The Scotsman

‘Shameful’ lack of fire safety progress since Grenfell tragedy

- By RICHARD WHEELER

Ministers have made a “shameful” lack of progress in dealing with fire safety concerns since the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Labour said.

The opposition wants to amend key legislatio­n to ensure the government implements recommenda­tions made by the first phase of the Grenfell Inquiry.

Anew clause one tab led for the Fire Safety Bill would require owners or managers of flats to share informatio­n with their local fire service about the design and materials of the external walls.

They would also be required to carr y out regular insp ec

tions of lifts and individual flat entrance doors, while evacuation and fire safety instructio­ns must be shared with residents of the building.

The bill amends regulation­s in a bid to offer greater clarity over who is responsibl­e for fire safety in blocks of flats.

The legislatio­n was devel - oped in response to the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London on June 14 2017, which claimed 72 lives.

An electrical fault with a fridge-freezer sparked the catastroph­ic fire.

Shadow fire minister Sarah Jones, speaking ahead of the bill undergoing its remaining stages in the Commons today, said: “More than three years after Grenfell, it is shameful how little progress has been made.

“The victims and survivors of Gr en fell are still waiting for justice. This is completely unacceptab­le.”

 ??  ?? 0 Sarah Jones: ‘Victims and survivors waiting for justice’
0 Sarah Jones: ‘Victims and survivors waiting for justice’

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