You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Government ministers and officials told to give evidence to Grenfell inquiry
Government ministers and officials have been told to supply evidence to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, it has been confirmed.
In a letter seen by Inside Housing, secretary to the inquiry Mark Fisher said written statements have already been provided by ministers and civil servants.
Inquiry lawyers are now considering who should be called to give evidence in person for cross-examination.
The identities of those asked to provide statements have not yet been revealed.
Evidence from government witnesses will be used to inform module six of the inquiry’s phase two work, focusing on the regulatory regime and the role of government as part of the backdrop to the ill-fated refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.
READ MORE
In the letter to opposition councillors at Kensington and Chelsea Council, Mr Fisher said: “I can confirm that those in government departments who made the relevant decisions, both ministers and officials at various levels, have been asked to provide statements to the inquiry relating to their involvement in the matters under investigation and have done so.
“The inquiry is currently in the process of deciding which of them should be called to give evidence in person.”
Gavin Barwell, who was housing minister in the year leading up to the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, previously said he expected to give evidence before the inquiry.
Inside Housing has revealed that Mr Barwell, who is now a Conservative peer, was sent seven letters by MPs asking him to review fire safety rules during his time as housing minister but did not act.
Before Christmas the inquiry heard that government officials were warned in summer 2014 that combustible insulation made by Kingspan was being used on high rises despite a lack of supporting safety test results.
Any cross-examination of government witnesses is unlikely to take place before late 2021, with the inquiry now suspended again due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has been approached for comment.
