HC Deb 25 July 1990 vol 177 c369W
Mr. Faulds

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the fire on 13 July in the Merryhill tower block in Smethwick and the danger in other tower blocks of similar faulty contruction of fire spreading rapidly; and what remedial action he intends in similar such blocks.

Mr. Nicholls

The first step is to establish precisely what happened in the tower block at Merryhill, and to understand how the fire travelled. Sandwell council, the owner, is carrying out an urgent investigation, and experts from the fire brigade and my Department's Building Research Establishment are helping. If there are lessons to be learnt, we shall take immediate steps to see that other owners of similar buildings are informed.