The formal opening statement by Sir Martin Moore-Bick, Chairman of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry, outlining the inquiry's scope, procedures, and commitment to finding the truth.
00:00:10 could I ask you to take you see it's crazy
00:00:23 you can do a rise please
00:00:37 do sit down please
00:00:40 [Music]
00:00:45 good morning everyone welcome to the opening session of the inquiry
00:00:51 inquiry if you're here to translate for someone else please don't worry about talking in a low voice while I'm making my opening statement
00:01:01 this is the formal opening of the public inquiry into the fire at grenfell Tower in June this year on that Dreadful occasion exactly three
00:01:12 on that Dreadful occasion exactly three months ago at least 80 people died when the building was engulfed by flames in a tragedy unprecedented in modern times
00:01:23 tragedy unprecedented in modern times it's fitting that we should remember with humility and compassion those who died in the fire their families and friends and all who grieve for them
00:01:35 friends and all who grieve for them I therefore invite you to stand and join me in observing a minute's silence as a mark of respect for those who died and for those whose lives have been
00:01:46 and for those whose lives have been changed forever by the loss of Those whom they loved
00:01:58 thank you
00:02:51 thank you very much
00:02:57 it's right that at the very outset of the inquiry I should Express on my own behalf and on behalf of all members of the inquiry team
00:03:08 team the dismay and sadness we feel about the loss of life Devastation and injury caused by the fire
00:03:17 fire we are acutely aware not only that so many people died or were injured in the fire
00:03:24 fire but the many of those who survived have been severely affected by their experiences we are also conscious that many have lost everything
00:03:35 lost everything and even now are dependent on others for many of their daily needs the inquiry cannot undo any of that it can and will provide answers to the
00:03:49 it can and will provide answers to the pressing questions of how a disaster of this kind could occur in 21st century London
00:03:56 London and thereby I hope provide a small measure of Solace
00:04:03 it is also right to recall that a disaster of this magnitude provided an unprecedented challenge to the emergency services
00:04:12 services in particular the London fire brigade there are many aspects of the response to the fire that the inquiry will wish to examine but it's right that I should pay tribute
00:04:24 but it's right that I should pay tribute to the members of the fire and rescue service
00:04:27 service many of whom risked their own lives in an attempt to save others
00:04:34 and last but by no means least I should like to pay tribute to the members of the local community who together with volunteers from outside
00:04:45 outside have done so much to help and support each other in these very difficult weeks I was astonished to learn recently that some children who'd escaped from the
00:04:57 some children who'd escaped from the tower
00:04:58 tower had gone into school the next day to take their exams and by all accounts had managed to do very well in them it would be difficult to find a better
00:05:09 it would be difficult to find a better example
00:05:10 example of the fortitude and resilience of this community
00:05:16 in response to that terrible event on the 28th of June the Prime Minister appointed me to chair a public inquiry into the disaster
00:05:29 into the disaster the purpose of the inquiry was to find out what had happened and why it had happened with a view to ensuring that a similar catastrophe could never occur again
00:05:42 on the 5th of July a public consultation was launched about the inquiries terms of reference that consultation continued until the
00:05:53 that consultation continued until the 4th of August by which time over 550 responses had been received including many from among those who had been residents of grenfelter and other
00:06:05 been residents of grenfelter and other parts of the Lancaster West estate
00:06:10 in the light of the responses to the consultation I wrote to the Prime Minister on the 10th of August recommending terms of reference which
00:06:21 recommending terms of reference which she subsequently accepted a copy of my letter and of the prime minister's reply can be found on the inquiry website
00:06:32 inquiry website following that exchange of Correspondence the inquiry was formally set up on the 15th of August
00:06:41 in my letter I also said that I was giving active thought to appointing assessors to provide me with advice since then I've had discussions with a
00:06:55 since then I've had discussions with a number of people who seem to me to be likely to be able to bring to the inquiry expertise and perspectives which I do not myself possess
00:07:07 not myself possess I know that many of the survivors would like me to appoint someone from among their own number or perhaps another local resident as one of my assessors
00:07:19 as one of my assessors many of them can of course provide valuable evidence and I shall ensure that all their evidence is heard and carefully considered but to a point as an Assessor
00:07:32 but to a point as an Assessor someone who had had Direct involvement in the fire would risk undermining my impartiality in the eyes of others who are also deeply involved in the inquiry
00:07:45 deeply involved in the inquiry I've therefore come to the conclusion that I cannot take the course they would wish me to adopt as a result I've approached a number of people
00:07:56 people all completely independent of those whose conduct may have to be investigated who have expertise of a social and administrative nature that enables them to provide me with the assistance I need
00:08:09 to provide me with the assistance I need to carry out my task
