Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Mike Amesbury and Alex Burghart

Thursday 18th January 2024 Commons Chamber

[Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) (Lab)]

10. What recent discussions he has had with the chair of the Grenfell Tower inquiry on the timetable for publication of the phase 2 report.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, Cabinet Office (Alex Burghart)]

The Grenfell Tower inquiry is a statutory inquiry established under the Inquiries Act 2005. Under the Act, the drafting of an inquiry’s final report and the timing of that process are rightly matters for the independent inquiry chair. In its November 2023 newsletter, published on its website, the inquiry confirmed that

“the report will not be published before April next year but the Panel hopes to be able to send it to the Prime Minister before the next anniversary of the fire with publication soon thereafter.”

[Mike Amesbury]

I thank the Minister for his response. It is now nearly seven years since the Grenfell tragedy, in which 72 people lost their lives. What assurances has he had from the inquiry chair that there will be no further delays in the publication of the report? It is essential that justice is done, and I know that view is echoed across the House.

[Alex Burghart]

The hon. Gentleman will have seen, further to what I have just read out, the report that was published in November, in which the chair explained that rule 13 of the inquiry rules requires the inquiry

“to write to those who might be subject to criticism”

and give them fair time to respond. The newsletter states:

“The rule 13 process is proving time consuming.”

However, I hope that the hon. Gentleman will be reassured by the dates that I have read out.