§ 29. Mr. Rankinasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that recently in fairly close sequence there have been three serious fires in bonded warehouses in Glasgow with consequential loss of life and property; and, in view of these facts, if he will hold an inquiry to see what steps can be taken for the future protection of the public against such outbreaks, and what connection there is between them.
§ Mr. MaclayYes, Sir. I fully appreciate the anxiety that has been caused by the three serious fires in warehouses in Glasgow in the past few weeks. The circumstances in which they occurred are still being investigated by the fire brigade and by the police, and a public inquiry will be held under the Fatal Accidents Inquiry (Scotland) Acts into the deaths that occurred in the course of the third fire. I shall review the position when the investigations and inquiry referred to have been completed.
§ Mr. RankinThe public inquiry which the right hon. Gentleman has indicated is not the type that I had in mind. Will he assure us that at the public inquiry which he has suggested there will be a full investigation into the causes of this fire, and any relation between it and the others? Will he also tell us whether methods of prevention, such as insulation, proper fire-fighting applicances, and so on, will be inquired into? Further, as we have the breathalyser for estimating the quantity of alcohol in the human body, will he say whether there is any instrument which will estimate the amount of alcohol vapour in a bonded warehouse?
§ Mr. MaclayAs I said, the public inquiry to which I referred is under the Fatal Accidents (Inquiry) Scotland Acts, and it will take its course. I cannot dictate the course of that inquiry, and I think that it would be wise to wait for the result of that inquiry, and other inquiries to which I referred, before going into further detail on this matter.