May pledges £5m emergency fund for survivors

THERESA May last night announced a £5million emergency fund for survivors of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Families were also promised that they would be rehoused swiftly in the area and would have a say in setting the terms of the public inquiry into the disaster.

The Prime Minister sought to regain authority by taking charge of the Government response and meeting survivors and local people.

She revealed the aid package to fire victims, volunteers and community leaders at a charity centre near the west London tower, as she insisted she understood the horror people have suffered. Yesterday morning she visited injured survivors at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital having waited for permission from their doctors.

In a statement issued by Downing Street, she said: “I spoke with people who ran from the fire in only the clothes they were wearing.

“They have been left with nothing – no bank cards, no money, no means of caring for their children or relatives. One woman told me she had escaped in only her top and underwear. The package of support I’m announcing today is to give the victims the immediate support they need to care for themselves and for loved ones. We will continue to look at what more needs to be done.

Terrible

“Everyone affected by this tragedy needs reassurance that the Government is there for them at this terrible time – and that is what I am determined to provide.”

Later Mrs May said in an interview: “This was a terrible tragedy. People have lost their lives, others have lost everything, their possessions, their home and everything. What we are doing is putting in place the support that will help them. I’m now absolutely focused on ensuring we get that support on the ground and get to the bottom of what happened.”

The package includes an immediate £5million cash fund, to be distributed by the local council, for survivors to pay for emergency supplies, food, clothes and other costs including funerals.

The Treasury will work with banks to ensure people can access their accounts despite losing bank cards, while the Department for Work and Pensions is liaising with job centres to ensure benefit payments continue.

Grenfell Tower residents are promised new homes within three weeks, with government meeting the cost of temporary accommodation in the meantime.

They will be rehoused in the same borough or the neighbouring one, with families receiving financial assistance if they then have to travel further to their schools.

Mrs May also promised to consult victims about the public inquiry, to ensure their questions are answered and the state will fund families’ legal representation at the hearings.