HC Deb 31 March 1909 vol 3 cc458-9W
Mr. ALFRED KING

asked the Home Secretary if he can say for the years 1906, 1907, and 1908 how many deaths occurred in London and in the provinces of children as the result of burns due to unguarded fireplaces; and if he can say for the years 1906, 1907, and 1908 how many deaths occurred in London and in the provinces of children as the result of overlaying?

Mr. GLADSTONE

A supplementary table giving the number of inquests held in cases where death is caused by burns and scalds was inserted in the Criminal Statistics for 1904. In that year, according to this table, the deaths from burns at unprotected grates and stoves numbered 988, while the deaths from scalds at unprotected grates and stoves numbered 134. These were distributed between the County of London and the rest of England and Wales, as follows:—

Burns. S Ids
County and City of London 104 20
Elsewhere in England and Wales 884 114
Total 988 134

The great majority were children, but the exact numbers cannot be given. No later figures have been collected.

The following are the deaths of infants caused by overlaying in the last three years for which figures are available:—

1905. 1906. 1907.
County and City of London 405 335 344
Remainder of England and Wales 1,060 1,118 1,129
Total 1,465 1,453 1,473

The 1908 figures are not yet ready.