P2-3 Response Accepted Self-assessed

Consolidate fire safety functions under single department

Recommendation

That the government bring responsibility for the functions relating to fire safety currently exercised by MHCLG, the Home Office and the Department for Business and Trade into one department under a single Secretary of State. (113.8)

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
According to the Gov.uk progress update, 2026-02-01, the government transferred all fire functions from the Home Office to MHCLG, effective 1 April 2025, with full staff transfer completed on 1 July 2025 and final budget transfers in January 2026. According to the Gov.uk progress update, 2026-02-01, this action consolidated fire-related responsibilities under a single department, exceeding the recommendation's scope by transferring all fire functions rather than solely fire safety responsibilities (Gov.uk progress update, 2026-02-01).
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 19 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
Jurisdiction
England
Response
Accepted
Accepted UK Government
26 Feb 2025

The government accepts this recommendation. Fire safety related functions will move from the Home Office to MHCLG. The National Regulator for Construction Products in the Department for Business and Trade already reports to MHCLG's Secretary of State, and we will continue to look at consolidation in the context of the report's wider recommendations on institutional reform.

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Progress Timeline
Official Report
01 Feb 2026

Government transferred all fire functions from Home Office to MHCLG effective 1 April 2025, with full staff transfer on 1 July 2025 and final transfer of budgets in January 2026. The government exceeded the recommendation scope by transferring all fire functions rather than solely fire safety responsibilities. Recommendation fully discharged.

Source
Source
Inquiry Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Report Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report 04 Sep 2024
View Source
Responsible Bodies
UK Government Primary
Themes & Tags
Fire risk assessment failures Weak Government Accountability & Scrutiny Fire Safety Government Structure
Recommendation age 1.5 yrs
Last formal update 01 Feb 2026