Grenfell Tower fire and cladding dangers | Letters

What a tragedy the fire at Grenfell Tower in west London is (Twelve confirmed dead but police expect further fatalities after tower block blaze, theguardian.com, 14 June).For many years the German government has been subsidising the external insulation of buildings, with a great number having been reclad with blocks of synthetic insulation.In theory this is all very good, but reduced ventilation creates problems of dampness and mould – and, of course, the fire risk is increased, with even