§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the British Safety Council about the setting up of a 24-hour emergency telephone service to give information about dangerous chemicals involved in road accidents; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. LaneThe Director General of the British Safety Council has written to my right hon. Friend about the need for such a service and the council's readiness to help in running it. He has been told that the Home Office is consulting the Chemical Industries Association and that guidance has already been issued by the Department about means of dealing with fires or spillages involving inflammable liquids and corrosive substances.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with representatives of the Chemical Industries Association about the setting up of a 24-hour emergency telephone service; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LaneOfficials in the Home Office confirmed with the Chemical Industries 215W Association earlier this year that the association would consider the practicability of such a service. This consideration is not yet complete.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice is given by his Department to fire brigades about dealing with fires or spillages involving inflammable liquids, corrosive substances and dangerous chemicals involved in road accidents;
(2) what advice is given by his Department to chief constables about dealing with fires or spillages involving inflammable liquids, corrosive substances and dangerous chemicals involved in road accidents.
§ Mr. LaneAdvice on these matters is given to fire authorities and chief officers of police by means of circulars and a published booklet, copies of which I am sending to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will list the inflammable liquids, corrosive substances and dangerous chemicals which are subject to the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928.
§ Mr. LaneThe Act applies to several hundred substances. They are listed in the following Orders in Council, copies of which have been sent to the hon. Member:
- Petroleum (Carbide of Calcium) Order 1929 —SRO 1929/992.
- Petroleum (Mixtures) Order 1929—SRO 1929/993.
- Petroleum (Compressed Gases) Order 1930—SRO 1930/34.
- Petroleum (Inflammable Liquids and Other Dangerous Substances) Order 1947—SRO 1947/1443.
- Petroleum (Liquid Methane) Order 1957–SI 1957/859.
- Petroleum (Carbon Disulphide) Order 1958 —SI 1958/257.
- Petroleum (Corrosive Substances) Order 1970—SI 1970/1945.
- Petroleum (Inflammable Liquids) Order 1971 —SI 1971/1040.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what statistics are kept by his Department of accidents involving the conveyance of inflammable liquids, corrosive 216W substances and dangerous chemicals by road.
§ Mr. LaneStatistics are kept of accidents involving death or personal injury from substances to which the Petroleum (Consolidation) Act, 1928, has been applied.
§ Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research is being conducted by his Department into the conveyance of inflammable liquids, corrosive substances and dangerous chemicals by road.
§ Mr. LaneResearch into such matters as the properties of dangerous substances, the suitability of types of containers and forms of packaging, and methods of dealing with spillages is carried out at various Government establishments and by industry.