§ 4. Mr. BOWERMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that during the past 15 years deaths due to coal gas poisoning have increased from 170 to 1,142; that during that period the percentage of carbon monoxide, the chief 2231 poisonous constituent of coal gas, has been raised from 7 per cent. to as much as 15 per cent., and in some cases to 20 per cent., such increase militating against the recovery of persons accidentally poisoned by gas; and whether he is prepared to give consideration to the recommendation of the Committee appointed in 1921 to the effect that if the freedom from limitation in the use of carbon monoxide is proved to be accompanied by unexpectedly unfavourable results, the attention of Parliament should again be directed to the matter?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERMy attention has been directed to the statistics of gas poisoning cited by the right hon. Member; and, more particularly since the Report of the Committee on Carbon Monoxide in 1921, the situation has been carefully watched and relevant information collected. When reference is made to the number of deaths due to gas poisoning, it is necessary to bear in mind how large a proportion are cases of suicide. But I think that it would be desirable that a small but experienced committee should review the developments which have taken place since the Pearce Committee sat in 1921; and I propose to appoint such a committee.
§ Mr. W. THORNEDoes the information which the right hon. Gentleman has given include the people who voluntarily put their heads into gas ovens; secondly, is the gas less impure now than it was when the therm system was started; and thirdly, is the gas more impure now than it was before gas mantles were introduced?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERWith regard to the first part of the hon. Member's supplementary question, it is extraordinary what a large proportion of suicides are included in the statistics of deaths from gas poisoning. In 1927, the number of suicides was 943, and the other deaths were 150. That is why I said that in quoting statistics relating to gas poisoning people should bear in mind the enormous proportion of suicides. As regards the second point, the gas is much better since the therm system was introduced, and, what is more to the point, people are now paying for gas as gas, just as you pay for the whiskey in the soda.
§ Mr. BOWERMANIs it the intention of the Government to appoint this small committee as soon as possible?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, within a reasonable time. I have to consider the constitution of the committee, but there will certainly be no unnecessary delay.
§ Mr. WESTWOODWill the President of the Board of Trade agree not to send to Aberdeen this advertisement of a cheap way of committing suicide?