Written Statement: Response to the Grenfell Inquiry Phase 2 Report

The Grenfell Tower Inquiry was established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fire at Grenfell Tower and to identify key lessons and recommendations to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. 

The Inquiry’s Phase 2 report was published on 4 September 2024. Today the UK Government published its response to the Inquiry’s findings. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by the tragedy, including victims, survivors, and their loved ones. 

While the Inquiry’s recommendations are formally addressed to the UK Government and English bodies like the London Fire Brigade, many of its key recommendations have equal resonance to us here in Wales. We accept the Inquiry’s findings and stand ready to work with the UK Government, and the Governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland, to implement the recommended reforms. This includes recommendations on both reserved matters and where it makes sense to take a coordinated and UK-wide approach.

I was pleased to meet with Ministers in the other three Nations earlier this week to discuss our respective positions and next steps. I am grateful for the constructive conversation as well as the willingness to continue working collaboratively in our responses to the issues identified by the Inquiry. 

A great deal has already happened in Wales to respond to the events of June 2017. There is more to do, however, with some key activity planned for the coming months.

Having worked with the UK Government on the Building Safety Act 2022, we continue our work to drive up safety in the building control and construction sectors. We will soon be consulting on the next suite of secondary legislation related to the design and construction phase of building work. The consultation will seek views on proposals related to the construction of new higher-risk buildings, work on existing higher-risk buildings and wider changes to the building regulations in Wales.

Immediately after the fire in Grenfell Tower, the Fire and Rescue Service moved to inspect all high-rise residential buildings in Wales, to identify any issues around the use of combustible cladding.  Thankfully, that proved not to be widespread here.  Nevertheless, the three Fire and Rescue Services in Wales quickly adopted the recommendations from the Phase 1 report of the Inquiry that were relevant.  Looking ahead, the Welsh Government welcomes and supports the Inquiry’s recommendation to establish a College of Fire, to drive up standards of competence and conduct in the sector.  There have been frequent concerns about this across the UK in recent years, and I look forward to working with my counterparts in the other UK Governments to implement this recommendation.

To provide a clear strategic direction for resilience in Wales, the Welsh Government is developing, with local and government partners, a new Wales Resilience Framework, which will be published later in the spring.  This will draw significantly on the lessons identified from incidents and inquiries, including the Grenfell Inquiry.

Finally, our priority Building Safety programme continues at pace.  We remain focused on both ensuring the swift remediation of at-risk buildings and the reform of broader processes and systems, including through the introduction of the Building Safety (Wales) Bill later this year.  The planned legislation specifically addresses a number of the recommendations that have been made by the Inquiry.  Our regime will empower residents with enhanced rights, clear routes of redress and a stronger voice in matters that affect their homes. 

I will keep Members updated as this priority programme of work progresses.