HC Deb 18 November 1974 vol 881 cc299-300W
Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department having regard to the loss of two firemen's lives when fighting a blaze caused by the combustion of polyurethane foam, if he will now hold a public inquiry into the cause of the fire and the stability of polymeric materials when used for fillings in furnishings.

Dr. Summerskill

My right hon. Friend has called for a full report on the circumstances of this fire. The stability of polymeric materials when used for fillings in furnishings is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection.

Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total number of fires in which polymeric materials were involved and the costs in financial terms at current prices for replacing the losses.

Dr. Summerskill

The term "polymeric materials" covers a wide range of natural and synthetic materials. In 1972, the last year for which figures are available, the number of fires in which polymeric materials were first ignited was as follows:

Wood, chipboard 8,083
Hardboard, fibreboard 452
Plastics: foam 57
other 1,196
Textiles (natural) 862
Textiles (man made) 37
Materials compounded with oil 301
Rubber: foam 96
other 488
Paper 5,452
Fibreglass, GRP, Fibre-reinforced plastic 140
Foam, unknown whether plastic or rubber 30
Total 17,194

I regret that no information is available about the cost of replacing the losses.