Maria Miller MP welcomes recommendation for better fire safety for residents

Maria Miller previously introduced a Bill in Parliament on March 20, requiring residents of high rise buildings to be provided with more information about the fire safety of their buildings, to have access to the annual fire risk assessment and to have an annual meeting with the “responsible person” to address any fire safety concerns.

In her final report of Independent Review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety Dame Judith Hackitt’s it said that every high rise building should nominate a “building safety manager”.

This person should have the relevant skills, knowledge and expertise to be responsible for the day-to-day management of the building and act as a point of contact for residents.

Mrs Miller said: “Following the Grenfell Tower tragedy I made enquiries about high rise residential buildings in Basingstoke, both in respect of physical safety and also about residents’ concerns.

“My focus was on the fact that residents did not feel they had enough information about the safety of their homes, and felt that the building owners and managers were not always transparent about risks highlighted in the fire risk assessment.”

“With regard to the need for greater transparency and information for residents, I am pleased to see these points addressed in detail in Dame Judith Hackitt’s Final Report.

“Residents deserve transparency of information about the safety of their homes, and I hope that the recommendations relating to this will be fully implemented. Indeed, the Housing Secretary has said in Parliament today that he agrees that residents must be empowered with relevant information.”

She added: “More broadly, the Housing Secretary, James Brokenshire, has welcomed Dame Judith’s Report, and has said that the government agrees with her assessment, supports the principles behind the Report’s recommendations for a new system, and is committed to bringing forward legislation to bring about meaningful and lasting change.”