00:08:14 I shall also need the assistance of people who can give me expert advice in more technical areas in particular the development of fires in high-rise residential buildings
00:08:28 in high-rise residential buildings and the intricacies of the building regulations with particular reference to protection against fire
00:08:38 I'm currently in discussions with several people who in my view have the expertise necessary to fulfill those roles
00:08:47 roles and I'm pleased to say that those discussions are making good progress I hope to be able to announce the appointment of the first group of assessors within the next week or so
00:09:01 my assessors will provide me with advice as may be appropriate throughout the inquiry
00:09:08 inquiry in general they will attend those hearings at which evidence is taken that falls within their particular areas of expertise
00:09:18 expertise but they will also keep themselves abreast of the proceedings by familiarizing themselves with the transcripts of the hearing hearings they do not attend
00:09:30 hearings they do not attend when the time comes to draft a report I shall look to them for their comments and advice But ultimately the responsibility for the inquiry's findings and
00:09:41 the inquiry's findings and recommendations rests with me
00:09:46 the inquiries terms of reference have been widely published and can be found on its website but it may be useful if I read them out for the benefit of anyone who has not
00:09:59 for the benefit of anyone who has not seen them
00:10:00 seen them they are as follows one to examine the circumstances surrounding the fire at grenfell tower on the 14th of June
00:10:09 of June 2017
00:10:10 2017 including a the immediate cause or causes of the fire and the means by which it spread to the whole of the building
00:10:20 building be the design and construction of the building and the decisions relating to its modification refurbishment and management
00:10:31 refurbishment and management see the scope and adequacy of building regulations fire regulations and other legislation guidance and Industry practice relating to the design construction
00:10:44 relating to the design construction equipping and management of high-rise residential buildings d whether such regulations legislation guidance and Industry practice were
00:10:56 guidance and Industry practice were complied with in the case of grenful tar and the safe fire safety measures adopted in relation to it e the arrangements made by the local
00:11:08 e the arrangements made by the local Authority or other responsible bodies for receiving and acting upon information either obtained from local residents or available from other sources including
00:11:20 available from other sources including information derived from fires in other buildings
00:11:25 buildings relating to the risk of fire at grenfold Tower
00:11:28 Tower and the action taken in response to such information F the fire prevention and fire safety measures in place of grenfell tower on
00:11:40 measures in place of grenfell tower on 14th June 2017. G the response of the London fire brigade to the fire and H the response of Central and local
00:11:52 and H the response of Central and local government in the days immediately following the fire and two to report its findings to the Prime Minister as soon as possible and to make recommendations
00:12:06 the terms of reference are deliberately cast in Broad terms in order to give me scope to pursue whatever lines of inquiry seem likely to be fruitful
00:12:17 inquiry seem likely to be fruitful I think it worth emphasizing that the specific areas of Investigation to which they refer are intended to identify the main subjects of the inquiry
00:12:28 subjects of the inquiry but they are not intended to be exhaustive it is for me to interpret the terms of reference
00:12:35 reference and I shall not be deflected from pursuing lines of inquiry which may lead to information of value I shall have more to say about that in a
00:12:46 I shall have more to say about that in a moment
00:12:46 moment but it is important to understand the size of the task ahead it will require much hard work in obtaining and analyzing documents
00:12:58 in obtaining and analyzing documents and in the preparation of statements from those who may be able to give valuable evidence with the help of my team I intend to make sure that the work proceeds as
00:13:10 make sure that the work proceeds as quickly as possible
00:13:13 I've mentioned the inquiry team and this may be a good moment to introduce them the secretary to the inquiry is Mark Fisher
00:13:23 Fisher he is an experienced civil servant it was previously director of the office for Civil Society at the department for culture media and Sport
00:13:34 culture media and Sport Mark is the head of an administrative team
00:13:37 team which is made up of a number of civil servants
00:13:40 servants chosen from many hundreds who expressed interest in working for the inquiry his Deputy is Amanda Jeffrey who acted
00:13:51 his Deputy is Amanda Jeffrey who acted as secretary to the Hillsborough inquest and before that as deputy secretary to the levison inquiry the team handles the whole range of
00:14:02 the team handles the whole range of administrative tasks and is currently based at the Royal courts of Justice the solicitor to the inquiry is Caroline featherston
00:14:13 featherston Caroline was previously a senior solicitor in the government legal department as a deputy director she led a large team dealing with many different kinds
00:14:24 team dealing with many different kinds of litigation she leads the inquiries team of three solicitors which includes Kathy Kennedy and Shafi NASA both of whom also come from the
00:14:36 both of whom also come from the government legal department
00:14:39 I also have the benefit of a team of leading and Junior Council Richard Millett Queen's Council was called to the bar in 1985 and was appointed Queen's Council in
00:14:50 and was appointed Queen's Council in 2003.
