Grenfell Tower Inquiry phase 2 report: Scottish Government response

2: Our approach

The focus of the response has been on the recommendations. However, it is acknowledged that the report raises many issues that have not necessarily been reflected in the recommendations. In this section we set out our approach in responding to the report. The response has not just started on publication of the Phase 2 Report but is the result of work that has been ongoing since June 2017.

2.1 Ministerial Working Group on Building and Fire Safety

A Ministerial Working Group (MWG) on Building and Fire Safety was established by the Scottish Government immediately after the Grenfell Tower fire. The MWG leadership has delivered regulations and guidance to strengthen fire safety in Scotland. The MWG is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, with the Minister for Housing and the Minister for Victims and Community Safety both members. Ministers have engaged with policy officials and stakeholders through regular meetings.

The Phase 2 recommendations are directed primarily towards the UK Government and the situation found in England. Scotland has its own fire safety legislation, building standards, housing legislation, procurement, and civil contingencies provisions. There are instances of significant difference between Scotland and elsewhere in the UK, although there is also much similarity in principles and approach, for example in fire safety risk assessment and building standards.

The approach for Scotland is to focus on outcomes that address people’s safety in buildings where they live and work. The responses and actions for Scotland reflect and build on the regimes and practice in place in Scotland. In this regard, the intention of the Inquiry recommendations have been considered, although the specifics on how these may be achieved differ.

As noted above, the evidence and hearings for Phase 2 were heard over a period of around two and a half years. Over that period the MWG continued to monitor the proceedings and was supported by a group of Scottish Government officials and stakeholders who met on a regular basis to discuss the evidence presented.

2.2 Ministerial Working Group on Grenfell

Prior to the publication of the Phase 2 Report the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice set up a new Ministerial Working Group to specifically address the Scottish Government’s response. The Ministerial Working Group on the Grenfell Phase 2 is chaired by the Minister for Housing together with the Minister for Victims and Community Safety.

The Ministerial Working Group included external experts and stakeholders, the membership is in Annex A. Officials were from the following policy areas: Building Standards, Fire and Rescue, Cladding Remediation, Civil Contingencies, Construction Procurement, Housing and Regeneration, and Architecture and Place.

An official and stakeholders' group has also continued to meet in parallel with the Ministerial Working Group.

2.3 Method

The Ministerial Working Group set an overall aim of preparing a response to the Grenfell Phase 2 Report that acknowledges the seriousness of the issues covered by the Inquiry and addresses each recommendation and the matters raised.

The specific objectives set by Ministers were as follows:

1. To work across Ministerial portfolios and with key stakeholders to ensure that we adequately address each recommendation raised.

2. To identify what more needs to be done to ensure that buildings are safe and how we might do so.

3. To work with counterparts in the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive to address reserved matters and to learn from our respective approaches.

4. To publish our response report in Spring 2025.

This report is the response to all fifty-eight recommendations and identified issues from the Inquiry Phase 2. The Ministerial Working Group considered the recommendations and split them into eight themes, as follows:

• Regulation and systems (6)
• Government and restructuring (2)
• Building Standards, fire tests and product certification (11)
• Design competence (5)
• Fire safety and Firefighting (15)
• Resilience and local authorities (15)
• Assorted recommendations (4).

There was also one identified issue on housing and one further issue in relation to the banning of named companies from public contracts.

The recommendations were a mix of devolved matters (42), reserved (10) and where there was overlap between devolved and reserved (6).

Relevant policy areas were assigned to lead on themes and recommendations. For each recommendation policy leads considered the evidence presented and the Inquiry’s analysis, the Scottish context and relevance, the response that Scottish Government should consider, what action is needed for the response and the timescales involved. Policy leads liaised with sector stakeholders, holding meetings and a workshop to ensure that the recommendations, evidence, and the Scottish context was fully considered.