THERESA May has revealed all 120 tower blocks tested from 37 local authorities have failed cladding fire safety checks in the first post-election PMQs.
She also revealed the material was “not compliant with fire regulations” – but the Prime Minister said she could not say more due to the ongoing police investigation in the 79 deaths in the Grenfell tragedy a fortnight ago.
Mrs May said “we need to look more widely” at why such material has been used during the set-piece parliamentary event as she faced-off against Jeremy Corbyn.
And after the 100 per cent failure record continues, she urged councils and housing associations to “get on” with fire safety checks without waiting for test results.
The PM said 282 good quality temporary properties have been identified for victims of the disaster, 132 families have had their needs assessed, and 65 offers of temporary accommodation have been made.
She added that the Government has provided nearly £1.25million in discretionary payments and will be giving an extra £1million to a local group of charities, trusts and foundations “which have been doing such important work”.
The Labour leader asked for a “categorical” answer on whether cladding with a combustible core, such as polyethylene, is legal for high-rise buildings, and if that used on Grenfell Tower was legal.
Mrs May replied: “The situation is, in relation to the cladding, that the building regulations identify the cladding which is compatible with the building regulations and that which is non-compliant with those building regulations.
“My understanding is that this particular cladding was not compliant with the building regulations.
“This raises wider issues, as the House will recognise, and it is important that we are careful in how we talk about this because there is a criminal investigation taking place and it’s important that we allow the police to do that criminal investigation and take the decisions that they need to take.”
In response Mr Corbyn faced shouts of “shame” and “apologise” as he tried to claim the Grenfell Tower tragedy has “exposed the disastrous effect of austerity”.
The Speaker John Bercow had to intervene after his opening question provoked loud shouts from the Tory benches.
Mrs May replied by noting the cladding of tower blocks did not start under her government or the coalition government, adding: “The cladding of tower blocks began under the Blair government.
“(Mr Corbyn) talks about local authority resources and talks about changes to the regulation.
“In 2005 it was a Labour government that introduced the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order which changed the requirement to inspect a building on fire safety from the local fire authority – which was usually the fire brigade – to a responsible person.
“The legislation governing fire safety in tower blocks, and this was commented on by the Lakanal House report into that fire, it criticised that 2005 order that was put in place by a Labour government.”
The Labour leader went on: “Fewer inspectors, fewer building control inspectors, fewer planning inspectors – we all pay a price.
“And those cuts to the fire service have meant there are 11,000 fewer firefighters, the public sector pay cap is hitting recruitment and retention right across the public sector.”
Mr Corbyn faced further heckling from Tory MPs, before adding: “This disregard for working-class communities, the terrible consequences of deregulation and cutting corners, I urge the Prime Minister to come up with the resources needed to test and remove cladding, retrofit sprinklers, properly fund the fire service and the police so that all our communities can truly feel safe in their own homes.
“This disaster must be a wake-up call.”