HC Deb 21 November 1957 vol 578 cc537-8
5. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how often the Interdepartmental Committee on Home Safety has met during the past session; what recommendations it has made; and how often it expects to meet in the coming Session.

Mr. R. A. Butler

During the past Session the Committee has been mainly concerned with the flammability of clothing materials, and a Sub-Committee on this subject met four times. The full Committee met once. The purpose of the Committee is not to make recommendations but to co-ordinate Departmental activity. It expects to meet three or four times during the present Session.

Mrs. Mann

Cannot the Home Secretary get a move on over this? Is he aware that last year there were 4,000 deaths of old people resulting from falls in institutions—old people who have fallen on the highly-polished floor of an institution? Cannot we have some regard for the appalling number of deaths among elderly people? Could not the Committee really become a bit more effective?

Mr. Butler

Of course, the Committee's only job is the task of bringing together all Government activities in this matter. We have had a report from the British Standards Institution recommending that there should be a campaign of public education. That, I think, would be more effective, and we are giving attention to it.

6. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what grant is to be made, this year and next, to the Royal Society for Prevention of Accidents towards its work for safety in the home.

Mr. R. A. Butler

In accordance with an arrangement made in 1954, the Society will receive in the current year the third of three annual grants of £1,500. The purpose of the arrangement was to enable the Society so to extend the scope of its work that it could be maintained by voluntary subscriptions.

Mrs. Mann

Is the Home Secretary aware that his right hon. colleague the Minister of Transport gives the same Society £68,000 for its work on roads? As deaths from home accidents exceed road deaths by a 1,000 a year, why should there be such a discrepancy?

Mr. Butler

My precedessor, the present Lord Chancellor, made a statement on this subject. The object of the grant was to extend the scope of the Society's work so that it could be maintained by voluntary subscriptions. Since then, the Society has made an application for the renewal of its grant. That application is under consideration, so perhaps the House would let me consider it.