§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD AUCKLANDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the increase in fire incidents in multi-tenanted houses, they will ensure that every private developer of existing multiple tenancies will afford facilities for usage of solid fuel, gas or electricity for heating purposes to reduce the risk of fires through oil heaters, and that at least one electrical socket outlet is provided in addition, to eliminate overloading of the lighting point and trailing, flexible cords through the use of irons, radio and television.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES (LORD MITCHISON)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no information at present to suggest that fire incidents in multi-occupied houses are increasing and they have no powers to require landlords to take the steps suggested by the noble Lord's Question. Under the Housing Act, 1961, local authorities may require any necessary work to be carried out in multi-occupied dwellings where the arrangements for space heating are defective, and they may also require the provision of adequate means of escape in case of fire. The safe design of oil heaters is controlled by the Oil Heaters Regulations, 1962. However, in the next 832 few months my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is undertaking a further examination of the problems arising from multi-occupation and he will arrange for the question of fire risks to be specially considered.
§ LORD AUCKLANDMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his reply. May I ask him whether he is aware that. where oil heaters have caused these fires, they have been very serious ones. with a number of fatal accidents; and whether, if the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents were to be contacted, he would consider seeing them and asking them for their views on this matter, about which they feel very strongly? It is in fact they who have asked me to submit this Question.
§ LORD MITCHISONMy Lords, I am sure that my right honourable friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will read what the noble Lord has just said, and in any case I will direct his attention specially to it. The facts are that, as regards fatal accidents, there were 599 fatal fires attended by fire brigades in 1963. That is the last year for which figures are available. The sources of ignition, not necessarily the cause, included 39 space heaters fired by oil, and 242 other space heaters. It is very difficult to get at the exact proportion, but I feel sure that my right honourable friend will attend to what the noble Lord has said, and, as I say, I will call his attention to it.