Brandon Lewls MP Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service Home Office 2 Marsham Street; London SWIP 4DF

Jennifer Leeming RECEIED HM Senior Coroner Manchester West 1 9 SEP 20i0 HM Coroner's Court Paderborn House Howell Croft North Bolton Greater Manchester BL1 1QY 16 SEP 2016 Reference: MJLIHKIS-Billington am writing to thank you for your recent letter to the Home Secretary and your report under regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013. have seen a copy of the Minister of State for Housing and Planning's response on behalf of the Home Secretary, and thought it only appropriate as the Minister of State for Policing and the Fire Service and former Housing Minister; to offer my own sincere condolences to the family and friends of Mr Billington: This must have been a particularly difficult and sad time for them trust you, or the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, will take the opportunity to discuss with British Standards Institution any further concerns that you may have_ BRANDON LEWIS MP CC Gavin Barwell MP, Minister of State for Housing and Planning Your

Gavin Barwell MP Minister of State for Housing and Planning and Minister for London Department for Communities and Department for Communities and Local Government Local Government Fry Building 2 Marsham Street London RECEIVEL SWIP 4DF Jennifer Leeming 4 8 AUG ' ` HM Senior Coroner Manchester West Tel: HM Coroner's Court Faxi Paderborn House Howell Croft North Bolton WWW_ gov.ukldclg Greater Manchester Our Ref:.2560044 BL1 1QY Your ref: MJLIHKIS-Billington DJJ %fcfess( leenar) Thank you for your letter of 12 July to the Rt Hon Greg Clark MP which includes your report under regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013, in relation to the death on 25 March 2015 of Steven Thomas Billington in a fire at his home, Your report was addressed to the Home Secretary as well as to Although your letter has been passed to me given my responsibility for Housing and Building Regulations, am also replying on behalf of the Home Secretary: was very to read about Mr Billington's death: understand that the power supply to the fire alarm in the building had been switched off and that this may have contributed to his death. officials have looked at the relevant standards for the installation of fire detection and alarm systems. It appears that the current guidance in British Standard 5839 already requires that isolators for fire alarm systems are appropriately secured against unauthorised tampering: Perhaps the system in question was an older system that did not meet the current standard. However; if the investigations of the fire and rescue service have identified a weakness in the standard;, then this should be brought to the attention of the relevant committee at the British Standards Institution: The committee may need more information than is contained in your report: If you or the fire and rescue service need assistance in this respect, please contact my official ]E at my address, or email ~lac Cavia GAVIN BARWELL MP sorry My' Sincerely