HC Deb 28 June 1974 vol 875 cc36-7W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires causing personal injury and damage to property have been caused by operation of radiant portable LPG heaters in each of the past five years.

Dr. Summerskill

The only relevant information is as follows:

FIRES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM CAUSED BY RADIANT PORTABLE LPG HEATERS
Number of fires attended by local authority fire Number of casualties
brigades Fatal Non-Fatal
1970 … 37 0 2
1971 … 24 0 0
1972 … 36 0 6

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on departmental action since the publication of the report of the Fire Research Station entitled "Investigation on safe operation of Radiant Portable LPG Heaters".

Dr. Summerskill

The Home Office will be submitting this report to its working party on domestic LPG appliances, and meanwhile is seeking appropriate modifications to the two appliances in question. The recommendations in the report relating to the relevant British Standard will be considered by the appropriate technical committee of the British Standards Institution.