Fire, Admiralty

HC Deb 14 December 1955 vol 547 cc209-10W

Mr. Dugdale

asked the Minister of Works whether he will make a statement on the fire which took place in the Admiralty last Wednesday night.

Mr. Birch

Fire broke out some time after 2 a.m. on 8th December in a part of the Admiralty where war-damage repairs were being carried out. This part of the building had been emptied and sealed off from the rest of the Admiralty and was in the hands of the contractor. The fire was first reported by a member of the public. The fire brigade took prompt action and prevented the fire from spreading.

As the building was unoccupied there were no staff casualties or loss of documents. The damage will cause some delay in completion of repairs. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.