§ Mr. Moneyasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement regarding the spillage of dioxitol, a potentially inflammable and toxic liquid, from a lorry at Greyfriars Road in the centre of Ipswich on 6th July, 1972; and what action he proposes to take to prevent any recurrence.
§ Mr. LaneIt was noticed that a drum of dioxitol on a lorry carrying a mixed load of chemicals was leaking slightly. Dioxitol, a trade name for diethylene glycol monoethyl ether, is neither inflammable nor toxic, although its vapour has an irritant effect on the skin. The fire brigade found that a very small quantity of the product had escaped; and, although this was rapidly vapourising, the fire brigade considered it prudent to wash the road down. This incident presented no hazard to the public and my right hon. Friend has no present plans to make the conveyance by road of this substance subject to statutory control.