00:14:53 2003. he has extensive experience of handling complex civil disputes of many kinds and sits as a deputy high court judge he leads a team of five other barristers
00:15:05 he leads a team of five other barristers each chosen for his or her particular expertise
00:15:11 expertise Bernard Richmond Queen's Council was called to the bar in 1988 and was appointed Queen's Council in 2006. he is a criminal defense specialist
00:15:23 he is a criminal defense specialist with substantial experience of cases involving vulnerable Witnesses he also sits as an assistant coroner
00:15:34 he also sits as an assistant coroner Kate Grange Queens council is called to the bar in 1998 and was appointed Queen's Council in 2017.
00:15:44 2017. she has particular expertise in relation to commercial construction public and inquiry law Andrew Kinnear and Rose Grogan are both
00:15:57 Andrew Kinnear and Rose Grogan are both Junior Council they are familiar with the complex web of legislation and guidance which relates to fire safety in buildings Andrew also has experience of acting in
00:16:10 Andrew also has experience of acting in large public inquiries including the Ladbroke Grove inquiry zenat Islam is another criminal defense specialist who will work in conjunction
00:16:22 specialist who will work in conjunction with Bernard Richmond okay
00:16:26 okay it's important to understand that the inquiry process is not adversarial my task is not to decide which of two or more competing parties has the better
00:16:39 more competing parties has the better case
00:16:40 case nor is it to punish anyone or to award anyone compensation it is simply to get at the truth with the help of all those who have
00:16:51 with the help of all those who have relevant evidence to give the process should therefore be seen as essentially cooperative accordingly the role of solicitors and
00:17:02 accordingly the role of solicitors and Council to the inquiry is not to promote any particular conclusion or result still less to favor any particular witness or class of witnesses
00:17:16 witness or class of witnesses rather it is the place before me and before the public evidence that will enable me to make findings about what occurred and put forward recommendations
00:17:27 forward recommendations for the future they will do that by presenting the evidence in public hearings and by questioning those Witnesses whom I decide should be called to give oral
00:17:40 I decide should be called to give oral evidence
00:17:42 evidence when required they will also provide me with impartial advice on matters of Law and procedure all hearings will be conducted in public
00:17:53 all hearings will be conducted in public unless the particular nature of the evidence or arguments requires otherwise
00:18:01 I'm well aware that the past few months have turned the world of those who live in North Kensington upside down and that former residents of the Tower and other local people
00:18:13 and other local people feel a great sense of anger and betrayal that is entirely natural and understandable but if the inquiry is to get to the
00:18:24 but if the inquiry is to get to the truth of what happened it must seek out all the relevant evidence and examine it calmly and rationally the solicitors and Council acting for
00:18:36 the solicitors and Council acting for the inquiry will approach their task in that way
00:18:40 that way as I hope will be legal representatives of the various core participants in that way they will help us all discover where the truth really lies
00:18:55 I should also remind everyone that section two of the inquiries act 2005 prohibits me from ruling on or determining anyone's civil or criminal
00:19:07 determining anyone's civil or criminal liability
00:19:09 liability however
00:19:11 however the same section also expressly provides that I am not to be inhibited by the likelihood of liability being inferred from any findings or recommendations
00:19:23 from any findings or recommendations that I may make I shall therefore not shrink from making any findings or recommendations that are justified by the evidence simply because someone may someone else
00:19:35 simply because someone may someone else may at a later date consider that they form the basis of civil or criminal liability the police are of course conducting their own investigation into possible
00:19:48 their own investigation into possible criminal offenses
00:19:51 this room was chosen for today's formal evening
00:19:55 evening because it was necessary to find a space large enough to accommodate the number of people it was thought might wish to attend
00:20:05 attend I intend if possible to find a room of sufficient size in a convenient location for future hearings at which evidence will be taken
00:20:16 hearings at which evidence will be taken information about the time and place of future hearings will be posted on the inquiries website
00:20:25 information about how to make contact with the inquiry team in the meantime can be obtained from those members of the team who are here this morning and
00:20:36 the team who are here this morning and from the inquiries website in due course a transcript of today's proceedings and any rulings and directions which I may give from time to time will be
