HC Deb 22 July 1971 vol 821 cc1654-5
9. Mr. Luce

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest available figures for accidents in the home ; and what action he is taking to help to reduce the number of such accidents.

Mr. Sharples

In 1969, there were 5,853 fatal home accidents in England and Wales. The number of non-fatal accidents is not known. The Home Office engages in appropriate publicity, supports the home safety activities of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, promotes the safety of consumer goods in various ways, and co-operates with other Departments and organisations concerned with home safety.

Mr. Luce

Does not my hon. Friend accept that the figures are extremely serious and that on the basis of the evidence available, they represent a majority of accidental injuries? What action is he taking to identify the main causes of accidents in the home, and will he undertake a sustained campaign to seek to improve these figures.

Mr. Sharples

I agree that the figures are serious, but I should not wish to overestimate the problem. The House will be glad to know that there has been a fairly steady decline in the number of home accidents over recent years. As for the causes, about 2,000 are caused by falls by old people, for reasons which are not always avoidable, and a large proportion of the remainder are caused by carelessness.

Mr. Bob Brown

Will the hon. Gentleman accept that the loss of man-hours in industry due to this cause transcends the loss of man-hours due to industrial disputes, and will he not, therefore, acknowledge that if the Government paid as much attention and devoted as much energy to this subject as they devote to industrial disputes, that would be far more productive?

Mr. Sharples

The hon. Gentleman is under some misapprehension. The Question relates to accidents in the home, not to accidents at work.