§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he proposes to take in the light of his inspector's report, made on Monday, 23rd October, that supermarkets are carelessly causing fire traps by blocking emergency and other exits with display cases, baskets and discarded boxes, and that emergency exits were found to be locked and that staff were untrained in fire drill.
§ Mr. Dudley SmithIn his report to Parliament on the operation of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963. during 1971 my right hon. Friend said that some managements of supermarkets were failing in these respects. The report came from one of the fire authorities which are responsible for enforcing the fire precautions provisions of the Act. It is for the enforcing authorities to decide what action is appropriate in the event of an infringement of the law.