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1348378

registered interest
date	19/07/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what discussions he has had with property developers in response to the Competition and Markets Authority agreement with Persimmon on freehold costs.
tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
tabling member printed	Justin Madders
uin	35704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/07/2021 answer text <p>Ministers meet a range of stakeholders from the development industry on a regular basis. However, no meetings with developers have specifically covered the CMA’s agreements with Persimmon. The commitments secured by the CMA are a hugely important step and demonstrate our determination to support affected leaseholders. We urge other developers to follow suit.</p> answering member constituency Walsall North answering member printed Eddie Hughes question first answered 26/07/2021 10:00:39 answering member 4635 label Biography information for Eddie Hughes
tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1333917

registered interest
date	14/06/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the fire at the Blue apartment block in Leeds on 8 June, what plans they have, if any, to organise an emergency roundtable meeting with (1) developers, (2) insurance companies, and (3) finance providers, in relation to flammable cladding and other fire safety defects present in residential developments.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of St Albans
uin	HL1080
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2021 answer text <p>The impact on residents living in high-rise buildings with unsafe cladding is clearly understood and recognised. That is why the Government is investing over £5 billion to remediate high rise residential buildings with unsafe cladding.</p><p>Flat owners in buildings between 11 and 18 metres, will be protected from unaffordable costs of cladding removal with a generous government-backed finance scheme, capped at £50 a month.</p><p>The Department and Ministers frequently engage with building owners and developers on their responsibilities for building safety and remediation, as well as insurance and finance providers on their market response to the challenges.</p> answering member printed Lord Greenhalgh question first answered 28/06/2021 14:41:34 answering member 4877 label Biography information for Lord Greenhalgh
tabling member	4308 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans

1332054

registered interest
date	10/06/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department (a) has had and (b) plans to have with representatives of freeholders on mitigating eviction risk to leaseholders in dispute on liability for remedial work and associated costs in relation to fire safety concerns, where leaseholders state an intention to withhold payments to freeholders until the dispute is resolved; and if he will make a statement
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	13919
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2021 answer text <p>Residents' safety continues to be a top priority. We remain committed to ensuring that residents have a strengthened voice and can help to shape measures that affect the safety of their buildings. Regular engagement meetings are held with representatives of both freeholders and leaseholders to understand the issues they face. Officials will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders to improve their safety and confidence in the new regime.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 18/06/2021 12:31:59 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1329986

registered interest
date	07/06/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what his most recent assessment is of the effectiveness of the EWS1 process for residential buildings.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	11462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2021 answer text <p>The EWS1 process is an industry designed valuation tool – it is not a Government form nor a legal requirement. MHCLG estimates that nearly 500,000 leaseholders should not require an EWS1 form, following the new EWS1 valuation guidance from RICS, published in March 2021.</p><p>Most major lenders, representing roughly 80% of the mortgage market, have said that they will adopt the RICS guidance, or already take an even more proportionate approach.</p><p>Recent data from one major lender suggests that an EWS1 already exists for 50% of mortgage applications where one is requested, and we are working with industry to ensure this picture only improves.</p><p>The Government continues to challenge industry on the use of the EWS1 process. We have requested data from lenders and surveyors so that we can understand how the RICS guidance is being applied, and the effect of the process on mortgage applications.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 10/06/2021 16:27:28 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1327478

registered interest
date	24/05/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what provision his Department plans to put in place for people that wish to rely on the new guidance from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors but have already had their External Wall System 1 Form rejected.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne East
tabling member printed	Mr Nicholas Brown
uin	6198
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/05/2021 answer text <p>The EWS1 is not a Government form nor a legal requirement. It was created by industry to help with mortgage valuations for flats in blocks with cladding. MHCLG estimates that if lenders which use the EWS1 process follow the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) guidance, nearly 500,000 flat owners will not need an EWS1 form.</p><p>Most major lenders, representing roughly 80% of the mortgage market, have said that they have adopted the RICS guidance, asking for EWS1 forms on a smaller cohort of buildings, or that they already take a markedly less risk-averse approach.</p><p>The requirement for and use of the EWS1 form is determined by the lending policies of banks and building societies. An EWS1 form remains as valid information for five years.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 27/05/2021 14:43:23 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	523 label Biography information for Mr Nicholas Brown

1315886

registered interest
date	18/05/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, pursuant to his Answer of 17 May 2021 to Question 35, what his Department’s definition of a short period of time is in respect of how long a Responsible Person should operate a Waking Watch; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	2863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>Where a building moves from a Stay Put to Simultaneous Evacuation fire safety strategy, those responsible for the fire safety of the building should follow the expert guidance on Simultaneous Evacuation published by the National Fire Chief’s Council. The guidance recommends that a Waking Watch should only be in place for a short period of time and that the Responsible Person should move quickly to install a common fire alarm system as they are a more cost effective and reliable option. The guidance defines ‘short term’ as the following:</p><p>“Short-Term 2.14. The amount of time needed for Responsible Persons to formulate a longer-term plan for other interim measures (such as the installation of a temporary common fire alarm system or remediating the risk of the external wall system). The length of the ‘short term’ will be dependent upon factors such as the design of the building, the different types of tenures, particularly leaseholders and the needs of residents. The short-term should be as soon as practically possible and no longer than 12 months.”</p><p>For more information, please refer to guidance available at: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk%2FSimultaneous-evacuation-guidance&amp;data=04%7C01%7CBSP_PQ%40communities.gov.uk%7C2438e7cbe5844ac12f7108d91b6ce27e%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637570976727280135%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=4WdvnGbH3znquytP%2BZ%2BJ5aUGRqfFOQBX6xK0oSNwGhk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/Simultaneous-evacuation-guidance.</a><br></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 24/05/2021 16:29:12 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1309508

