Include academics on statutory guidance advisory bodies
Grenfell Tower Inquiry · Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report · Issued 4 September 2024 · Addressed to: UK Government
Source — verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
That, as far as possible, membership of bodies advising on changes to the statutory guidance should include representatives of the academic community as well as those with practical experience of the industry (including fire engineers) chosen for their experience and skill and should extend beyond those who have served on similar bodies in the past. (113.14)
Grenfell Tower Inquiry, Grenfell Tower Inquiry: Phase 2 Report · 4 Sep 2024 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
Publicly available evidence relating to this recommendation:
- The Building Advisory Committee was established under the Building Safety Act 2022, supported by thematic working groups including academic and professional membership (Building Safety Act 2022, legislation.gov.uk).
- The government's annual report stated the committee includes academic and professional representation (Annual Report on Progress, MHCLG, February 2026).
Response — verbatim from government
●UK Government — initial response
The government accepts this recommendation. We agree that a diverse range of representatives, including those from academic and professional communities, should be included in membership of bodies advising on changes to statutory guidance. The Building Safety Act 2022 established the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) which, in turn, is supported by thematic working groups such as the Approved Document B Fire Safety Working Group. These have significant academic and professional representation. Membership and range of expertise available through the BAC will be considered in the review of statutory guidance.
UK Government · 16 Jan 2025 Written response →
●UK Government — follow-up
The government accepts this recommendation. We agree that a diverse range of representatives, including those from academic and professional communities, should be included in membership of bodies advising on changes to statutory guidance. The Building Safety Act 2022 established the Building Advisory Committee (BAC) which, in turn, is supported by thematic working groups such as the Approved Document B Fire Safety Working Group. These have significant academic and professional representation. Membership and range of expertise available through the BAC will be considered in the review of statutory guidance.
UK Government · 26 Feb 2025 Written response →
Evidence trail — what's actually happened since
- 1 Feb 2026 Building Advisory Committee established under Building Safety Act 2022, supported by thematic working groups including substantial academic and professional representation. Diverse representation emphasis incorporated into statutory guidance review. (Covers Recommendations 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12.) Source →
Each entry above links to a primary source — gov.uk written statement, consultation response document, or inspection report. The Index does not characterise government intent; it tracks what has been published.
How this page is built
Source and Response are verbatim from primary documents. The Evidence trail records published activity since — written statements, consultation outcomes, inspection findings, parliamentary references. The Index does not paraphrase or characterise intent; it tracks what has been published. Where the evidence is the absence of action (a missed deadline, a slipped timetable), that absence is documented from primary sources rather than inferred.
This recommendation's data is verified periodically against primary sources. The Index is monitored for staleness weekly.