The author of the government-commissioned review of fire safety in buildings has said she would support the government if it chose to ban the use of combustible cladding on high rises, despite not recommending it in her report.

Speaking at the publication of her report – which ignored calls to make detailed recommendations to clarify building regulations guidance – Dame Judith Hackitt said: “I’m clear that under the system I’m proposing buildings will only be clad with materials that are safe and non-combustible. The new system will stop it from happening.”

Hackitt said that rather than making specific recommendations about individual changes to guidance such as banning certain materials, her priority had been to devise a whole regulatory system that delivered safe buildings. However, in response to questions she said she would support the government if it decided to ban the use of combustible materials in response to her report.