§ LORD CROOKasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether investigation is already proceeding—or, if not, will now proceed—into the danger of "creeping" electric fires; whether the Government have seen the report of the inquest on a two-year-old boy (held by the Hammersmith Coroner), where it was stated that every protection had been taken by the parents to make sure that he was safe from the electric fire in the living room, by having two fire-guards around it, but that nevertheless the fire had led to the blaze in which the boy died and another son was rescued by firemen; and whether they have observed that the fire prevention officer—Divisional Officer John Dunlop—told the inquest. "It seems that the fire crept forward until it was only an inch away from the fire-guards. Its radiated heat then caused something to catch fire close to the guard and started the blaze."
§ LORD STONHAMMy right honourable friend learned of this accident with deep regret. Any light, free-standing appliance or article of furniture can be moved by vibration on a smooth surface, especially if the level is not true, and attention was drawn at the inquest to this possibility. There was no evidence that the electric fire involved had in fact crept forward towards the surrounding fireguard but my right honourable friend is inviting the British Standards Institution to review the requirements of the relevant Standard.
House adjourned at twenty-nine minutes before nine o'clock.