§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the recent fire in the Liverpool St. John shopping precinct.
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§ Mr. WhitelawI understand that the fire was discovered by a security guard on patrol who called the fire brigade by direct telephone at 9.36 pm on 17 December. Three fire appliances attended at 9.38 pm. The fire originated in a ground floor shop in one of the main parts of the shopping mall and on the arrival of the brigade had spread to involve the whole of the mall and the adjoining market hall. Twenty-five fire appliances attended the fire and at its height 23 fire fighting jets were used. Two firemen were slightly injured in fire fighting operations, and required hospital out-patient treatment. There were no civilian casualties. The adjacent St. George's hotel and Tower restaurant were evacuated as a safety measure during the course of the fire, which was brought under control at 2.47 am on 18 December. I understand that the police believe that the fire was caused by an electrical fault.