00:20:47 may give from time to time will be posted on the website unless there is a good reason not to do so in any particular case the hearings themselves will be streamed
00:20:58 the hearings themselves will be streamed live to other locations if there is a sufficient demand for that and through the inquiry website so that the public as a whole can follow the proceedings
00:21:10 the proceedings transcripts of the hearings will be posted on the website as soon as possible after the conclusion of each day's proceedings
00:21:20 the evidence given by Witnesses at the hearings will however be only part of the material which the inquiry will have to consider much of that material will be in the
00:21:33 much of that material will be in the form of documents I therefore intend to ensure that all relevant documents that can properly be made public are scanned onto an electronic database
00:21:44 electronic database which will allow them to be called up and displayed on screens at the hearings and made available for inspection through a link on the inquiry website
00:21:55 through a link on the inquiry website after they've been put in evidence
00:22:00 although the hearings will be streamed to places where they can be viewed contemporaneously I think it important that members of the public should be able to attend the hearings in person so far as reasonably
00:22:13 hearings in person so far as reasonably practicable I shall therefore take steps to ensure that hearings at which evidence is to be taken
00:22:20 taken are held in rooms large enough to accommodate a substantial number of members of the public as well as representatives of the press and media organizations
00:22:34 I propose to conduct the inquiry in two phases
00:22:38 phases in the first phase I shall investigate the development of the fire itself where and how it started how it spread from its original seat to
00:22:49 how it spread from its original seat to other parts of the building and the chain of events that unfolded during the course of the hours before it was finally extinguished I shall also be looking into the
00:23:00 I shall also be looking into the response of the emergency services and the evacuation of residents it's necessary to address these questions first for two reasons
00:23:12 questions first for two reasons the first is because there is an urgent need to find out what aspects of the building's design and construction played a significant role in enabling the disaster to occur
00:23:25 the disaster to occur that's important because if there are similar defects in other high-rise buildings
00:23:30 buildings steps must be taken quickly to ensure that those who live in them are kept safe
00:23:37 safe the second is because until we understand the chain of events in some detail
00:23:44 detail it will not be possible to pinpoint the critical decisions that had a bearing on the exposure of the building to the risk of an uncontrollable fire
00:23:56 my intention is that as part of this first phase of the inquiry I should obtain written and oral evidence from those who can give direct accounts of what occurred on the knight
00:24:08 accounts of what occurred on the knight in question they will include in particular former residents of the tower who escaped from the fire
00:24:16 the fire people living in the surrounding area and the firefighters their evidence is likely to be of great value and I hope that many will come forward to tell us about their personal
00:24:28 forward to tell us about their personal experiences I shall also have access to photographs and video footings of the fire and recordings of the calls made to the
00:24:39 and recordings of the calls made to the emergency services
00:24:42 I know that giving evidence whether in the form of a statement or in person can be a stressful experience for anyone so I intend to ensure as far as possible
00:24:54 so I intend to ensure as far as possible that any former residents of the Tower and indeed other residents of the Lancaster West estate should be asked to give evidence once only
00:25:05 only I therefore intend that those who can provide evidence relating to the first phase of the inquiry should have the opportunity at the same time
00:25:14 time to provide any evidence they may have about matters that I shall be considering in the second phase such as concerns which they may have expressed before the fire
00:25:25 expressed before the fire about the safety of the building or their experiences in the days immediately following the fire
00:25:35 for some of those who escape from the tower however the stress of giving evidence is likely to be greatly magnified by the continuing effects of what can only have been a most traumatic
00:25:47 what can only have been a most traumatic experience I'm acutely aware of the challenge that presents
00:25:54 presents I intend to do everything possible to ensure that the process of assisting the inquiry does not result in further unnecessary suffering to that end I shall be looking for
00:26:06 to that end I shall be looking for particular help and cooperation from those who represent victims families and the Emergency Services I'm open to suggestions about how I can
00:26:17 I'm open to suggestions about how I can obtain evidence from those Witnesses in a sensitive and appropriate way the work of the inquiry is urgent and there's an obvious need to begin
