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Grenfell fire public inquiry to consider cause and council response Grenfell fire public inquiry to consider cause and council response
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The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will examine the actions of Kensington and Chelsea council but will not address broader questions of social housing policy, the government has said. The public inquiry into the Grenfell Tower fire will examine the actions of Kensington and Chelsea council but will not deal with broader questions of social housing policy, the government has said.
No 10 said the decision not to include social housing policy in the terms of reference, published on Tuesday, was taken by the inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, but stressed that the prime minister was determined that the questions relating to the issue would not be seen as a lower priority. No 10 said the decision not to include social housing policy in the terms of reference, published on Tuesday, was taken by the inquiry chair, Sir Martin Moore-Bick, but added that the prime minister was determined that the questions relating to the issue would not be seen as a lower priority.
The government said it wants all those affected by the fire to participate in the inquiry, but some survivors previously threatened to boycott the review if they did not consider it to be broad enough in scope and if it did not include all “systemic issues”. Campaign groups said they were pleased that, after submissions from survivors and activists, the remit had been extended beyond the cause of the fire in west London and why it spread so fast, but expressed concerns that it did not go far enough.
Theresa May said: “It is vital that there is justice for the victims of this appalling tragedy and for their families who have suffered so terribly. Yvette Williams, from Justice4Grenfell, said: “He [Moore-Blick] is not looking at the broader social issues for one, which we think is majorly central to this situation, and if he goes on with no community advisory rep, we would have a lot to say about that.”
“The terms of reference set out by Sir Martin address crucial issues such as the cause of the fire and the adequacy of building and fire regulations, which will allow the inquiry to get to the truth of what happened and learn the lessons to stop a similar catastrophe happening in the future. This government has created a climate of hostility towards all immigrants
“I am determined that the broader questions raised by this fire – including around social housing – are not left unanswered.” Moore-Bick, a former court of appeal judge, has proved an unpopular choice with many of the survivors of the fire, which is believed to have killed about 80 people. Last month, a number of them, backed by BMELawyers4Grenfell, wrote to Theresa May with a list of demands with respect to the inquiry, including that he be removed. They cited comments by Moore-Bick that suggested the inquiry’s scope would be restricted.
The prime minister said the housing minister, Alok Sharma, would be meeting social housing tenants to discuss the challenges they face, with a view to shaping national policy. Zita Holbourne, national chair of Black Activists Rising Against Cuts, which is part of the BMELawyers4Grenfell coalition, said the terms were better than expected but added: “It’s not included the wider issues around social housing, socio-economic issues, the issues of race, religion and equality in relation to adequate housing, the impact of austerity and cost-cutting leading to the neglect of residents.”
Moore-Bick, a former court of appeal judge, has proved an unpopular choice with many of the survivors of the fire, which is believed to have killed about 80 people. Last month, a number of them wrote to the prime minister with a list of demands with respect to the inquiry, including that he be removed. They cited comments by Moore-Bick that suggested its scope would be restricted. Peter Herbert, the chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, said the coalition would be meeting survivors on Thursday to get their response to the terms of reference. But he too said the inquiry needed to tackle “the background causes, the wholly inadequate public provision of social housing which is the context in which this avoidable tragedy occurred”. Holbourne and Herbert also called for advisers to the panel to be diverse, both with respect to ethnicity and expertise.
Responding to publication of the terms of reference, a spokesman for the inquiry said Moore-Bick “specifically identified that he is considering the need to cover issues such as the occupation and management of social housing and the administration of local government more generally, as well as matters of a technical scientific nature”. Labour said it would press for an amendment to the terms or reference, accusing May of trying to “hoodwink the public” by suggesting people would still get answers to key questions about social housing policy.
Diane Abbott, shadow home secretary, said: “Yes of course the actions and inactions of the Kensington and Chelsea council should be rigorously scrutinised – they have been a disgrace. But it wasn’t the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea who changed the fire and building regulations. It isn’t Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea that is failing to build social and council housing across the country. It is this government which has created a climate of hostility towards all immigrants, and those perceived to be immigrants even when they have been born here.”
Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrats’ spokeswoman on local government, also said the inquiry was too narrow, describing it as a “shameful wasted opportunity”.
In a letter to May, Moore-Bick set out two reasons he felt it was inappropriate to include broader issues of social housing policy within the scope of his inquiry. The first was the length of time it would add to the inquiry and the second was that it would “raise questions of a social, economic and political nature which, in my view, are not suitable for a judge-led inquiry”.
The full terms of reference of the inquiry, which begins on Monday, are:The full terms of reference of the inquiry, which begins on Monday, are:
The cause and spread of the fire.
The design, construction and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.The design, construction and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.
The scope and adequacy of the relevant regulations relating to high-rise buildings.The scope and adequacy of the relevant regulations relating to high-rise buildings.
Whether the relevant legislation and guidance were complied with in the case of Grenfell.Whether the relevant legislation and guidance were complied with in the case of Grenfell.
The actions of the local authority and other bodies before the tragedy.The actions of the local authority and other bodies before the tragedy.
The response of the London fire brigade to the fire.The response of the London fire brigade to the fire.
The response of central and local government in the aftermath.The response of central and local government in the aftermath.
The first preliminary hearing is due to take place on 14 September. May said she was “determined that the broader questions raised by this fire – including around social housing – are not left unanswered”.
She added that the housing minister, Alok Sharma, would be meeting social housing tenants to discuss the challenges they face, with a view to shaping national policy.
The first preliminary hearing is scheduled to take place on 14 September.