Hackitt claims combustibles ban was not in her remit

She added that it was not in remit to “tinker with the detail”, but admitted: “I recognise that I’ve failed to meet some of the expectations of the people of Grenfell Tower.”

When the government announced Dame Judith’s review, it said in a statement: “This forward-looking independent review, to be led by Dame Judith Hackitt, chair of EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, will look at current building regulations and fire safety with a particular focus on high rise residential buildings.”

Furthermore, Dame Judith appeared on the radio the morning her report was released to defend a conscious decision not to ban combustible materials, and did not suggest that such a ban was out of her remit.

She said in an interview with the BBC: “If I thought this was as simple as simply banning cladding, this would have been a very much easier exercise.”

She later added: “I don’t think a ban will work.”

In her final report, she wrote: “A totally prescriptive system creates an over-reliance on the system by those working within it, discouraging ownership and accountability for decisions.”

The report adds: “The aim of this review is to move away from telling those responsible [for tower blocks] ‘what to do’ and place them in a position of making intelligent decisions about the layers of protection required to make their particular building safe.”

In a press conference at the launch of the report, however, she said that if the government were to propose a ban on combustible materials, she would support it, despite recommending against it.

At the end of the hearing, Dame Judith said: "To the extent I’ve not met your expectations or the expectations of others, I regret that."