Says Chancellor

whether the building laws had been breached. He said: “My understanding is the cladding in question, this flammable cladding which is banned in Europe and the US, is also banned here.”

In a statement a spokesman for the Department for Communities and Local Government, said: “Cladding using a composite aluminium panel with a polyethylene core would be non-compliant with current building regulations guidance.

“This material should not be used as cladding on buildings over 18 metres in height.”

But there remained some confusion over the issue last night with building industry figures insisting that there was no such ban on the cladding.