§ 22. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research is being carried out in his Department into ways of controlling major fires in modern shopping precincts, and into the identification of the special hazards involved.
§ Mr. SharplesA working party of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils has almost completed a study of the fire hazards associated with shopping precincts and similar town centre redevelopments, with a view to circulating recommendations on how to deal with them to fire authorities and other interested organisations.
§ Mrs. ShortI am much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Is he aware that the recent serious fire in the new shopping precinct at Wolverhampton brought to light difficulties about access for fire engines and the provision of automatic alarm and sprinkler systems? Is the committee considering the need to make these obligatory?
§ Mr. SharplesI understand that a full report on the fire to which the hon. Lady refers is being prepared, but my information is that the fire involved no special features which have not already been taken into account by the working party.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesDespite what the hon. Gentleman told the House about the central fire organisation, is not fire research split between the Home Office and another Department, and would it not be a good idea if the recommendations of Holroyd in this respect were implemented as soon as possible?
§ Mr. SharplesThat raises a wider question involving the whole recommendations of the report which are at present under consideration.