HC Deb 20 May 1971 vol 817 cc1502-3
15. Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to make it statutorily compulsory for caravans to be fitted with two gallon water carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.

Mr. Carlisle

My right hon. Friend does not think that this would be justifiable.

Mrs. Oppenheim

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that a considerable body of opinion feels that it is not only justifiable but essential, because caravans are notoriously bad risks, and while it takes only five minutes for a caravan fire to become uncontrollable, the average time taken throughout the country for fire brigades to reach caravan sites is 10 minutes? Therefore, prompt and effective action is vital, especially as the site fire-fighting facilities recommended in the model standards are neither adequate nor mandatory?

Mr. Carlisle

I am aware of the facts my hon. Friend gives. It is important that there should be adequate fire-fighting facilities on the sites. We think that that is a better way to tackle the problem than statutorily to require the individual caravan to have a fire-fighting appliance. I should add that the provision of adequate fire-fighting facilities on site is one of the conditions attached to licences under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960.