The whole country is in shock about the horrific Grenfell Tower fire and my thoughts and prayers remain with those affected by this terrible tragedy. I attended the special meeting in Parliament in the immediate aftermath of the fire, where I and many other MPs expressed our concerns and condolences. Our first priority is to ensure those who have been directly affected are receiving the care and support they need and the Government is also acting quickly to reassure those living in similar high-rise buildings that they are safe.
A tragedy of this nature requires a comprehensive Government response and accordingly, the Prime Minister established the Grenfell Tower Recovery task force, which includes representation from a number of Whitehall departments. A £5 million fund has been made available to Grenfell Tower Residents and is being used to cover loss of possession, emergency supplies and funerals. The Government has also committed to providing any necessary financial assistance to families who have been rehoused so that they do not incur any extra costs from travelling to their local school. In addition, I am aware that the Treasury is working with banks to ensure that those affected by this tragedy and lost possessions like their bank cards, will still be able to access their accounts.
There are important questions to be answered about how and why this tragedy occurred and the Prime Minister has committed to commissioning a full public inquiry so that we can ensure this never happens again. Details of the inquiry are yet to be announced but I was pleased to hear that funding will be made available for Grenfell Tower residents to access legal representation and participate fully in the inquiry.
The country is united in its grief and it has been heartening to see communities pulling together to open their homes, co-ordinate donations and simply provide help in any way they can. I was proud to see local residents rally together to collect donations to be sent down to London in a lorry, providing clothes, bedding and furniture to those who have been left homeless. I would also like to pay tribute to the emergency services for their bravery and the outstanding job they have been doing under the most challenging of circumstances.