Prime Minister chaired a meeting of the
Grenfell Recovery Taskforce this morning and received updates
about the support for those affected as well as the wider picture
elsewhere.
On Grenfell Tower specifically, the Prime Minister received an
overview from the Met Police on the work around victim
identification and there were also updates on rehousing, where
the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and
Local Government (DCLG) spoke about the discussions taking place
with residents and the progress being made in identifying
permanent homes for those displaced from Grenfell Tower. Other
discussions focused on financial payments to residents and the
plans to announce details of the Public Inquiry shortly.
On the wider picture around the testing of buildings in
England, DCLG has now issued advice to local authorities,
housing associations and local fire and rescue services on steps
to be taken to ensure the safety of residents pending replacement
of cladding, and it is also working with the Department of Health
and Department of Education to ensure samples from schools and
hospitals are sent in for testing.
There was also an update on the situation surround the Chalcots
Estate in Camden.
Although the wider issues which led to these evacuations have not
been seen elsewhere, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State
for DCLG emphasised the need for local authorities to speed up
the process of sending samples to the test centre.
There will be a meeting of the Sub Group on Building Safety
tomorrow and the Secretary of State for DCLG will deliver a
statement to Parliament later today.
