§ 28. Viscount SANDONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he can now give any information as to the fire resisting properties of Weir houses, in view of the destruction of two such houses early in February, owing to the failure of the asbestos partition walls?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)So far as can be ascertained, the destruction of the two houses in question was not due to the failure of the asbestos partition walls, but to a small crack in the lower portion of the chimney stack where the iron flue pipe from the range entered the concrete flue block. The installation of ranges in houses of this type is unusual, and was done at the request of the local authority, but steps have been taken to ensure that no similar defect exists in the houses that have been fitted with ranges and that any ranges installed in future houses will be placed in fireplace openings constructed entirely of concrete and connected direct with the concrete flues of the chimney stack. In the houses of this type erected and to be erected by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Limited, the fitting in the living rooms is an interior grate with an iron mantel-piece, and I am advised that this fitting should obviate all danger of fire therefrom.