Reports & recommendations
104 recommendations from 2 reports, each with the government response on the record. Filter by government response, report, nation or delivery status.
Reports (2)
Recommendations (23)
Require external wall information for fire services
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to provide their local fire and rescue service with information about the design of its external walls together with details of the materials of which they are constructed and to inform the fire and rescue service of any material changes made to them.
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that implementation of the recommendation was complete following the commencement of the Fire Safety Act and the entry into force of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 in January 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department stated that under these regulations, responsible persons for high-rise residential buildings are required to prepare a record of the design and materials of external walls and send it electronically to their local fire and rescue service (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require building floor plans for fire services
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to provide their local fire and rescue services with up-to-date plans in both paper and electronic form of every floor of the building identifying the location of key fire safety systems.
In February 2025, the Home Office reported that implementation of this recommendation was complete, following the entry into force of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 in January 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department explained that these regulations require the responsible person for a high-rise residential building to prepare floor plans showing the location of lifts and key fire-fighting equipment, submit them electronically to their local fire and rescue service, and place hard copies in an on-site secure information box (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require premises information boxes
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to ensure that the building contains a premises information box, the contents of which must include a copy of the up-to-date floor plans and information about the nature of any lift intended for use by the fire and rescue services.
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that implementation of this recommendation was complete, noting that the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force in January 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department stated in February 2025 that under the regulations, the responsible person for a high-rise residential building must install a secure information box containing building floor plans, a single-page building plan, and contact details (Home Office, Feb 2025). It also noted in February 2025 that building guidance had been amended to require secure information boxes in all new residential buildings over 11 metres (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require monthly firefighter lift inspections
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to carry out regular inspections of any lifts that are designed to be used by firefighters in an emergency and to report the results of such inspections to their local fire and rescue service at monthly intervals.
The Home Office stated in February 2025 that the recommendation was complete, following the commencement of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 in January 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department noted in the same February 2025 update that the regulations require the responsible person for a high-rise residential building to undertake monthly checks of firefighter lifts and report any fault taking longer than 24 hours to resolve to the local fire and rescue service (Home Office, Feb 2025). HM Government had previously accepted the recommendation in principle in January 2020 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Jan 2020).
Require monthly lift control mechanism tests
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to carry out regular tests of the mechanism which allows firefighters to take control of the lifts and to inform their local fire and rescue service at monthly intervals that they have done so.
In February 2025, the Home Office reported that implementation of this recommendation was complete following the introduction of the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which came into force in January 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department stated in February 2025 that under these regulations, the responsible person for a high-rise residential building must undertake monthly checks of lifts for use by firefighters and evacuation lifts, and electronically report any fault taking longer than 24 hours to fix to their local fire and rescue service (Home Office, Feb 2025).
National guidelines for high-rise evacuations
The government develop national guidelines for carrying out partial or total evacuations of high-rise residential buildings, such guidelines to include the means of protecting fire exit routes and procedures for evacuating persons who are unable to use the stairs in an emergency, or who may require assistance (such as disabled people, older people and young children).
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that action on this recommendation was complete, stating that evacuation guidelines for the Fire and Rescue Service were published in February 2024 (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department noted in the same February 2025 update that these guidelines drew on four research projects undertaken with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, covering operational research, human behaviour, building design, and a rapid evidence review (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require evacuation plans for high-rise buildings
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to draw up and keep under regular review evacuation plans, copies of which are to be provided in electronic and paper form to their local fire and rescue service and placed in an information box on the premises.
The Inquiry recommended legally requiring high-rise residential building owners to maintain and share evacuation plans. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that the recommendation was complete and fully discharged (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In February 2026, the department reported that regulations laid in July 2025 mandate Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and require sharing vulnerable residents' information with fire and rescue services (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026). While its updates described these provisions for vulnerable residents, placing evacuation plans in on-premises information boxes is not mentioned in the sources (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026).
Require evacuation alarm systems in high-rise buildings
All high-rise residential buildings (both those already in existence and those built in the future) be equipped with facilities for use by the fire and rescue services enabling them to send an evacuation signal to the whole or a selected part of the building by means of sounders or similar devices.
In February 2025, the Home Office reported this recommendation as complete, stating that statutory guidance now requires evacuation alert systems in all new residential blocks over 18 metres (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department explained that limited evidence on system effectiveness was not sufficient to justify mandating retrofits for existing high-rise residential buildings at that time (Home Office, Feb 2025). It also noted that fire and rescue services had completed policies and training for high-rise evacuations alongside broader fire safety improvements (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs)
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to prepare personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) for all residents whose ability to self-evacuate may be compromised (such as persons with reduced mobility or cognition).
The Inquiry recommended legally requiring high-rise building owners to prepare personal emergency evacuation plans. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that the majority of its Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) policy came into force in April 2026 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department stated that the recommendation remains open because mandating person-centred fire risk assessments within individual flats requires primary legislation (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). It scheduled the introduction of this legislation for 2027 when Parliamentary time allows (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026).
