Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of amending building standards to improve indoor air quality for people living with severe mental illness during a) heatwaves and b) periods of extreme heat.

In England, Part F of the Building Regulations requires adequate means of ventilation for people in buildings. Good ventilation is needed to supply fresh air, help ensure good indoor air quality and maintain good thermal comfort. In March, we announced updates to Part F as part of the Future Homes and Buildings Standards, coming into force next year, to support better outcomes for occupants.

Part O of the Building Regulations, which came into force in 2022, requires that new residential buildings are built to mitigate the risk of overheating. This is an important part of our work to adapt our country to face climate change, and it will protect the most vulnerable where they live and sleep. Approved Document O requires that local pollution is taken into account when designing homes, to ensure that the overheating mitigation strategy is usable and safe for occupants.

The Government keeps the Building Regulations under review. The Building Safety Regulator is currently undertaking a technical review of Part O to ensure it is effective and proportionate.