Opposition MPs have claimed the Government’s fire testing system is in “tatters”, after the Building Research Establishment (BRE) withdrew the results for the insulation used on Grenfell Tower.
Following the announcement last week Labour’s shadow housing minister John Healey Speaking in the House of Commons made the warning, that BRE had withdrawn the 2014 safety test results that approved the insulation materials used on Grenfell Tower.
“Seven months on from Grenfell, the national testing regime is in tatters,” said Mr Healey.
“How many other residents are living in how many other high-rise blocks with that same insulation, which now has an invalid approval?” he asked.
“Are any other BRE tests similarly flawed? In particular, is the Government’s own testing programme sound?”
The minister was also challenged by Labour MP Steve Reed to order the immediate removal of the cladding used in Grenfell from “every residential block where it is present”, including the Citiscape block in his own Croydon constituency, where residents are being asked foot the bill for repairs.
“I have been involved in relation to the Citiscape case in Croydon and we have made it clear to the freeholder there, just as we have done everywhere else, that there is a moral case for avoiding any unreasonable costs to leaseholders or tenants,” replied the minister.
“The leaseholders and tenants also of course have the option of going to the first-tier tribunal to settle an issue legally, and it would be wrong for ministers to interfere in that process.”
