Tower Blocks

HC Deb 27 July 1979 vol 971 cc657-8W

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the difficulties now confronting the London borough of Newham due to damage and possible danger of several of its tower block, he will arrange for a general survey to be made of all tower blocks.

Mr. Stanley

I understand that the two tower blocks at Newham where the fixings of the cladding panels have failed are the only ones built to that particular design. I shall scrutinise the results of the present investigation with great care,

						1974	1975	1976	1977
Non-industrials	…	…	…	…	…	1,850*	1,700*	2,170	2,296
Industrials	…	…	…	…	…	3,255	2,574	2,648	2,716
Total						5,105	4,274	4,818	5,012
*Estimated figures

but on the evidence now available to me I doubt whether any useful purpose would be served by a general survey of all tower blocks.