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MPs to grill Kensington and Chelsea Council over Grenfell response
An influential cross-party group of MPs will question Kensington and Chelsea Council and government representatives over the response to the Grenfell Tower fire next week.
The Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee is to hold a one-off session on Wednesday to examine what is being done to rehouse and support survivors of the blaze, which claimed 72 lives.
A year on from the disaster, more than 70 families are still living in hotels.
Elizabeth Campbell, leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council, will face the committee as well as Barry Quirk, the authority’s chief executive.
Nick Hurd, Grenfell victims minister, will also appear at the session, plus a senior figure from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is to be confirmed.
Resident representatives will also appear before the committee, including survivor group Grenfell United.
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Clive Betts, Labour MP for Sheffield South East and chair of the HCLG committee, said: “As a committee, we want to examine what is being done now by the local authority and others to support residents and make sure all those affected have access to the appropriate services and are getting the help they need.
“A year on from this tragic event, it is vital all those affected continue to be properly supported by all the authorities involved and have proper access to support services such as counselling.
“We will also be pressing Kensington and Chelsea Council and the government on what they are doing to deliver on their promises to residents, particularly on the issue of rehousing.”
Last month, the committee grilled Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of the Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, over her decision not to recommend a ban on combustible materials for high rises in her final report.
It will also be holding separate evidence sessions on how the fire safety of tower blocks can be improved.
