§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that conforming with EEC standards over hotel fire precautions does not cause hoteliers to reconstruct existing and approved fire precaution systems.
§ Mr. BrittanWhen a proposal for a draft directive on hotel fire precautions is received from the European Commission, it will be carefully considered from the point of view of its implications for the hotel industry in this country.
§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for fire certificates have been submitted by hotels in the years 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979; and how many were granted during the same years.
§ Mr. BrittanI regret that information is not available precisely in the form requested; but, according to the information provided by fire authorities in England and Wales, the position on 31 435W December, for each of the years in question, regarding the fire certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 of hotels and boarding houses is as folows:
HOTELS AND BOARDING HOUSES (ENGLAND AND WALES) Fire Certificate Applications Certificates Issued 1975 34,473 7,769 (22%) 1976 30,726 12,368 (40%) 1977 28,561 15,898 (58%) 1978 28,277 19,237 (68%) 1979 27,621 20,962 (76%)
§ Mr. Spellerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if there are any proposals to harmonise the approved standards of fire precautions in the United Kingdom with those of the EEC in general.
§ Mr. BrittanWork is proceeding within the European Commission on the harmonisation of various requirements relating to the protection of buildings against fire. Details are given in annex 3 to part VII of the Home Office Review of Fire Policy, copies of which have been placed in the Library of the House.