§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Energy how many people, and in what regions, were killed or injured as a result of asphyxiation before the passing of the Gas Safety Regulation 1972, due to inadequate flue construction; and how many have been so affected since.
§ Mr. John SmithThis information is not available in the form requested; in particular, statistics of fatalities and injuries arising specifically from asphyxiation are not available. However, the British Gas Corporation has provided the following statistics of fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition the Registrars-General for England and Wales and Scotland collect and publish a variety of accident statistics of which the hon. Member may already be aware.
506Windustry are available, and the 1974 figures, which will be published next month in the 1975 edition of the Digest, are given below, together with the production and arrivals figures for the product groups of which they are a part. In so far as there are substantial exports of products in these groups the shipments data are also given to complete the picture.
TABLE I: Fatalities from carbon monoxide poisoning attributable either to unburnt gas or burnt gas (the production of combustion) : all regions. 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 271 107 113 94 57
TABLE II: Within Table I above, fatalities from burnt gas: all regions. 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 84 67 80 69 44
TABLE III WITHIN TABLE II ABOVE, FATALITIES FROM BURNT GAS WHERE PROBLEMS WITH FLUES,OF WHICH CONSTRUCTION FAULTS MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR: BY REGIONS 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 Scottish 1 — — 1 2 Northern 3 — 2 — 5 North West 4 3 8 8 5 North East 6 2 1 2 1 East Midlands 2 5 6 2 4 West Midlands 6 7 7 8 3 Wales 2 — — — — Eastern 3 3 4 3 3 North Thames 4 5 11 5 8 South East 2 8 7 5 6 Southern 3 5 2 2 2 South West 5 2 — 3 2 Totals 41 40 48 39 41