§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires involving polymeric materials have been reported for each year since 1965.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn 1972 and 1973, the only years for which figures are available, the number of fires in the
DEATHS AND RESCUES FROM FIRES ATTENDED BY LOCAL AUTHORITY FIRE BRIGADES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 1962–73 Rescues from fires Year Deaths in fires By Fire Brigade personnel By others Total 1962 … … … … 667 591 1,129 1,720 1963 … … … … 818 705 1,277 1,982 1964 … … … … 681 628 1,300 1,928 1965 … … … … 703 720 1,448 2,168 1966 … … … … 780 836 1,370 2,206 1967 … … … … 779 807 1,447 2,254 1968 … … … … 865 974 1,831 2,805 1969 … … … … 861 981 1,651 2,632 1970 … … … … 839 1,017 1,641 2,658 1971 … … … … 822 1,056 1,752 2,808 1972 … … … … 1,078 1,321 1,993 3,314 1973 … … … … 1,041 1,424 2,258 3,682 The 1974 figures are not yet available.
§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the fire at the Central Cold Storage Company, Walsall, on 22nd November, which was estimated as having caused £10 million of damage.
§ Dr. SummerskillIn the morning of 22nd November the West Midlands fire586W United Kingdom in which the first ignited material was polymeric was as follows:
1972 1973 Wood, chipboard 8,083 7,704 Hardboard, fibreboard 452 360 Plastics— foam 57 68 other 1,196 1,368 Textiles (natural) 862 614 Textiles (man-made) 37 30 Materials compounded with oil 301 244 Rubber— foam 96 68 other 488 526 Paper 5,452 5,810 Fibreglass, GRP, fibre-reinforced plastic 140 132 Foam, unknown whether plastic or rubber 30 96 Totals 17,194 17,020