registered interest
date	15/04/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the effect on the economy of leaseholders (a) losing their home and (b) declaring bankruptcy as a result of the costs of resolving fire safety issues relating to (i) cladding removal, (ii) balcony remediation, (iii) replacing combustible insulation, (iv) replacing missing fire breaks, (v) increased insurance premiums and (vi) waking watches.
tabling member constituency	Denton and Reddish
tabling member printed	Andrew Gwynne
uin	181209
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/04/2021 answer text <p>We have not conducted an economic assessment. However, we do recognise the financial pressures being placed on leaseholders as a result of historic remediation costs.</p><p>We have been clear that building owners and industry should make buildings safe without passing on costs to leaseholders – and where they have not stepped up, we have stepped in. The Government is taking the following steps to ease these pressures:</p><ul><li>In relation to removal and replacement of unsafe cladding systems, we are providing over £5 billion of Government grant funding for the removal of unsafe cladding systems from buildings of 18m and above, and a generous finance scheme (under which no leaseholder will need to pay more than £50 per month) for the removal of unsafe cladding systems from buildings of 11-18m in height.</li><li>As part of our Building Safety Fund funding for remediation of unsafe cladding systems, the Government is providing full funding for the replacement of combustible insulation and missing or defective cavity barriers where these form part of the external wall system.</li><li>In relation to insurance premia we recognise that some leaseholders in high rise buildings are facing rises in buildings insurance. Officials, leaseholders, the ABI and British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA) have met to discuss buildings insurance. The Government is working with industry and looking at a range of options.</li><li>In relation to waking watch costs, the Government has announced a £30 million Waking Watch Relief Fund, to promote replacement of costly Waking Watch interim safety measures with fire alarms. This is consistent with guidance from the National Fire Chiefs Council published in 2019, which emphasises the need to consider installation of common fire alarms where measures are now, or are likely to be in place for the longer term: <a href="https://gbr01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk%2FSimultaneous-evacuation-guidance&amp;data=04%7C01%7CPSChristopherPincher%40communities.gov.uk%7C2b72d385295e403a782d08d903dacbdd%7Cbf3468109c7d43dea87224a2ef3995a8%7C0%7C0%7C637545060511881979%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&amp;sdata=xq1HBEOg4kAzO1CbIuSkUHeCOoprVHozNEA0VrlOEQk%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">https://www.nationalfirechiefs.org.uk/Simultaneous-evacuation-guidance</a></li></ul> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 20/04/2021 17:06:51 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher previous answer version 98012 answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	1506 label Biography information for Andrew Gwynne

1302197

registered interest
date	12/03/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what plans his Department has made in response to the potential future identification of residential buildings being found not to be fire safe.
tabling member constituency	Southampton, Itchen
tabling member printed	Royston Smith
uin	167907
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/03/2021 answer text <p>Through the Building Safety Bill, the Fire Safety Bill and changes to the Fire Safety Order, we are proposing a package of legislative changes that are going to ensure the problems identified with the current building and fire safety regime are rectified and residents are safe.</p><p>To focus the regime on risk, the intention is the scope of the new building safety regime will start with residential buildings with rates of fire which are considerably higher: apartment blocks over 18m. The new building regime is designed to be flexible, and to follow a proportionate, risk-based approach that keeps the scope of the regime under review by the new building safety regulator.</p><p>The building safety regulator will also have wide responsibilities for overseeing the performance of building control bodies and the safety of all buildings including identifying patterns of regulatory failure and making recommendations for improving standards. This will drive up continuous improvement in the performance of all buildings to ensure the safety of occupants.</p><p>We are working with Home Office to ensure the new regime aligns with the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, known as the Fire Safety Order (FSO), which covers fire safety in business or other non-domestic premises including where vulnerable people live and sleep. We will ensure that the two regimes work cohesively as the scope of the regulator expands.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 22/03/2021 16:25:06 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	4478 label Biography information for Royston Smith

1290048

registered interest
date	25/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what progress has been made on the research being undertaken by the Building Research Establishment into trigger heights and thresholds.
tabling member constituency	Barking
tabling member printed	Dame Margaret Hodge
uin	158844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2021 answer text <p>The project on trigger thresholds was commissioned in September 2020 and the research remains on going. The research is currently scheduled to conclude at the end of 2021.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 04/03/2021 13:17:45 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	140 label Biography information for Dame Margaret Hodge

1288135

registered interest
date	22/02/2021
answering body	Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept id	7
answering dept short name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
answering dept sort name	Housing, Communities and Local Government
hansard heading	Housing: Fire Prevention
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what financial support is available for leaseholders whose buildings have historical fire safety defects other than cladding and are not eligible for the Building Safety Fund.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	156283
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2021 answer text <p>Longstanding independent safety advice has been clear that unsafe cladding poses the greatest risk to buildings because it can act as a fuel to a fire. Our approach prioritises action on the risks of unsafe cladding – the costs for remediating this are high, and the risks posed by it are also high. The package of financial measures announced on 10 February therefore focuses on cladding remediation.</p><p>This builds on steps already taken to support leaseholders, including the £30 million waking watch fund to help end excessive costs and new legislation in the Building Safety Bill which will ensure homes are made and kept safer in future.</p><p>However, this does not absolve building owners of their responsibility to ensure their buildings are safe. Government guidance is clear that building safety is the responsibility of building owners and we have given expert advice on a range of safety issues to provide clarity.</p><p>The Government has also allocated additional funding to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) to provide independent, free, initial advice to leaseholders on building safety issues to ensure they are aware of their rights and are supported to understand the terms of their leases.</p> answering member constituency Tamworth answering member printed Christopher Pincher question first answered 02/03/2021 14:58:08 answering member 4075 label Biography information for Christopher Pincher
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell