§ Mr. ClaphamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many reported incidents involving liquid and gas spills caused by hose failures there have been in the United Kingdom in the last five years for which figures are available; what was the cost of cleaning up each incident and who met the cost in each case; what the estimated cost was of the(a) environmental damage and (b) property damage caused by each incident; and how many people sustained injuries in each incident. [114220]
§ Mr. Meacher[holding answer 13 March 2000]: Incidents involving liquid and gas spills are reported to HSE under the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995. From April 1996 to date (a period of just under four years), there were 69 incidents defined as "Dangerous occurrences" and "chemical transfer" (including transfer by hose, pipeline or vehicles). Dangerous occurrences include the release of 100kg or more of flammable liquid, or 10kg of a 466W flammable gas or vapour. Information that would allow us to ascertain how many were caused by hose failures and the number of people sustaining injuries is not always recorded or readily available in all cases.