§ 3.38 p.m.
§ LORD CRAIGTONMy Lords, your Lordships will want me to make a statement similar to that which has just been made in another place by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State.
Your Lordships will have been greatly shocked to learn of the losses which Glasgow Fire Brigade has sustained in a major fire which broke out in a bonded warehouse in the Anderston district of the city last night. I understand that 14 members of the Brigade and five members of the Glasgow Salvage Corps lost their lives. The deepest sympathy of this House, and indeed of the whole country, will go out to their relatives in their bereavement. This disaster is a reminder of the hazards that the members of our fire brigades and salvage corps constantly face with unfailing devotion to duty. The men who were killed have given their lives in upholding the great traditions of their service.
I understand that the heavy loss of life was due primarily to a violent explosion that blew out one side of the warehouse soon after the fire started. Fire-fighting operations are still continuing, but the situation is now under control. The cause and course of the fire will, of course, be investigated in the usual way.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I am sure that every Member of your Lordships' House will echo the statement of the noble Lord the Minister. It is a very, very sad business—the loss of nineteen lives in such circumstances as they must have had to face. We think with very great sympathy of their families and their relatives. With regard to the inquiry which is proposed it is said briefly that the cause and course of the fire will, of course, be investigated in the normal way. I do not know exactly what kind of tribunal will be used in such a case, but it is significant that this is the second very large fire that has taken place in these or similar circumstances, with the same commodity, and I wonder whether some special investigation is not required. If Her Majesty's Government are not satisfied that the normal course of inquiry will bring out all the relevant 442 facts, including the possibility of undesirable action, then they may 'have to consider another tribunal. Perhaps the noble Lord the Minister will give his view upon that.
§ LORD CRAIGTONMy Lords, under the normal procedure under which we are proceeding the fire will be investigated by the Brigade, who will furnish a report to the Fire Research Organisation which is maintained jointly by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Fire Officers' Committee. This is the third major fire in Glasgow in recent weeks. It is too soon for me to say whether there is a common factor. Should there he any evidence at all of criminal activities a report will be given to the criminal authorities.