Overview

This bill mandates an independent public inquiry into the UK government's response to fire and building safety concerns since the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017. The inquiry will investigate government actions related to identifying building safety deficiencies, protecting public safety through the Building Safety Fund, and supporting leaseholders affected by fire safety issues.

Description

The bill requires the Secretary of State to establish a public inquiry as soon as reasonably practicable. The inquiry's scope will cover several key areas:

• Building Safety Deficiencies: Investigating the government's efforts to determine the extent of building safety problems, including those in buildings under 18 meters and those with combustible cladding.
• Building Safety Fund: Examining the government's actions to ensure the Building Safety Fund adequately protects public safety, considering social housing, buildings under 18 meters, non-cladding fire safety defects, waking watch costs, and the fund's overall effectiveness.
• Leaseholder Support: Assessing government support for leaseholders facing remediation costs for fire safety defects, including issues related to limitation periods for legal action, insolvent builders, and the costs and benefits of legal action.

The inquiry will operate under the provisions of the Inquiries Act 2005, ensuring a robust and independent investigation. The bill applies to England and Wales only and comes into force upon passage.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify government spending but will likely incur costs associated with establishing and running the public inquiry. These costs could include fees for the inquiry chair and panel members, legal counsel, administrative support, and witness expenses. Precise figures are not provided in the bill itself.

Groups Affected

• Government: Subject to scrutiny regarding its response to building safety concerns.
• Leaseholders: Their experiences and financial burdens related to fire safety defects will be examined.
• Building owners and developers: Their roles and responsibilities in ensuring building safety may be investigated.
• Public: The inquiry's findings will impact future building safety regulations and policies.

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