Sadiq Khan has hit out at the Government for failing to adopt any of the recommendations made during the first phase of the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
The inquiry, which was launched in the wake of the tragic fire that killed 72 Grenfell Tower residents in 2017, made 12 recommendations specifically aimed at the Government. But Mr Khan said the Government has “failed to complete a single recommendation”.
It comes as the Mayor of London on Monday published an update on the progress made by the London Fire Brigade, which was issued 29 recommendations during Phase 1 of the inquiry.
The report has revealed that London Fire Brigade has completed 26 out of the 29 recommendations which were specifically aimed at it. This includes things such as the use of smoke hoods to assist the rescue of people in smoke-filled environments and the introduction of 32 and 64 metre ladders to tackle high-rise fires.
But Sadiq Khan said he is “extremely concerned” that none of the recommendations aimed specifically at the Government have been adopted.
He said: “It is vital that the Government and the housing and building industries act now and do not wait for the Inquiry’s next report to take action on such an important issue.
“Without faster action, the Government is failing the Grenfell community, putting lives at risk and leaving residents feeling unsafe in their homes. The Government, housing and building industries must not wait to implement the wholesale reforms that are needed to fix a broken system.”
Of the 12 recommendations made to the Government, 11 require a change in the law to place more requirements on building owners and managers.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has said this process is underway with the introduction of the Building Safety Bill and has called Mr Khan’s claims “unfounded”.
A DLUHC spokesperson said: “The Government is making progress towards implementing the Grenfell Tower Inquiry’s Phase 1 recommendations.
“We’re introducing the biggest improvements in building safety for a generation – with tougher regulations that will give more rights and protections for residents and make homes safer.
“Our new building safety regulator will enforce a more stringent regulatory regime for high-rise residential buildings, and oversee the safety and performance of all buildings.”
Phase 2 of the Grenfell Inquiry is currently underway and is examining the wider issues surrounding the fire. The London Fire Brigade and Mayor of London are participating in this phase, which is expected to last 18 months.
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