Grenfell Tower tragedy may be yet another result of UK’S administrative failings

Both the hideous tower block fire in London and, in comparison, our trivial problems with the Edinburgh school contracts appear to have arisen from administrative, and possible regulatory, failings by organs of government acting through agents.

It is now 91 years since any death has been caused in the UK by the catastrophic failure of a dam. Let me explain this apparent non sequitur:

In an arrangement which I suspect is unique in British governance, the safety of a dam is the personal responsibility of one of a group of specialist civil engineers, known as panel engineers. Their responsibility is not as member of a company, or a committee, or government body, but specific to them as an individual. Moreover, their instructions respecting work required to a dam have the force of law.

This system was established because it was felt that the possible loss of life caused by a dam failure was so great the task of supervision could not safely be left to a government body.

The enquiries into the fire and the schools contracts will doubtless identify the causes and make recommendations which may or may not be followed. What they will not do is to identify the underlying cause. For the last few decades Scottish government bodies have been deliberately trying to substitute administrative paper processes for technical expertise. The prominent case of ignoring the chief scientific officer is by no means unique. It is most inconvenient for a senior civil servant to have one of his own staff tell him, on record, that something will not work when the minister’s heart is set on it.

Government has also been trying to distance itself from accountability by acting though agents, “arm’s length” bodies, national data processing divisions [quangos], “partnerships” etc, etc.

Everyone in the building trade calls building inspectors building inspectors except Edinburgh Council, their employer, who determinedly calls them building standards surveyors. They don’t even issue completions certificates, only “confirm” those signed by the applicant or agent.

One must occasionally be fair to Edinburgh, however. It is rumoured that there was recently concern over the fire compliance in an important building under construction. Edinburgh apparently put one of their best and toughest inspectors on site for several weeks till it was sorted out. So it can be done, sometimes.

Can this trend be reversed? I doubt it. The political class does politics, not government, except occasionally when they bring out the bodies.

DAVID HOGG Glanville Place, Edinburgh I would like to expand on the meaning of the word “responsibility” as regards the many and varied causes of the national tragedy known as Grenfell Tower, a true “Towering Inferno”.

First, the quantum of individual and collective pain, anguish, mental torment, hopelessness and helplessness suffered by the residents of Grenfell Tower is beyond human comprehension.

And, unfortunately, their ordeal is destined to last for many weeks, months and years, not helped by insensitive comments and behaviour by so-called authority figures, not excluding our Prime Minister Theresa May.

As to the word “responsibility”, this literally means “being answerable”, ie “to explain the why, where and when of deeds and actions”.

But already we find those “in authority” , which equates with “responsibility”, distancing themselves from any taint of guilt or wrongdoing.

Thus by the use of sophistry and clever lawyers a climate of self-denial pervades the corridors of power. Are we, the British public, surprised at such behaviour? I think not.

I was particularly appalled at the statement, on the internet, by the London Fire Brigade that any report on the fire might not be made public for years.

After all, as has been well said: “Justice delayed is justice denied”. Surely the residents of Grenfell Tower and we the British public will refuse to accept that statement as true.

ROBERT M. DUNN Oxcars Court, Edinburgh In the wake of the terrorist tragedies and the Grenfell Tower tragedy, has the time now come for all the countries of the UK to reassess the amount of money given in overseas aid and charities abroad?

We see adverts from hospitals in this country asking for donations to help treat children with cancer and respite homes for children with cancer closing, then we have the bigger picture, ranging from GP’S surgeries to hospitals, an education system and the public services infrastructure of the country all disintegrating due to lack of resources and funding.

If, as we are being repeatedly told, the UK is the fifth richest country in the world, then why do we live in a country getting ever closer to being on its knees?