Businesses admonished for their role in the Grenfell Tower tragedy could be banned from future public deals under new plans.
The Government announced it will investigate those responsible for the cut-price refurbishment of the Tower in 2016, which saw dangerously flammable cladding panels plastered to the exterior of the high-rise building.
An inquiry into the 2017 blaze, which saw 72 people killed, found there had been ‘systematic dishonesty’ on the part of manufacturers involving ‘deliberate manipulation’ of the testing processes and ‘calculated attempts to mislead’ clients.
Seven firms – including Arconic, Celotex and Kingspan – could ultimately be banned from winning public contracts in the future.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told MPs yesterday the firms’ ‘disgraceful mercenary behaviour put profit before people and exploited the regulatory regime to evade accountability with fatal consequences’.
‘Companies must be held to account for their role in Grenfell.’
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner speaks during the Ministerial statement of the government’s response to the Grenfell Tower Inquiry
It is expected to take ‘around two years to sensitively take down’ Grenfell Tower
The memorial beneath Grenfell Tower, in west London, eight years on from the tragedy
She said the Government will use new powers under the Procurement Act to investigate the firms.
If certain grounds are met, their names will be added to a debarment list, which must be taken into account by contracting authorities in awarding new contracts and undertaking new procurements.
Shadow housing and communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: ‘Those who profited from cutting corners, or criminal neglect, must face consequences – not just financial but criminal charges where evidence allows.’
No prosecutions are expected to be brought until at least the end of next year.
