HC Deb 31 July 1924 vol 176 c2224
21. Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

asked the Home Secretary whether he proposes to carry out the unanimous recommendation of the Royal Commission on Fire Brigades and Fire Prevention that judicial inquiries should, in proper cases, be made concerning non-fatal as well as fatal fires; and, if so, whether such inquiries will be made by coroners, as recommended by the Departmental Committee of the Home Office in their Report of 1910, or by local panels of experts nominated by the Home Secretary, as recommended by the Royal Commission?

Mr. DAVIES

My right hon. Friend hopes that it may be possible to make prevision, of general application, for the holding of fire inquiries, but he is not yet in a position to state what course the Government will propose to adopt.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

Will that include fatal as well as non-fatal fires?

Mr. DAVIES

I could not answer that offhand.

Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLE

Will the matter be considered from the point of view of the prevention of fires?