§ MR. ARTHUR HENDERSON (Durham, Barnard Castle)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can give the number of deaths and injuries and the amount of damage done to property during the past three years owing to the bursting or exploding of vessels containing inflammable liquids; whether the Government is aware that there are mechanical devices compulsory by law in several countries in Europe which secure complete immunity from such explosions; and whether, in view of the increase in the use of petrol or other inflammable liquids, the Government are willing to amend the Petroleum Act of 1903 to make the use of safety devices compulsory in this country.
§ MR. GLADSTONEI have no official information as to the number and nature of such accidents, though I have reason to believe that the number of deaths at any rate is extremely small, nor have I any information as to the legal requirement of safety devices in foreign countries. I have had in view for some time the appointment of a small committee to consider what steps can be 109 taken to diminish the dangers attendant on the storage and conveyance of petrol. This committee, as I stated yesterday, would consider, inter alia, the use of improved mechanical devices.
§ * MR. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)Are there no figures as to accidents supplied by reliable authorities?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI will inquire.
§ MR. P. BARLOW (Bedford)Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in the last three months there have been thirteen deaths and sixteen cases of personal injury?
§ MR. GLADSTONEI am not aware of it.