainly be a need for a complete review across the UK.
Ms Karen Buck (Westminster North) (Lab)
Approximately one in three properties in Westminster towers is leasehold and I am sure the same is true for other blocks. Does the Secretary of State have the power to require leaseholders to install fire doors and other internal fire safety measures? If not, what is he going to do about it and who is going to pay?
Sajid Javid
The hon. Lady raises a very important point. This is often the case, although not exclusively. Many leaseholders have removed fire doors, which is clearly not acceptable. I believe that all the legal powers are in place. Certainly, one of the lessons of this tragedy—this is certainly what we have seen in Camden—is to make sure we take a much greater interest in enforcement.