§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost of arson to(a) property and (b) the economy in each of the last three years was in (i) the UK and (ii) Merseyside. [137990]
§ Mr. RaynsfordData on the cost of arson are available for England and Wales and not separately for Merseyside. 1999 and 2000 are the most recent years for which reliable estimates are available.
The estimated cost of arson involving property (ie arson in domestic, commercial or public sector buildings) was an estimated £1,850 million in 1999 and £1,750 million in 2000. These figures include the cost of fire protection systems.
In 1999, arson cost the economy in England and Wales an estimated £2.1 billion; in 2000, this was an estimated £2.2 billion.
389W
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of vehicles that were subject to arson in the last 12 months for which figures are available had more than one month's vehicle duty paid. [137992]
§ Mr. RaynsfordInformation on the vehicle duty status of vehicles subject to arson is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. WoodwardTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what proportion of blazes attended by fire crews were the result of arson in each of the last three years in(a) the UK and (b) Merseyside. [137994]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThe information requested is tabled as follows.
Malicious primary fires as a proportion of all primary fires, 2000–02 2000 2001 2002 United Kingdom Total malicious primary fires 111,174 123,184 120,953 Total primary fires 219,663 228,229 218,916 Proportion malicious (percentage) 57 54 55 Merseyside Total malicious primary fires 5,347 5,604 5,553 Total primary fires 8,405 8,373 8,043 Proportion malicious (percentage) 64 67 69 Notes:
1. Malicious Fires are those where deliberate ignition is proved or suspected.
2. Primary fires are those which cause damage to property or involve casualties.
3. Data for 2001 and 2002 are provisional