00:26:28 and there's an obvious need to begin hearings as soon as possible but I recognize that it is necessary to act with sensitivity and compassion and I shall take whatever steps are
00:26:39 and I shall take whatever steps are appropriate in line with current practice to ensure that Witnesses are able to give the best evidence they can
00:26:49 the second phase of the inquiry will examine abroad on a broad front how the building came to be so seriously exposed to the risk of a disastrous fire
00:27:01 to the risk of a disastrous fire that will involve an investigation into the design of the building its modification from time to time over previous years the decisions relating to design and
00:27:12 the decisions relating to design and construction that were made in connection with each of those modifications and the reasons for those decisions I shall also be asking whether at each
00:27:23 I shall also be asking whether at each stage of its development the building complied with regulations then in force and whether the regulations themselves were adequate the extent to which fire risk
00:27:35 the extent to which fire risk assessments were carried out and what steps were taken in response to them
00:27:40 them will also come under scrutiny those and similar questions will assume particular importance in relation to the most recent refurbishment of the
00:27:51 most recent refurbishment of the building
00:27:51 building and the fitting of external cladding one important part of my investigations will be to examine the communications between residents and the Tenant
00:28:03 between residents and the Tenant management organization the TMO and the council in relation to the safety of grandfather and the responses to those Communications
00:28:15 as part of the second phase I shall also examine the response to the disaster and the steps taken in the days immediately following the fire to provide food shelter and other basic
00:28:28 to provide food shelter and other basic amenities for those whose homes had been destroyed and who had lost everything
00:28:36 this part of the inquiry is likely to take rather longer than the first phase because it will require the examination of many documents obtained from the council the TMO and other bodies
00:28:48 council the TMO and other bodies involved in the most recent refurbishment of the building as well as evidence from many of those who were personally involved in the decision-making process
00:29:00 decision-making process although I've referred to two phases of the inquiry I want to make it clear that I intend that as far as possible work on both phases should proceed in parallel
00:29:13 phases should proceed in parallel the solicitor to the inquiry has already written to several of the companies and other bodies that were involved in the most recent refurbishment asking them to produce documents
00:29:24 asking them to produce documents relating to their particular areas of involvement those bodies include of course the council and the TMO I have every reason to expect that we
00:29:35 I have every reason to expect that we shall receive a very large number of documents which will have to be read and analyzed
00:29:41 analyzed that will take a considerable amount of time
00:29:45 time but many of those documents may not be of direct relevance to the first phase of the inquiry so is there is no reason why that work should hold up the first phase which is
00:29:56 should hold up the first phase which is likely to turn on evidence of a different kind
00:30:02 as part of its preparation for the investigation my team has produced a list of issues which it is intended to set out in Greater detail the questions that I shall seek to answer
00:30:15 that I shall seek to answer it will be published on the inquiry website later today so that anyone who wishes to do so can see what the inquiry is aiming to do
00:30:27 see what the inquiry is aiming to do but I need to sound one small note of caution the list of issues is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of what the inquiry will investigate it isn't in the very nature of process
00:30:39 it isn't in the very nature of process of this kind that I shall want to follow up leads and new lines of inquiry as they emerge so the list of issues should be viewed as more as a statement of current
00:30:51 as more as a statement of current thinking than a definitive program of work
00:30:57 as will be evident from the list of issues the terms of reference encourage a wide range of questions and indeed these specific matters to which they refer are not themselves
00:31:09 which they refer are not themselves intended to be restrictive it is for me to interpret the terms of reference
00:31:14 reference and I wish to emphasize that the inquiry is not limited to factual questions surrounding the development of the fire as I hope I have already made clear it
00:31:27 as I hope I have already made clear it is my intention to look closely at the ways in which decisions relating to modifications to the building were reached including the considerations which motivated them
00:31:40 which motivated them that will be an integral part of understanding how and why this fire occurred and of learning lessons for the future
