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The number of private high-rise blocks with potentially unsafe flammable cladding is DOUBLE what the Government thought, a minister admitted today.

A further 156 private residential buildings hav been identified with unsafe cladding, on top of the 141 already known about.

That brings the total number to 297 buildings which ministers say are “unlikely to meet current Building Regulations guidance.”

A further 170 buildings are still yet to be tested.

And ministers admitted work has begun on removing cladding on just 21 privately owned buildings, and completed on just four.

Labour’s Shadow Housing Secretary accused the government of trying to bury the news by releasing it just before England’s World Cup match against Belgium.

John Healey said: “This shock rise in tower blocks with unsafe cladding must be a wake-up call to Ministers.

”More than a year on from the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government is only now finding out about the huge number of untested high-rise blocks with Grenfell style-cladding.

“Worse still, this report confirms fewer than one in 20 of 470 dangerous buildings have had this dangerous cladding removed and replaced.

"No wonder Ministers tried to bury this bad news by releasing the report just before kick-off in the England-Belgium match."

(Image: PA)

In a written statement to the House of Commons, Housing Minister James Brokenshire said local authorities had been working to identify the privately owned blocks with potentially unsafe cladding since last summer.

He said: “We are confident that, through this testing and the hard work of local authorities, we have identified all social housing with unsafe ACM cladding systems in England.

“However, beyond the 297 confirmed private sector buildings, the cladding status of approximately 170 private sector residential buildings remains outstanding.”

It comes alongside the announcement of a raft of new measures to “drive forward swifter action” by building owners to remove unsafe cladding.

A new taskforce will oversee a national programme of cladding removal, ensuring plans are in place for all 297 buildings, alongside £1 million in funding for a new inspection team.

Mr Brokenshire said: “The safety of residents is my main priority and fire and rescue services are working with building owners to ensure residents are safe now. But I want to see swifter progress in removing unsafe cladding which is why I have announced further action to support councils as they work with owners of high-rise blocks.

“I have been clear that leaseholders should be protected from unfair costs and we expect the industry to do the right thing. If they don’t, I will continue to explore other routes and I am not ruling anything out.”