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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of refunding the cost of waking watches to residents prior to the introduction of the Building Safety Fund.

We have announced an additional £27 million, on top of the existing £35 million already being provided, to pay for the installation of fire alarm systems in all buildings with a waking watch regardless of height or the reason for the waking watch being in place.

Waking watch measures should only be used in the most exceptional circumstances and for the shortest period possible. The installation of common alarms systems is an  approach supported by current industry led guidance that will keep residents safe and end the misuse of costly waking watch measures, which are usually paid for by leaseholders.

Funding is available for the installation of alarms where waking watches are in place at the time of the fund launch.