00:31:51 the inquiry rules 2006. Place certain duties upon me in relation to the designation of core participants and of lawyers as recognized legal
00:32:04 and of lawyers as recognized legal Representatives procedures for applying for core participant status were published on the inquiries website in mid-august and those who wish to become core
00:32:16 and those who wish to become core participants were asked to make their applications by the 8th of September we have received around 300 such applications
00:32:27 applications most of them at the end of last week through the solicited the inquiry I've already informed some applicants that they will be given call participant status
00:32:38 status if inevitably many applications remain to be determined and are currently under consideration the process of dealing with the may take some time
00:32:49 some time and in some cases I may need to hear oral submissions to enable me to reach a decision
00:32:55 decision if so Arrangements will be made for hearings to be held for that purpose
00:33:02 core participants are of course entitled to be legally represented but where several of them have the same interest it would not be sensible for their lawyers to make the same points on
00:33:15 their lawyers to make the same points on behalf of each of them separately to do so it would simply be a waste of time and resources rule seven of the inquiry rule seeks to avoid that situation
00:33:27 avoid that situation by imposing on the chairman a duty to direct the core participants whose interests in the outcome of the inquiry are the are similar and to rely on similar facts are to be
00:33:40 and to rely on similar facts are to be represented by a single recognized legal representative if he thinks it's fair and proper for them to be jointly represented
00:33:51 them to be jointly represented even in cases where there are different lawyers representing people with different interests it may make sense for one of them to lead on matters in which Those whom they represent have broadly similar interests
00:34:06 it would be in everyone's interest therefore for discussions to take place between Court participants with the same or similar interests with a view to reaching agreement on sensible
00:34:18 reaching agreement on sensible Arrangements which reduce the number of separate legal Representatives appearing before the inquiry without sacrificing the essential requirements of fairness and justice
00:34:31 requirements of fairness and justice I hope that some agreement can be reached but if it cannot I may have to act in accordance with rule seven and determine arrangements for legal representation myself
00:34:43 representation myself before doing so however I shall seek submissions in writing from those who will be affected and may wish to hear oral submissions and a hearing specially
00:34:54 oral submissions and a hearing specially arranged for that purpose
00:34:58 as far as possible I intend to seek voluntary cooperation in the production of documents and other evidence such as witness statements that the inquiry will need to carry out its work
00:35:11 need to carry out its work I expect everyone to whom a request of that kind is addressed to provide all relevant material without the need for me to exercise my statutory powers
00:35:22 statutory powers but I have the power under section 21 of the 2005 act to require the attendance of witnesses and the production of documents and if necessary I shall not
00:35:33 documents and if necessary I shall not hesitate to make use of it the inquiry team has already made a number of requests for the production of relevant evidence and documents which are in the course of being provided
00:35:45 are in the course of being provided this will be a continuing process and further requests will be made as the inquiry progresses moreover I wish to take this opportunity to ask anyone who is or thinks he or she
00:35:59 to ask anyone who is or thinks he or she may be in possession of any information evidence or documents relevant to the matters I'm looking into to do whatever they can to preserve the material
00:36:10 material and to inform the inquiry team at once details of the way in which the inquiry proposes to deal with documents can be found in the protocol for the receipt
00:36:22 found in the protocol for the receipt and handling of documents which can be found on the inquiry website
00:36:29 it's obvious that many of the questions that have to be investigated particularly in the first phase of the inquiry are of a highly technical nature they require expert knowledge of a kind
00:36:41 they require expert knowledge of a kind that I do not currently possess I've therefore instructed or am in the course of instructing some of the most eminent people in the fields of forensic fire analysis and
00:36:54 fields of forensic fire analysis and fire engineering to examine the evidence and give me the benefit of their opinions
00:37:01 opinions the experts will produce reports for my consideration and those who are core participants will have an opportunity to read those reports and comment on them before the
00:37:12 reports and comment on them before the evidence is given the experts may be called to give oral evidence to explain their reports and to answer questions on them submitted by
