John
Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, responding to the release of new
information on fire safety tests of tower blocks, said:
“Five
weeks on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government’s system of fire safety
checks on tower blocks is not fit for purpose.
“The
latest statement from Ministers, smuggled out yesterday evening as the Commons
finished for the day, confirms that there are still 52 tower blocks with the
same type of cladding as Grenfell Tower that have not been tested. Even worse,
it confirms there are still thousands of other tower blocks around the country
which may not be safe but which Government tests have ignored.
“These
fire safety tests are vital to reassure residents that their homes are safe,
but the testing process to date has failed to do this. The tests are too slow,
too narrow and confused. Residents are still worried and landlords are in the
dark. Secretary of State Sajid Javid must report fully to Parliament tomorrow
before the summer recess and explain how he is going to get a grip of this
mess.”
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