Require PEEP information in premises information box
The owner and manager of every high-rise residential building be required by law to include up-to-date information about persons with reduced mobility and their associated PEEPs in the premises information box.
The Inquiry recommended legally requiring personal evacuation plans in high-rise premises information boxes. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that the recommendation is complete and "fully discharged" (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In February 2026, the department stated that regulations laid in July 2025 mandated Residential Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs) and required sharing information with fire and rescue services, though premises information boxes were not mentioned (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026). Earlier, the Home Office had reported in February 2025 that new secondary legislation would mandate building evacuation plans alongside personal plans after successive public consultations (Chris Philp, Mar 2024; Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require clear floor number markings in high-rise buildings
In all high-rise buildings floor numbers be clearly marked on each landing within the stairways and in a prominent place in all lobbies in such a way as to be visible both in normal conditions and in low lighting or smoky conditions.
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that implementation of this recommendation was complete (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department stated in February 2025 that under the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022, which came into force in January 2023, responsible persons for high-rise residential buildings must install wayfinding signage on stairway landings and lift lobbies visible in low light or when illuminated with a torch, in line with guidance amendments published in November 2020 (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require understandable fire safety instructions
The owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings (whether or not it is a high-rise building) be required by law to provide fire safety instructions (including instructions for evacuation) in a form that the occupants of the building can reasonably be expected to understand, taking into account the nature of the building and their knowledge of the occupants.
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that this recommendation was complete, following the introduction of statutory requirements for comprehensible fire safety instructions (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department stated in February 2025 that the Fire Safety (England) Regulations 2022 came into force in January 2023 to mandate annual, comprehensible instructions for multi-occupied residential buildings, alongside provisions under Section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022 that took effect in October 2023 (Home Office, Feb 2025).
Require quarterly fire door checks
The owner and manager of every residential building containing separate dwellings (whether or not they are high-rise buildings) be required by law to carry out checks at not less than three-monthly intervals to ensure that all fire doors are fitted with effective self-closing devices in working order.
The Home Office stated in February 2025 that implementation was complete, reporting that under regulations in force since January 2023, responsible persons for multi-occupied residential buildings 11 metres and above must carry out quarterly checks on fire doors in common parts and annual checks on flat entrance doors on a best endeavour basis (Home Office, Feb 2025). The department had previously explained in May 2022 that annual rather than quarterly checks were adopted for flat entrance doors because consultation feedback showed guaranteed access to individual flats was unrealistic (Home Office, May 2022).
Require compliant flat entrance doors where unsafe cladding exists
All those who have responsibility in whatever capacity for the condition of the entrance doors to individual flats in high-rise residential buildings, whose external walls incorporate unsafe cladding, be required by law to ensure that such doors comply with current standards.
The Home Office reported in February 2025 that action on the recommendation was complete, explaining that the Fire Safety Act 2021 clarified that duties under the Fire Safety Order cover flat entrance doors and external walls, and that regulations in force since January 2023 require annual door checks in buildings over 11 metres on a best endeavour basis (Home Office, Feb 2025). HM Government had previously accepted the recommendation in principle in January 2020, setting out plans to legislate so that building managers must assess and mitigate fire safety risks from flat entrance doors (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Jan 2020).
Establish single construction industry regulator
We therefore recommend that the government draw together under a single regulator all the functions relating to the construction industry to which we have referred. (113.6)
In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that it had completed the transition of the Building Safety Regulator out of the Health and Safety Executive and published its consultation response on the single regulator (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In the same September 2026 update, the department stated that bringing forward primary legislation is the next step, with introduction planned between 2027 and 2029 before the single regulator is established between 2028 and 2029 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). HM Government had accepted the recommendation in principle in February 2025, excluding product testing and certification functions to avoid creating a conflict of interest (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Feb 2025).
Make construction regulator responsible for product conformity certificates
We therefore recommend that the construction regulator should be responsible for assessing the conformity of construction products with the requirements of legislation, statutory guidance and industry standards and issuing certificates as appropriate. We should expect such certificates to become pre-eminent in the market. (113.22)
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated in September 2026 that it is reviewing responses to consultations on the Construction Products Reform White Paper and the General Safety Requirement, with plans to publish responses and set out next steps later in the year (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department's implementation timeline projects introducing primary and secondary legislation between 2027 and 2029 when parliamentary time allows, followed by establishing the single regulator and concluding the legislative framework between 2028 and 2029 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026).
Require test results disclosure and transparency for construction products
a) that copies of all test results supporting any certificate issued by the construction regulator be included in the certificate; b) that manufacturers be required to provide the construction regulator with the full testing history of the product or material to which the certificate relates and inform the regulator of any material circumstances that may affect its performance; and c) manufacturers be required by law to provide on request copies of all test results that support claims about fire performance made for their products. (113.23)
In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that consultations on its Construction Products Reform White Paper and a General Safety Requirement had closed, with responses being considered to refine proposals ahead of publishing government replies later in the year (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department set out in September 2026 that primary and secondary legislation remains to be introduced between 2027 and 2029 when parliamentary time allows, with the regulatory framework to be finalised and a single regulator established between 2028 and 2029 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026).
