Dr. Bennettasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he is aware that fire losses in Great Britain for 1963 are estimated to have amounted to over £65 million as against an average of well under £30 million six years ago; and whether, in view of this increase and the fact that local authorities are now spending some £35 million per annum on fire brigades, he will give an assurance that the new building regulations will provide for much higher standards of file resistance in new buildings.
Sir K. JosephI am aware of the increase in fire losses. In the preparation of the new building regulations the provisions of building byelaws about fire resistance are being comprehensively revised. But there is no power to include in the regulations provisions directed solely at the prevention of economic loss by fire.