HC Deb 07 May 1902 vol 107 cc944-5
MR. LEAMY (Kildare, N.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the increasing number of fatal accidents arising from the use for domestic purposes of low-Hash oil, the Government intend to bring in a Bill to prohibit or regulate its sale; and if, until there is legislation on the subject, the Horn; Department will take stops to warn dealers in oil and the public generally of the danger in the use of low-flash oil.

* THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a somewhat similar Question addressed to me by my hon. friend the Member for Bethnal Green. The considerations set out in that answer, as well as the statistics generally, throw doubt, in my opinion, on the suggestion in the Question that there is an "increasing number of fatal accidents arising from the use of low-flash oil." I would merely add that a Paper containing a series of suggestions for the care and use of petroleum lamps—a most important element in this matter—was prepared and issued in large numbers by the Home Office a few months ago.