§ 55. Mr. JOHNSTONasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the recent outbreak of fire at the Weir steel houses at Balgavies Avenue, Dundee; whether he is aware that the construction and composition of these timber-framed houses enclosed in steel frames become quickly dangerous on an outbreak of fire; and whether he will call for a report upon the subject before contracts are given for further supplies of this Weir type of steel house?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I have already received a full report on this outbreak of fire. The inspector of the housing company, along with the clerk of works, visited the site on the day of the fire and met there the insurance company's assessor. The fire had evidently originated at the fireplace in the living room, or immediately adjoining the fireplace, where there stood the accumulators of a receiving set in celluloid cases. After meeting the tenant and getting explanations from him, it appeared probable that either a coal, from what had been a big fire in the grate, had fallen out, or there had been a spark allowed to drop on the celluloid accumulators. As the fire occurred when the only occupant of the house was asleep, it was not perceived until it had got a thoroughly good hold. The fire appears to have been one which might have occurred in any house from the same cause.
I am informed that in the further contract for 1,000 houses of this type to be entered into by the Second Scottish National Housing Company (Housing Trust), Limited, arrangements to minimise the risk of fire are being made in the light of experience gained.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWill the right hon. Gentleman, before he completes this contract for 1,000 new houses, call for the report of the manager of the Dundee Fire Brigade and of the city engineer for Dundee on this fire that has taken place?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am not aware that any further information than that which I have received can be obtained from such sources.
Commander WILLIAMSIs it not much more important to get on with the building of houses than to hold inquiries into a single incident?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman inform the House of any steel houses that have been erected in Torquay during the past few years?
§ Mr. HARDIEMay I ask whether, in the report which the right hon. Gentleman says he has received in regard to this fire, any mention was made of the asbestos lining that was specified for these houses, in order, as we were told, to prevent the spread of fire, and will he take, in conjunction with the report he has received from Dundee, the report of the fire in the asbestos-lined so-called steel houses in Bo'ness, and then tell us whether asbestos burns or not?
§ Sir J. GILMOURAll these matters have been taken into consideration, and, as I have said, arrangements are being taken in the future, in the construction of these houses, to minimise the risk of fire.
§ Mr. HARDIEThe specifications in regard to these houses use the term "asbestos sheeting," which was to be used to prevent fire, and surely the report given by men who understand the question should contain some reference to the materials that led to such a conflagration!