HC Deb 13 November 2001 vol 374 c617W
Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what guidance he will issue regarding the level of fire and civil defence authority precepts for 2001–02. [13599]

Dr. Whitehead

None. These are matters for fire and civil defence authorities to decide in consultation with local taxpayers.

Mr. Truswell

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions what assessment he has made of the progress achieved by fire and civil defence authorities in metropolitan areas towards reducing(a) fire-related deaths and (b) malicious false alarm calls. 13600]

Dr. Whitehead

In 2000, an estimated 133 accidental fire related deaths in dwellings were recorded for the seven metropolitan brigades, out of a national total of 326. The number of accidental house fire deaths in metropolitan brigade areas had fallen in recent years from 167 in 1996 to the current estimated figure of 133 for 2000. The downward trend in dwelling fire deaths is reflected nationally for England and Wales. There were 588 dwelling fire deaths in 1996, compared with 516 for 2000.

Malicious false alarms, both for the metropolitan areas and nationally, have been falling steadily over recent years. In 1996 there were 57,100 malicious false alarm calls recorded by the metropolitan areas. In 2000, metropolitan brigades attended a total of 33,800 malicious false alarm calls—a fall of 41 per cent. against the 1996 figures.

These encouraging statistics reflect the merits of the integrated approach adopted by Government, the fire service and fire authorities over the past four years to implement strategies designed to drive down the number of preventable dwelling fire deaths and to educate the public about the dangers of malicious false alarm calls.