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 the government's actions regarding building safety deficiencies, the Building Safety Fund, and support for leaseholders affected by fire safety issues.

Description

The bill establishes a public inquiry led by the Secretary of State. The inquiry's scope includes:

• Government Actions: Investigating the government's actions to identify and address building safety deficiencies, including in buildings below 18 meters and those with combustible cladding.
• Building Safety Fund: Examining the design and effectiveness of the Building Safety Fund, specifically its allocation to social housing, buildings under 18 meters, non-cladding fire safety issues, and the adequacy of funding.
• Leaseholder Support: Assessing the government's support for leaseholders, covering remediation costs (not caused by leaseholders), limitation periods for legal action, issues with insolvent builders, and the costs/benefits of legal action.

The inquiry will operate under the Inquiries Act 2005, ensuring a robust and transparent process.

Government Spending

The bill does not directly specify government spending. However, the inquiry itself will likely incur costs associated with staffing, legal fees, and witness testimonies. The findings could also lead to substantial future government spending on remediation works and compensation for leaseholders.

Groups Affected

• Government: The inquiry will scrutinize the government's actions and policies.
• Leaseholders: The inquiry directly impacts leaseholders affected by fire safety defects, potentially leading to financial compensation or policy changes.
• Building Developers and Construction Companies: The inquiry's findings could have implications for the industry's practices and liability.
• Social Housing Providers: The inquiry will examine the government's support for social housing concerning fire safety.

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