Theresa May's head of staff faces questions after promising a review into fire safety last year

Theresa May’s most senior aide is facing serious questions after a review of building regulations, which included fire safety, was not published.

In October last year, head of staff Gavin Barwell told MPs that part B of the regulations would be reviewed as a direct result of the investigation into the fatal Lakanal House fire in south-east London in 2009.

But the review was never published and fire safety experts have claimed that it could have prevented ministers from introducing new safety measures.

Mr Barwell, who was housing minister at the time, told the Commons: ‘We have publicly committed ourselves to reviewing part B following the Lakanal House fire.’

Ronnie King, a former chief fire officer and honorary secretary of the all-party parliamentary group on fire safety and rescue said the regulations ‘badly needed updating’.

The questions come as police confirm that six people have died after a massive fire at West London’s Grenfell Tower.

Video footage shows huge flames and smoke billowing from the building after the blaze broke out in the early hours of this morning.

The cause of the fire is yet to be established.