§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many staff of his Department, apart from those in research establishments, are employed in work connected with fire prevention and the saving of life from fire.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest available figures for the numbers of deaths from fire in 1973 ; and how these compare with 1972 and 1971.
§ Mr. LaneThe provisional figure for deaths in fires in the United Kingdom in 1973 is 855. The figures for 1972 and 1971, respectively, are 1,078 and 822.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total annual Government expenditure on research into fire prevention.
§ Mr. LaneTotal Home Office expenditure on fire research in the financial year 1973–74 is estimated at £421,000. It is not practicable to give a separate figure for fire prevention research.
§ Mr. Moateasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the latest available figures for the cost of fire damage in 1973 ; and how these compare with 1972 and 1971.
§ Mr. LaneAccording to information published by the British Insurance Association fire damage in Great Britain in the first eleven months of 1973 cost £167.3 million. The figures for the same period in 1972 and 1971 are £99.8 million and £97.5 million respectively.