DPO Statement on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans

Representing the interests of thousands of Disabled people living in residential blocks, we the undersigned Disabled people’s organisations, urge the UK Government to implement the legal right to Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans, for Disabled tenants and leaseholders in residential blocks, who are unable to independently evacuate in the event of fire. This right was recommended by the Grenfell Tower Inquiry in 2019.

Disabled people's lives must be treated as having equal value to those of non-disabled people.

The previous Government rejected this recommendation and proposed a watered-down right to a fire risk assessment and information sharing with the Fire and Rescue Service. In its December 2024  announcement, the new Labour Government confirmed that it would follow the life-threatening proposals of the previous Conservative administration.

We call on the Labour Government to implement the recommendation of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry on Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans. Every Disabled tenant and leaseholder living in a residential block, who is unable to independently evacuate in the event of fire must be entitled to a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan. Without such Plans, Disabled people’s lives are not being treated equally and are actively being put at risk.

The Prime Minister said that his Government would learn the lessons of Grenfell Tower; the December announcement betrays this commitment.

We urge the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government and Parliament to reject the watered-down proposals in the December announcement and to implement Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans for Disabled People unable to independently evacuate in the event of fire.

Signed by:

Disability Rights UK

Inclusion London

Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People

Harrow Association of Disabled People

Disability North

Disability Peterborough

Disability Assist

Disability Cornwall

Wheels for Wellbeing

Liberation

Disability North

Action Disability Kensington and Chelsea (ADKC)

Disability Positive

Inclusion Barnet

DPAC

GMCDP

Well Adapt