00:37:23 answer questions on them submitted by other parties
00:37:26 experience has shown that in many fields of expertise different people can legitimately hold different opinions and I'm certainly willing to accept evidence from suitably qualified experts
00:37:39 evidence from suitably qualified experts who've been instructed by other parties if it becomes clear that there's a range of expert views on any particular subject
00:37:48 subject I'm likely to direct that the witnesses discuss the issues with a view to identifying areas of agreement and disagreement that should ensure that the oral
00:37:59 that should ensure that the oral evidence can be directed to any remaining areas of disagreement
00:38:06 I should make at this stage to say a little more about the procedure I intend to adopt in carrying out the terms of reference
00:38:14 reference it's likely that it will be necessary to hold one or more directions hearings at which I shall hear submissions and give directions on matters of a procedural nature
00:38:26 procedural nature it will not be necessary for core participants to attend those hearings unless they're directly concerned in the matters under consideration similar hearings will be arranged if
00:38:39 similar hearings will be arranged if necessary to deal with issues that arise in the course of the inquiry the times and places will be communicated to those involved by email and posted on the inquiries website
00:38:52 and posted on the inquiries website parties who wish to make submissions are the directions hearing will be expected to send the solicitor to the inquiry a skeleton argument together with any supporting material
00:39:04 together with any supporting material not later than five working days in advance of the hearing skeleton arguments must not exceed 15 pages in length must be printed on A4
00:39:15 pages in length must be printed on A4 paper one side only 12 point font 1.5 line spacing and mustn't contain footnotes
00:39:25 at the beginning of any hearing at which the inquiry intends to take evidence cancel for the inquiry will make an opening statement outlining the nature of the evidence to be called in the
00:39:36 of the evidence to be called in the course of that hearing at the beginning of the first such hearing the recognized legal representative of each core participant will be invited to make an opening
00:39:47 will be invited to make an opening statement in accordance with rule 11 of the inquiry rules 2006. I shall give further directions about those opening statements at a later date
00:40:00 all Witnesses who are called to give oral evidence will be the inquiries Witnesses
00:40:06 Witnesses they will therefore be called and examined by Council to the inquiry although the inquiry will seek the assistance of legal Representatives where they've been appointed
00:40:17 where they've been appointed in the preparation of witness statements I shall decide which statements are to form part of the record of documentary evidence and which Witnesses are to be called to give oral evidence in addition
00:40:30 called to give oral evidence in addition to their written statements the solicitor to the inquiry and those working under her Direction will be closely involved in the process of obtaining statements from potential
00:40:41 of obtaining statements from potential Witnesses
00:40:43 Witnesses where appropriate she will send out checklists and agendas which explain the topics which should be covered in witness statements and any procedures which should be followed
00:40:56 which should be followed for example when dealing with vulnerable Witnesses
00:41:02 core participants who wish to have specific questions put to Witnesses must provide them in writing to council to the inquiry not later than five days before the witness is called to give
00:41:14 before the witness is called to give evidence
00:41:15 evidence the inquiry will publish on its website as far as possible in advance a program of dates and times when it is intended that witnesses will attend to
00:41:26 intended that witnesses will attend to give oral evidence and will ensure that the program is kept up to date whether to allow questioning of a witness by other parties is a matter
00:41:37 witness by other parties is a matter entirely within my discretion and will be allowed if at all only on application in accordance with rule 10 of the inquiry rules
00:41:48 of the inquiry rules I shall not permit the same topic to be canvassed by more than one party and where that requires prior consultation and cooperation between parties I should expect it to have been
00:42:01 parties I should expect it to have been carried out I'm currently minded to invite final submissions in writing after the conclusion of all the evidence and to give core participants an
00:42:12 and to give core participants an opportunity to make brief oral submissions I shall give further directions about that in due course
00:42:22 at this point I should like to say something about the timetable to which I'm hoping to work three months have passed since the fire and to some it may seem that not much
00:42:33 and to some it may seem that not much progress has been made that that is not the case and it may be helpful for me to summarize what has been happening in relation to the inquiry since the 14th of June
