§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from the police authorities on their policy towards taking criminal proceedings against husbands guilty of wife battering; and if he will publish a digest of the replies in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Dr. SummerskillChief officers of police were consulted on this matter last year. Their practice is to deal with
ENGLAND AND WALES Fires in hotels Fires in hostels, Lodging houses and boarding houses* Year Number of fires Number of fatal casualties Number of fires Number of fatal casualties 1965 … … 565 4 — — 1966 … … 598 4 — — 1967 … … 710 9 258 8 1968 … … 756 20 240 4 1969 … … 740 15 296 2 1970 … … 793 9 351 3 1971 … … 746 15 327 3 1972 … … 819 10 405 6 * Separate figures are not available.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hotels in England and Wales have now applied for certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971; and how many hotels in England and Wales have not yet so applied.
§ Dr. SummerskillBy 31st December 1973 fire authorities in England and Wales had received 44,877 applications for fire certificates from hotels and boardinghouses. About 28,000 applications were then thought to be outstanding.
§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hotels in the non-metropolitan county of Hampshire have applied for certification under the Fire Precautions Act 1971; and how many hotels in Hampshire have not yet so applied.
§ Dr. SummerskillI understand that the fire authority has received 1,233 applications for fire certificates from hotels and boarding-houses in Hampshire. I am informed that about 300 applications may be outstanding.
594Wassaults of all kinds, including assaults by a husband on his wife, on their individual merits, and the main criteria for deciding whether to instititute criminal proceedings are the seriousness of the assault and the availability of witnesses.