§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of whether existing fire regulations are being implemented properly.
§ Mr. Peter LloydIt is the responsibility of local authorities to implement and enforce fire safety legislation. This includes work carried out under section 1(1)(f) of the Fire Service Act 1947, whereby fire authorities are required to give fire prevention advice, and enforcement of the statutory requirements of the Fire Precautions Act 1971.
Members of Her Majesty's fire service inspectorate report annually on individual fire brigades. Each report is published and contains detailed information on the performance of the brigade's fire safety department. On the basis of the information contained in these reports, we are content that they are discharging their statutory obligations satisfactorily.
§ Mr. Clifton-BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the cost to British industry of the implementation of existing fire regulations.
§ Mr. Peter LloydFire safety legislation exists to protect people from the effects of fire. Current statutory requirements are contained in a wide range of national and local legislation, some of which has existed for many years. Figures are not available for the costs of implementing these requirements.