§ 6. Mr. MAITLANDasked the Home Secretary if, in order to assist in fire 1990 prevention, he will take steps to bring to the notice of the public generally the regulations in force that fire-extinguishing equipment should be provided in garages, public or private, and the penalties which are incurred by the infringement of such regulations?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI presume that the hon. Member is referring to the Regulations under the Petroleum Act, 1928, which govern the keeping of petroleum spirit, in quantities of not more than 60 gallons, for private use for the purpose of motor vehicles, etc. These Regulations require inter alia the provision of suitable fire-extinguishing apparatus, or, alternatively, a supply of sand or other effective means of extinguishing petrol fires. I have no reason to think that this requirement is not sufficiently well known. The Regulations do not apply to the keeping of petroleum spirit in any other circumstances, whether in public garages or elsewhere, for which a licence from the local authority must be Obtained. It is, I believe, the general practice for such licences to contain a condition requiring the provision of adequate fire-extinguishing apparatus.