HC Deb 09 February 1953 vol 511 cc25-7
42. Dr. King

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the fires that occurred on the "Queen Elizabeth" at Southampton on 28th and 29th January.

43. Mr. Morley

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the fires which occurred on the "Queen Elizabeth" on 28th and 29th January.

The Minister of Transport (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)

Fire broke out shortly after 8 o'clock on the evening of Wednesday, 28th January, in one of the cabins on the main deck of the "Queen Elizabeth" as she lay in the "King George V" graving dock at Southampton undergoing her annual overhaul. The fire started in a wardrobe and was discovered through the ship's automatic fire alarm. The automatic sprinkler system came into operation and the fire was also fought by the ship's fire crew. Fire engines and a fire-float were in attendance. The fire was extinguished within half an hour of its being discovered, and damage was almost entirely confined to one cabin.

The second fire was discovered in a cabin on "C" deck just before noon on Thursday, 29th January, the following day, when some oily rags were found to be burning. A hand alarm was sounded and the fire was quickly extinguished. Damage was very slight.

As hon. Members will be aware, I ordered a preliminary inquiry under the Merchant Shipping Acts to be conducted into the circumstances of both fires, and the police are also conducting an investigation. Inquiries have not so far revealed how the fires began.

Dr. King

While thanking the Minister for his reply, may I ask him whether he is aware how much we appreciate the keen interest which he himself and the Departments concerned have taken in these fires, as the safety of the "Queen Elizabeth" is of vital importance not only to the people of Southampton but of the whole country?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am grateful for what the hon. Gentleman has said, and I can assure him that we are deeply concerned about any danger to magnificent ships of this kind.

Mr. Morley

Has the Minister expressed the same sentiments to the various fire brigades which came quickly to the scene and did such valuable work?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I am very grateful to them, as I am sure we all are, and I shall make a point of doing that myself as well.