A REPORT into fire safety in tower blocks in Wales which was developed following the Grenfell Tower disaster has been put before AMs.

In November the Welsh Assembly's Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee, which is chaired by Newport East AM John Griffiths, completed an inquiry into fire safety in tower blocks in Wales.

The inquiry was carried out following the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017, in which 72 people were killed, and made a series of recommendations, including that the Welsh Government should introduce new minimum standards on people responsible for carrying out fire risk assessments within privately-owned tower blocks. It also said fire safety should be considered in the planning process at an far earlier stage, and action should be taken against developers when buildings differ from plans, while fire doors which act as front doors to flats should to fall under the responsibility of fire and rescue services - meaning it would no longer be up to developers to ensure they are up to standard.

Mr Griffiths presented the report to the Assembly earlier this week.

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Opening the debate, Mr Griffiths said: "We can all agree that the safety of the place you call home is one of the most important foundations to a happy and healthy life.

"Everybody was shocked and horrified by the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in June 2017.

"Since then, we as a committee have been looking at the safety of high-rise residential buildings in Wales to help prevent such a terrible event happening again."

He added it was important there was "no complacency" around fire safety issues to avoid a repeat of the Grenfell disaster in Wales.

Labour candidate for Newport East John Griffiths. Labour candidate for Newport East John Griffiths.

Newport East AM John Griffiths

Among those to speak during the debate was South Wales Central AM David Melding, who said the current fire safety system "simply isn't fit for purpose".

"It's painful that it took an event like the Grenfell fire for us to realise that, but it does, I think, mean that we have to have a comprehensive and robust approach now to reform in this area," he said.

And ex-Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood said she was concerned it was people on low incomes and from minority groups who could suffer the most if changes are not made.

"It's now just over 18 months since the tragedy of Grenfell fire demonstrated just how vulnerable some high-rise residential units are, and also the extent to which basic standards of health and safety just don't seem to apply to people who are on low incomes, especially those who belong to minority groups," she said.

"I found it shocking, for example, that there is still no statutory regulation for people wishing to manage high-rise residential buildings.

Grenfell Tower in flames. Picture: Natalie Oxford/PA Wire

"I also found it shocking that, during our evidence sessions, we heard that in France and Germany there are materials that are specifically prohibited in high-rise buildings, and that isn't the case here."

Responding to the debate, housing and local government minister Julie James said the Welsh Government intended to bring in new legislation providing greater protection for tower block residents, but it would take some time to develop.

"I want to be able to say that we can do it within this Assembly term - we certainly would love to - but I think it's very important to get the system right, so to make sure that we have covered off all other gaps that exist in the current legislation and we've explored all the possibilities," she said.

"So, I'm not going to commit to that other than to say I share the ambition, but whether or not we'll be able to do that, I don't know.

"But it is very important, and I make no apology, that we get the practical application right and then enshrine that in the legislation."

Speaking at the end of the debate, Mr Griffiths said: "It's very obviously extremely important that we understand as best we can the issues around fire safety in high-rise in general, in private high-rise in Wales, identify necessary action and take that action as quickly as possible."