Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will publish the terms of reference for the building safety review being conducted as a result of the Grenfell Tower fire; which parties were consulted in drawing up those terms of reference; and if he will set out the qualifications and experience of the technical experts who are advising him on building safety.

The Grenfell Tower expert advisory panel met on 29 June and agreed terms of reference to provide advice to the Communities Secretary. The panel’s press release can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expert-panel-on-safety-meets-for-the-first-time

They also confirmed that they will call upon other experts from a wide range of professions and services as required. The panel has a wealth of experience in fire and building safety, including testing processes.

The panel is chaired by Sir Ken Knight, former London Fire Commissioner and former Government Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. The other core members of the panel are:

Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Building Research Establishment. Amanda Clack, President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. Roy Wilsher, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council.

A separate independent Public Inquiry will investigate what happened at Grenfell Tower and the wider lessons to be learnt from the fire.