§ Sir R. Russellasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the defect in electric wiring which most often causes an outbreak of fire; what research is being carried on into methods of overcoming this defect; and what steps are taken to warn the public of the danger of this source of fire.
§ Mr. George ThomasAn investigation carried out by the Joint Fire Research Organisation in 1957–58 showed that non-mechanical damage to insulation—for example, from moisture, heat, age or chemical action—most commonly accounted for fires in electrical installations. Research into problems of electrical insulation is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology. Electrical contractors, in accordance with the recommendations of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, take every opportunity of emphasising to their customers the need for periodic inspections of electrical installations; some area electricity boards undertake to inspect domestic installations for a nominal fee; and publicity on electrical hazards generally is sponsored by central Government Departments, the local authorities, and bodies such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, the Fire Protection Association and the Consumer Council.