HC Deb 26 July 1974 vol 877 cc593-4W
Mr. Faulds

asked 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. Summerskill

Chief 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 Price

asked 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. Summerskill

By 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 Price

asked 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. Summerskill

I 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.

assaults 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.