Maintain public record of inquiry recommendations
We recommend that it be made a legal requirement for the government to maintain a publicly accessible record of recommendations made by select committees, coroners and public inquiries together with a description of the steps taken in response. If the government decides not to accept a recommendation, it should record its reasons for doing so. Scrutiny of its actions should be a matter for Parliament, to which it should be required to report annually. (113.40)
In September 2026, Baroness Blake of Leeds stated that the government had delivered the Inquiry's recommendation on transparency through new dashboards that publicly track progress across inquiries (Baroness Blake of Leeds, Sep 2026). The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government previously reported in February 2026 that the recommendation was complete and had been fully discharged after launching quarterly dashboards on GOV.UK covering several inquiries (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026). The department added that it would continue to review the need for legislation while maintaining and improving the dashboards (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026).
Require gas valve accessibility inspections every three years
We therefore recommend that every gas transporter be required by law to check the accessibility of each such valve on its system at least once every three years and to report the results of that inspection to the Health and Safety Executive as part of its gas safety case review. (113.44)
The Inquiry recommended requiring gas transporters to inspect valve accessibility every three years. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that the recommendation was "complete and has been fully discharged" (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department previously reported in February 2026 that the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) was analysing network operator data to inform targeted engagement on valve access (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026). In February 2025, HM Government had accepted the recommendation in principle, agreeing that valve accessibility is key but noting that inspection intervals might need to vary (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Feb 2025).
Establish independent College of Fire and Rescue
We welcome the government’s ambition to create an independent College of Fire and Rescue expressed in the white paper Reforming our Fire and Rescue Service and we therefore recommend that the government establish such a college immediately with sufficient resources to provide the following services nationally: a. practical training at all levels supplementary to that provided by individual fire and rescue services; b. education in the form of lectures and seminars on different aspects of the work of the fire and rescue services in order to share experience and promote good practice; c. research into matters that may affect the work of the fire and rescue services, including major fires; d. the development of equipment, policies and procedures suitable for ensuring the effectiveness of fire and rescue services nationally and the safety of firefighters and the public; e. setting and maintaining national standards of managerial competence for senior managers, including control room managers, and providing management training for, and regular assessment of, senior ranks by reference to such standards. (113.51)
The Inquiry recommended establishing an independent College of Fire and Rescue. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that a public consultation on the college closed in July 2026, with work focused on analysing responses to inform a formal response and implementation plans (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In its September 2026 timeline, the department scheduled publication of its consultation response for early 2027, with primary legislation planned between 2027 and 2029 and implementation beginning between 2028 and 2029 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). HM Government accepted the recommendation in principle in February 2025, stating that establishing the college would require primary legislation (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Feb 2025).
College to have permanent staff and training facilities
Although it is for the government to decide how the college should be constituted, we recommend that it should have a permanent staff of sufficient size to manage its operations and develop its functions in response to the demands of fire and rescue services nationally and the requirements of the board. The college will need access to permanent facilities, including facilities for practical training and education. We envisage that much of the training and education will be delivered and led by firefighters of suitable experience drawn as the occasion requires from fire and rescue services around the country. (113.53)
The Inquiry recommended that the fire college have permanent staff and practical training facilities. In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that a public consultation on the college's aims, scope, and design closed in July 2026, though permanent staff and facilities were not mentioned (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In its September 2026 timeline, the department indicated that publishing a consultation response in early 2027, primary legislation between 2027 and 2029, and implementation from 2028 remain outstanding (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). HM Government had accepted the recommendation in principle in February 2025, stating that the college's structure and delivery would be captured by the consultation (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Feb 2025).
Require voluntary sector partnerships in contingency planning
Regulation 23 of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Contingency Planning) Regulations 2005 requires a Category 1 responder to have regard when making its plans to the activities of relevant voluntary organisations. We therefore recommend that the regulation be amended to require Category 1 responders to establish and maintain partnerships with the voluntary, community and faith organisations in the areas in which they are responsible for preparing for and responding to emergencies. (113.68)
In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that it is finalising updates to the National Resilience Standards to strengthen voluntary sector partnership working while continuing an impact assessment into statutory options (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department scheduled this assessment and its decision on how to strengthen partnerships for the final quarter of 2026 (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). In February 2026, the department stated that a public consultation found no consensus in favour of regulatory change, adding that a final decision on amending regulations will be taken during the 2027 review of the Civil Contingencies Act (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Feb 2026).
Verify training quality of Category 1 responders
We also recommend that a mechanism be introduced for independently verifying the frequency and quality of training provided by local authorities and other Category 1 responders. (113.71)
In September 2026, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government reported that it had begun testing proposals with the sector to establish a reporting process on training quality and frequency (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). The department stated in September 2026 that publication of updated resilience guidance for local authorities had been delayed to the fourth quarter of 2026 to align with wider devolution and standards work (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Sep 2026). HM Government had previously accepted the recommendation in principle in February 2025, proposing revised national occupational standards and reporting frameworks across Category 1 responders (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government response, Feb 2025).