§ Mr. Warbey(by Private Notice) asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement about the gas explosion in Mayfield Street, Kirkby-inAshfield on Wednesday, 21st November, 31 as a result of which one man died of injuries and others were admitted to hospital or rendered homeless.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Power (Mr. John Peyton)I should like to express my sympathy with the relatives of the man who lost his life and with those who were injured and whose homes were damaged.
I understand that this explosion occurred when alterations were being carried out in one of the houses. The cause and circumstances will no doubt be investigated during the inquest proceedings.
§ Mr. WarbeyMay I thank the Minister for that expression of sympathy with the relatives of the man who died and with those who were injured and rendered homeless, and associate myself with it? I should like to take this opportunity of paying tribute to the courage of Mr. Brooks and Mr. Braddow who, regardless of the danger, rushed in to rescue the injured man.
The Minister has said that preliminary investigations have not yet established the exact cause of the accident. May I ask him whether, when the preliminary investigations have been completed, he will arrange for a full inquiry to be held and conducted by one of the inspectors in his Department?
§ Mr. PeytonI am informed that the coroner has already directed that the inquest proceedings should be postponed until there has been a full opportunity to cary out the necessary investigations into the facts and causes of this dreadful accident. I do not think that it would help if I were to make any further statement at this stage.