§ Mr. FitzpatrickTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many fires there were in domestic premises in(a) 1997 and (b) 1998; [77199]
(2) how many fires were started by arson in (a) 1997 and (b) 1998. [77198]
§ Mr. George HowarthIn 1997, the United Kingdom fire service attended a total number of 86,400 primary fires (those involving property or casualties) which were of malicious or suspected deliberate ignition. The number of arson offences recorded by the police in England and Wales for the same period was 31,500.
The total number of dwelling fires attended by the United Kingdom fire service was 72,200. Data for 1998 are not yet available.