HC Deb 17 January 1977 vol 924 cc17-8W
Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the fire at Wensley Lodge, Hessle, was typical of a fire involving polyurethane foam; and if he will list in the Official Report(a) the number of beds in the 13 bedrooms, having foam mattresses, (b) what other furniture had polyurethane foam material associated with it and (c) the amount of polystyrene or other polymeric material used on walls, ceilings and floors in the building as a whole.

Mr. Moyle

I am informed that the evidence so far available does not suggest that the fire was typical of cases involving polyurethane foam, though this is a matter which can be considered by the Inquiry. My information is that:

  1. (a) the mattresses appeared to be latex rubber with zip fastened rubberised covers;
  2. (b) some furniture on the ground floor may have contained polyurethane infiill with polystyrene covers;
  3. (c) as far as is known, polystyrene or other polymeric materials were not used on walls or ceilings.

Mr. Ronald Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, recognising that first reports from the fire at Wensley Lodge, Hessle, suggested the cause to be due to: (a) a resident smoking in bed, subsequently denied because the resident was a non-smoker, and (b) to an electrical fault in a plug, subsequently denied because the room was not wired for electric plugs, and acknowledging that the cause is not yet known, if he will accept as a possibility the ignition of polyurethane foam or other polymeric material as a cause.

Mr. Moyle

The cause of the fire is being investigated and I do not think that I should speculate on the possible findings.