Stormont (Fire) (Hansard, 16 January 1995)

Mr. John D. Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many personnel remained overnight within Parliament buildings, Stormont, on the night of 1 and 2 January; what is the estimated cost of the fire damage in the buildings; what emergency arrangements were in place to open the buildings and the entrance gates to Stormont estate; if the House of Commons Chamber will be restored; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Moss
The inquiry, which will be conducted by Sir Reginal Doyle, will address the questions of the presence of personnel in Parliament buildings and emergency arrangements.
No estimate had yet been made of the cost of the fire damage.
No decision has yet been taken about the restoration of the former House of Commons Chamber. I will, however, be reviewing options in the light of prevailing circumstances.

§ Mr. Peter Robinson
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give his best estimate of the amount of damage to the old Stormont Commons Chamber and of fire, smoke and water damage elsewhere in the building resulting from the fire at Parliament buildings, Belfast.

§ Mr. Moss
The damage to Parliament buildings was confined mainly to the former House of Commons Chamber, the internal fixtures of which were largely destroyed. Areas close to the Chamber suffered some heat and smoke damage. Water damage to all areas was minimal.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what artefacts and pictures, other than documents or gifts from other Governments and legislatures were damaged or lost as a consequence of the recent fire at Stormont.

§ Sir John Wheeler
The pair of Dispatch Boxes believed to have been brought from the House of Lords and which rested on the Clerk's Table were destroyed by the fire.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what documents and records were damaged or lost as a consequence of the recent fire at Stormont which were(a) under 50 years old, (b) under 75 years old, (c) under 100 years old, (d) under 150 years old, (e) under 175 years old, (f) under 200 years old, (g) under 250 years old and (h) over 250 years old.

§ Sir John Wheeler
As a consequence of the fire at Parliament buildings on 2 January 1995, two Bibles, oath and prayer cards and the Roll Book were destroyed. All were under 75 years old.
No Public Record Office documents or records were lost. A quantity of unboxed census enumerators' returns on the shelves, unboxed because of their size, were affected by water. However, the thick bindings protected the returns themselves.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what advice was tendered to his Department following the fires at(a) Hampton court and (b) Windsor castle and the subsequent publication of the report of the inquiry into those fires;
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(2) when the fire service report on the cause of the Stormont fire will be published;
(3) if the Stormont buildings had a fire certificate under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 or Northern Ireland equivalent;
(4) what was the cost of additional or alternative fire precautions to the Stormont buildings, following the fires at (a) Hampton court and (b) Windsor castle and the subsequent publication of the report of the inquiries into those fires;
(5). what advice has been given to those who manage, on behalf of the nation, the Stormont buildings following the result of the investigations into the cause and extent of the fire at the National Trust property, Uppark house, West Sussex in 1989;
(6) what surveys were made to the Stormont buildings, since the fires at (a) Hampton court and (b) Windsor castle; what additional or alternative fire precautions and installations were recommended which were subsequently installed or implemented; and what was the cost to the Exchequer of those improvements;
(7) what was the assessed fire risk of the Assembly Chamber at Stormont prior to the recent fire; and if he will make a statement;
(8) when was the last occasion that a fire inspection was made of the Stormont Parliament buildings prior to the recent fire; and if he will place a copy of the report of inspection in the Library;
(9) at what time the Assembly Chamber in the Stormont Parliament buildings was locked prior to the discovery of the fire which subsequently destroyed the chamber; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Moss
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. Robinson) on 13 January,Official Report, columns 235–36.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what gifts presented by Governments or legislatures were damaged or lost as a consequence of the recent fire at Stormont.

§ Sir John Wheeler
None.

§ Mr. Mackinlay
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) which security firm is employed to patrol the Stormont Parliament buildings; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if the security firm employed in respect of the Stormont Parliament buildings is required to patrol inside or outside; and if he will make a statement.

§ Sir John Wheeler
No security firm is employed to patrol the Stormont Parliament buildings. Security of the building is the responsibility of staff employed by the Department of Finance and Personnel, who patrol inside the building. Vehicle access is controlled by DFP security guards whilst patrols within the Stormont estate are undertaken by the RUC.