Really useful questions from the Member today, and I thank her for her comments, particularly around the fire and rescue services and their ability to act on the issues that she’s raised.

Can I first of all take the issue around testing and private sector testing? We are working with local authorities to identify the individuals at the first point, and they will be given guidance on what we expect to happen. I’ve yet to find an agent that doesn’t wish to comply with that process, but it is early days, and I expect there may be one or two that may wish to push the boundaries—if that’s what they seek to do. But there are powers within the Building Act 1984. So, under the Housing Act 2004, in response to identifying a hazard, the local authority has a range of enforcement options. Taking emergency remedial action under section 40 and making an emergency prohibition order under section 43 to prohibit the use of the premises are all actions that can be taken by local authorities should they so wish, in addition to the fire service with their risk assessments on fire safety and prohibition notices as well. So, we do believe that there are enough powers to deal with the issue once we’ve identified a non-compliance in the system, if that is to be the case. But I can’t see any reason why a person wouldn’t want to move to ensure that their building is safe.

There are regular intervals for fire safety inspection tests, and the fire service hold those data. I will write to the Member and put a copy in the library of the detailed process in terms of fire safety regulations and checks for buildings of this type so that the Member is confident in the response, and also other Members can have access to that.