Debates between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Smith of Basildon during the 2024 Parliament

Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report

Debate between Lord Cromwell and Baroness Smith of Basildon
Monday 9th September 2024

(2 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Smith of Basildon Portrait Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)
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My Lords, nothing is more important than feeling safe and secure in your own home. My noble friend Lady Taylor, who is sitting with me, is well aware of this as a former council leader. The department is aware of the issue and is looking into it.

Lord Cromwell Portrait Lord Cromwell (CB)
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I add my thanks to the Leader of the House for the very moving and, in a true sense, infuriating sharing of that Statement. I think we would all agree that dealing with the issues has been far too slow. As the noble Lord, Lord Newby, and others have pointed out, it is now seven years since Grenfell. Is it to be reasonably expected, given the size of the challenge, that, when we reach the grim 10th anniversary—or even the 15th—there are still going to be buildings with flammable cladding on them?

Baroness Smith of Basildon Portrait Baroness Smith of Basildon (Lab)
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I very sincerely hope not. It is our intention to accelerate this as quickly as possible. It would be a failure if, in 15 years, we still had cladding on those buildings. We would not be fulfilling our obligations as a Parliament, a Government and a country.