§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his attention has been called to the number of deaths from burning through the use of inflammable flannelette; and whether the number of deaths is now so great as to justify the appointment of a Select Committee to inquire into this large and increasing number of fatal accidents?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir. My attention has been called to this matter, but except as regards the year 1904, for which a special Return was obtained from coroners and published in the Judicial Statistics for that year, the only official statistics as to the number of deaths resulting from the ignition of flannelette clothes are those given in the annual Returns of the Registrar-General, which are based on coroners' certificates. From the Return for 1910 it appears that the number of 1289W deaths from burning clothes in that year was 657, and in sixty-seven cases it is stated that the clothes were made of flannelette. I would remind the hon. Member that the Coroners' Committee inquired into and reported upon this question a little over two years ago, and in the circumstances I do not think that the appointment of another Committee is called for.