HC Deb 11 March 1970 vol 797 cc1339-41
39. Mr. Hooley

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the official fire alarm signal within the House of Commons part of the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. Peart

A system of fire patrols and fire alarm telephones connects with a central fire telephone switchboard which has direct line communication with the London Fire Brigade. There is no single system of raising the alarm in case of fire within the precincts of the House of Commons. Any general alarm system would run the risk of halting the business of the House unnecessarily.

Mr. Hooley

Far be it from me to halt the business of the House unnecessarily. Would not my right hon. Friend agree, however, that in a building as complex and as out of date as this, there should be a properly recognisable fire-alarm system for the safety of Members and servants of the House, quite apart from the general public?

Mr. Peart

I am aware of the problem. Indeed, the authorities of the House and the Ministry of Public Building and Works have had frequent discussions with Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate, and plans for a modern fire alarm system are being drawn up. It is expected that installation will begin this year.

40. Mr. Hooley

asked the Lord President of the Council how many times in 1969 there was a formal fire drill for all the permanent staff employed in the House of Commons part of the Palace of Westminster.

Mr. Peart

Not all permanent staff of the House take part in formal fire drill. But all custodian staff, including four trained firemen, undertake fire drill each week. In addition, the custodian staff took part in exercises with the London Fire Brigade on four occasions during 1969.

Mr. Hooley

While welcoming that information as far as it goes, may I ask whether my right hon. Friend is aware that fires cause damage to the extent of £120 million a year throughout the country, that the number of major fires is a record and that this hazard appears to be on the increase? Will not my right hon. Friend look again to see whether the precautions in this place are adequate?

Mr. Peart

I hope that my hon. Friend will appreciate, for example, that last year 38 cases of fire were reported, which were all dealt with expeditiously and without general disruption.

Mr. Crouch

May I draw the attention of the Lord President of the Council to the fact that I assisted last week in putting out a fire by the use of a soda siphon in the Smoking Room?

Mr. Snow

The hon. Member should have used beer.

Mr. Crouch

Beer was not readily available. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to draw to the attention of hon. Members the danger of throwing cigarette ends into wastepaper baskets?

Mr. Peart

It is right that the hon. Member should draw attention to that sort of practice.