(Title Image: ITV)
The second Legislative Consent Motion up for discussion was on the UK’s Fire Safety Bill (pdf).
The Fire Safety Bill was introduced following the 2017 Grenfell Tower disaster. It closes gaps in existing fire safety laws by requiring landlords and developers to maintain internal fire doors, gives the fire service greater inspection powers and will ensure entire blocks are covered instead of individual flats.
Due to the lack of time available to introduce a Welsh fire safety law, Deputy Minister for Local Government & Housing, Hannah Blythyn (Lab, Delyn), believed it was appropriate that the UK Bill was extended to cover Wales as a stop-gap. A fire safety white paper is set to be published early in 2021.
The Chairs of the relevant committees didn’t believe there were any major issues with it, though the Communities Committee has pressed for a Welsh fire safety law.
Janet Finch-Saunders MS (Con, Aberconwy) rejected the suggestion there wasn’t enough time for a law. Fire safety should have been prioritised, while clarity was needed on how the additional fire safety inspections would be paid for.
The Deputy Minister reiterated that this was only the first step, saying: “I acknowledge there’s more work to be done in what is often a large, far-reaching and complex area and arena, and it’s important that we take the time to address all issues appropriately and, more importantly, we get any action right.”
The LCM was approved unanimously.
