New officer of the All-Party Parliamentary Carbon Monoxide Group, Naushabah Khan MP, recently convened key stakeholders in Parliament for a Safe Home Summit on achieving health and safety in homes. 

Homes are a foundational determinant of health, and therefore health and safety hazards in homes entail a considerable public health burden, causing billions in human and economic costs, scores of hospital admissions, and hundreds of thousands of annual premature deaths. 

Amidst these significant costs, responsible authorities such as environmental health professionals, housing providers, and gas professionals can play a crucial role in ensuring residents’ health and safety.  

Joined by a group of CO safety leaders, participants discussed how Government can ensure professionals are trained and empowered to enforce standards and address hazards. 

With attendees from several councils, and experts from public and industry housing bodies, utilities organisations, and CO alarm manufacturers, guests also considered how the Government could coordinate responsible authorities to produce a comprehensive safety service.  

The summit featured contributions from: 

• Brin Mills (West Midlands Fire Service). 
• Sandy Jones (environmental health officer at East Devon Council and researcher at Plymouth University).  
• Jason Andrews (Merton and Wandsworth councils).  

Naushabah Khan MP is a member of the Renters’ Rights Bill Committee and Policy Connect will be developing a detailed event report and recommendations for the APPCOG Officer to take forward. 

For more information or to contribute further written evidence, please contact Gaelan Komen (gaelan.komen [at] policyconnect.org.uk (gaelan[dot]komen[at]policyconnect[dot]org[dot]uk)).