00:42:45 inquiry since the 14th of June as I've said I was appointed to chair the inquiry on the 28th of June but the period of consultation to which I referred meant that the inquiry was not in fact set off until the 15th of August
00:43:00 in fact set off until the 15th of August although the intervening period was used to put together the inquiry team set up our office and make preparations for starting work we could not take active steps to start
00:43:11 we could not take active steps to start collecting evidence until I had received my terms of reference and the inquiry had been formally set up once that had happened we could get
00:43:22 once that had happened we could get started
00:43:23 started within a few days the solicitor to the inquiry had written to the organizations most closely involved with the management of the Tower and its most recent refurbishment
00:43:34 recent refurbishment asking them to produce any documents in their possession relevant to matters under investigation letters of that kind have been sent not only to the council and TMO but to the
00:43:47 only to the council and TMO but to the contractors and suppliers concerned in the refurbishment we expect to receive many thousands of documents and in order to manage them we have had detailed negotiations for the
00:43:59 have had detailed negotiations for the provision of an electronic document management system it will enable us to analyze them present them effectively at hearings and make them available to the
00:44:10 hearings and make them available to the public through the inquiries website as I've mentioned we have also had discussions with and have now instructed a number of experts will give me the benefit of their skill and knowledge in
00:44:23 benefit of their skill and knowledge in relation to various aspects of the investigations
00:44:28 the process of gathering evidence has therefore already begun in earnest that there is much more to do it has become clear that there are many potential Witnesses still to be
00:44:39 potential Witnesses still to be interviewed and many thousands of documents to be reviewed the scale of the task is enormous I should like to begin taking evidence in relation to the first phase of the
00:44:51 in relation to the first phase of the inquiry before the end of this year but whether that will be possible will depend in a large measure on how long it takes to obtain statements from those
00:45:02 takes to obtain statements from those who were directly involved in the fire and to obtain and digest the documents relating to their evidence the reasons I've indicated taking statements from those important
00:45:14 statements from those important Witnesses will require care and sensitivity and may take longer than first thought the time and place of the first hearing
00:45:25 the time and place of the first hearing that which evidence will be taken will therefore be announced when our work is further advanced I shall decide on detailed arrangements for hearings such as sitting days and
00:45:36 for hearings such as sitting days and times after hearing submissions from core participants similarly it's too early to say when I shall hold directions hearings since that will depend in part on what
00:45:49 since that will depend in part on what needs to be determined however I hope that core participants will inform my team as soon as possible of any matters which they think I need to deal with
00:46:01 in my letter to the prime minister of 10th August I said that I hope to be able to produce a first report by Easter 2018.
00:46:12 2018. such a report will have to be limited to what I have described as the first phase of the inquiry but even so that presents a challenging goal
00:46:23 goal to achieve it will require much hard work
00:46:25 work as well as the active cooperation of all concerned
00:46:29 concerned but I hope I can count on that cooperation to ensure that the inquiry proceeds as quickly and smoothly as possible
00:46:38 possible it's in the public interest that findings which may affect the safety of people who live or work in other high-rise buildings should be made as soon as possible
00:46:51 I'm aware that there have already been informal meetings between the lawyers serving the inquiry and those representing some prospective core participants with a view to identifying areas of
00:47:04 with a view to identifying areas of common ground and possible differences of approach in relation to procedural or administrative matters I fully encourage cooperation of that kind and I'm grateful for the fact that
00:47:17 kind and I'm grateful for the fact that it has proved beneficial to any everyone involved
00:47:22 involved I hope that it will continue because we share a common goal we are all searching after the truth about the cause of the fire and the massive loss of life that it caused
00:47:35 massive loss of life that it caused and we owe it to those who died and to those whose homes have been destroyed to work together to achieve that goal thank you all very much for coming I
00:47:47 thank you all very much for coming I look forward to seeing many of you again at subsequent hearings
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