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Grenfell Tower fire: Theresa May calls for cladding investigation | |
(35 minutes later) | |
There should be a "major national investigation" into the use of cladding on high-rise towers, Theresa May says. | |
It comes as it was revealed cladding from 95 towers in 32 local authority areas in England had failed fire safety tests - all of the samples submitted after the Grenfell Tower fire. | |
The probe could be a second phase of the public inquiry into the west London fire, the PM's official spokesman said. | |
At least 79 people are feared to have been killed in the blaze on 14 June. | |
Earlier, an open letter to Mrs May from residents on the west London estate warned that the investigation of the fire must leave "no stone unturned". | |
'No stone unturned' | |
Before Grenfell, tower block fires in England were at an at least seven-year low, figures show. | Before Grenfell, tower block fires in England were at an at least seven-year low, figures show. |
According to newly released Home Office statistics, there were 714 fires in purpose-built blocks of 10 storeys or more in England in the 12 months to April - compared with 1,261 fires in 2009-10. | |
Of those high-rise fires last year, 56 spread further than the "room of origin" and three people died, compared with 12 fatalities in 2009-10. | |
In an open letter released on Tuesday morning, people who live at the Hurstway, Testerton, Barandon and Grenfell Walks on the Lancaster West estate said: "The investigation must leave no stone unturned. | In an open letter released on Tuesday morning, people who live at the Hurstway, Testerton, Barandon and Grenfell Walks on the Lancaster West estate said: "The investigation must leave no stone unturned. |
"It must identify each and every individual and organisation who must bear responsibility and accountability for this tragedy and the mishandling of the aftermath. | "It must identify each and every individual and organisation who must bear responsibility and accountability for this tragedy and the mishandling of the aftermath. |
"There must be swift recommendations to ensure there can be no chance of a repeat of this disaster elsewhere. | "There must be swift recommendations to ensure there can be no chance of a repeat of this disaster elsewhere. |
It said the bereaved families and survivors needed time to recover and grieve - "not least in view of the paucity of support they have been afforded by the state and its agencies in the immediate aftermath". | It said the bereaved families and survivors needed time to recover and grieve - "not least in view of the paucity of support they have been afforded by the state and its agencies in the immediate aftermath". |
The blaze, believed to have started in a fridge-freezer, destroyed 151 homes in the north Kensington block and in the surrounding area of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. | The blaze, believed to have started in a fridge-freezer, destroyed 151 homes in the north Kensington block and in the surrounding area of the London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. |
The response to the fire has come under scrutiny. | The response to the fire has come under scrutiny. |
'Massive inconsistency' | |
Questions were raised about the cladding used on Grenfell in the immediate aftermath of the disaster and a nation-wide operation has taken place to identify and test buildings with similar cladding. | Questions were raised about the cladding used on Grenfell in the immediate aftermath of the disaster and a nation-wide operation has taken place to identify and test buildings with similar cladding. |
The firm that supplied Grenfell Tower's cladding has ended global sales of the product for use in high-rise blocks. | The firm that supplied Grenfell Tower's cladding has ended global sales of the product for use in high-rise blocks. |
But it is no "great surprise" samples have failed fire tests, director of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology David Metcalfe said. | But it is no "great surprise" samples have failed fire tests, director of the Centre for Window and Cladding Technology David Metcalfe said. |
He said it was never "entirely clear" under the regulations whether or not the products used in cladding had to be of limited combustibility. | He said it was never "entirely clear" under the regulations whether or not the products used in cladding had to be of limited combustibility. |
What a filler material consists of is not defined, he explained, and regulations do not say "specifically the cladding should be of limited combustibility". | What a filler material consists of is not defined, he explained, and regulations do not say "specifically the cladding should be of limited combustibility". |
"Timber isn't an insulation product, it's not a filler material, so there's nothing stopping you using timber on a high-rise building - but the government now are saying that all cladding should be of limited combustibility - there is a massive inconsistency there." | |
The government had a new "strict interpretation" of the rules, he said. | The government had a new "strict interpretation" of the rules, he said. |
The letter from residents, part of the Justice4Grenfell campaign, demanded their voices were "heard and fully included" in the inquiry into the blaze. | |
"We support the survivors and mourn the dead - they are our families, friends and neighbours, many of whom are still missing," it said. | "We support the survivors and mourn the dead - they are our families, friends and neighbours, many of whom are still missing," it said. |
Mrs May ordered a full public inquiry into the fire the day after it happened. | Mrs May ordered a full public inquiry into the fire the day after it happened. |
The group said bereaved families and survivors should be given funding for legal representation in that probe. | The group said bereaved families and survivors should be given funding for legal representation in that probe. |