PM chairs Grenfell Recovery Taskforce meeting: 26 June 2017
Theresa May chaired a meeting of the taskforce, getting updates about the support for those affected as well as the wider picture.
On Grenfell Tower specifically, the Prime Minister received an overview from the Met Police on the work around victim identification and there were also updates on rehousing, where the Secretary of State for the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) spoke about the discussions taking place with residents and the progress being made in identifying permanent homes for those displaced from Grenfell Tower.
Other discussions focused on financial payments to residents and the plans to announce details of the Public Inquiry shortly.
On the wider picture around the testing of buildings in England, DCLG has now issued advice to local authorities, housing associations and local fire and rescue services on steps to be taken to ensure the safety of residents pending replacement of cladding, and it is also working with the Department of Health and Department of Education to ensure samples from schools and hospitals are sent in for testing.
There was also an update on the situation surround the Chalcots Estate in Camden.
Although the wider issues which led to these evacuations have not been seen elsewhere, the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for DCLG emphasised the need for local authorities to speed up the process of sending samples to the test centre.
There will be a meeting of the Sub Group on Building Safety tomorrow and the Secretary of State for DCLG will deliver a statement to Parliament later today.