§ Mr. Adleyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many hotels and boarding houses required to register under the Fire Precautions Act have now done so; and if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant detailed statistics for England and Wales;
(2) how many prosecutions have been brought in England and Wales for the offence of failing to register under the Fire Precautions Act; what proportion the number so prosecuted represents of the total number of defaulters; and what steps he now proposes to take.
§ Mr. LaneI regret that this information is not available. The relevant offence under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 is 491W that of not having a fire certificate in respect of a designated use of premises, and an occupier is not guilty of that offence if he has applied for a certificate and his application is under consideration. The institution of proceedings is a matter for fire authorities. I understand that good progress continues to be made in implementing the Act, but I shall keep the position under review.