§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will raise with the appropriate organisations engaged in the building industry the matter of the need to ensure that all buildings have a built-in fire-fighting emergency service near to electric and gas meters; and if he will take steps to ensure that such arrangements are made in all buildings;
(2) if he will advise all local authorities when building housing and public buildings to have a built-in cupboard near to gas and electricity meters with a firefighting equipment or fire spray adequate to deal with a fire emergency.
§ Mr. FreesonNo. Fires originating in gas or electricity supplies need to be dealt with either by trained men with special equipment or after the supply has been turned off well away from the seat of the fire. Fire authorities recommend that fire-fighting equipment is kept near meter rooms if trained men are available; but not in other circumstances where untrained people might be tempted to use the equipment wrongly or prematurely.