§ 37. Mr. John Hallasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if, in the interests of safety and of limiting the effects of fire damage on the economy, 59W he will reconsider his previous refusal to accept the proposal that the installation of sprinklers or other fire protection devices in industrial or commercial premises should not be penalised by an increase in the rating assessment.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonNo. I do not see sufficient justification to distort the rating system by singling out fire protection installations for special rate relief from among the wide range of features which can make a property both safer and more valuable to the occupier. Moreover, I do not think that the prospect that this might increase its rateable value would deter any sensible person from installing apparatus to protect his property.