HC Deb 17 March 1975 vol 888 cc355-6W
Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what risks are involved in the location of liquefied petroleum gas tanks in urban areas; and what safety precautions are taken at such installations.

Mr. John Fraser:

I have been asked to reply.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that liquefied petroleum gases are highly flammable and when mixed with air in the correct proportions may explode. The appropriate precautions, which are set out in detail in the Code of Practice for the Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas at Fixed Installations, prepared by the Home Office in 1971, involve the prevention of leaks and escapes, protection of the tanks from accidental damage and fire nearby and prevention of sources of ignition.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Wales which urban areas in Wales have liquefied petroleum gas tanks located within their boundary; and if he satisfied with the precautions taken at there installations.

Mr. John Fraser:

I have been asked to reply.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the precise information sought on the location of liquefied petroleum gas tanks is not available, as not all sites at which tanks were installed were subject to the legislation enforced in the past by the several inspectorates now incorporated in the Health and Safety Executive. It is thought unlikely that there will be many urban areas in Wales without a liquefied petroleum gas tank within their boundaries, though many of these tanks will be of a small size.

Provided that the tanks have been installed and are maintained in accordance with the code of practice, it is thought that there is no prima facie case for suspecting that precautions on sites in general are inadequate. There may be individual sites where the circumstances are such that precautions additional to those in the code of practice should be taken. Inspectors of the various enforcing authorities now bear in mind the possibility of risk to the public and are able to obtain advice on such installations from the Health and Safety Executive.

Mr. Wyn Roberts

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of local concern at Llandudno over the liquefied petroleum gas tanks sited within the town, he will take steps to examine the safety aspects of these installations.

Mr. John Fraser:

I have been asked to reply.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the safety of large scale chemical plants, including large liquefied petroleum gas installations, such as that at Llandudno, is being considered by the committee of experts on major hazards set up after the Flixborough explosion last year.

Arrangements have existed since 1972 by which a local planning authority can obtain advice from Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate about the possible hazards from developments involving the storage of 100 tons or more of liquefied petroleum gas, or from or to developments near such storage.

I am also informed that the site has in the past been visited by Mer Majesty's Inspectorate as part of a continuing programme of visits to major hazard sites and that these visits will continue.