§ Mr. Thurnhamasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were (a) injured and (b) killed in domestic premises as a result of faulty electrical plugs, sockets and switches during 1982, 1983 and 1984 to date; which were caused by fires; and which from other causes.
§ Mr. FletcherThe information is not available in the form requested. In the following data on accidents involving electrical plugs, sockets and switches, it is not known whether these items were actually at fault. Electrocutions reported by the electricity boards:
- 1982–3
- 1983–5
- 1984–2 (to date)
A sample of 20 hospitals in England and Wales provided the following numbers of non-fatal accidents in the home involving electrical plugs, sockets and switches:
- 1982–31
- 1983–31
- 1984–18 (to date)
Fire brigade statistics for 1982—the latest available—give the following figures for fires in dwellings where the source of ignition is thought to be electrical wiring, but fires involving plugs, sockets and switches are not recorded separately:
Number Fire 3,298 Non-fatal casualties 202 Fatal casualties 15