§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the latest figures available for the number of home safety officers currently in employment, full-time and part-time; and 50W what steps he is taking to encourage appointments of additional home safety officers.
§ Mrs. Sally Oppenheim:I regret that my Department does not have this information. However, it is understood from the Association of District Councils that home safety is promoted to some degree by the majority of district councils under the powers in the Home Safety Act 1961. It is for each local authority to decide on the use to be made of these powers, in-including the need for any additional home safety advisers.
§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Trade what are the latest figures available for the number of accidents in the home; if he will give in the Official Report a breakdown indicating the type of accident, age of victim and so on; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally Oppenheim:There are no figures available for all accidents in the home. My Department's home accident surveillance system records details of home accidents reported by a representative sample of 20 hospitals in England and Wales. A breakdown by type of accident and age of victim, together with other detailed information is collected and the latest figures can be found in a report "The Home Accident Surveillance System—1979" published today by my Department. Copies of the report have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.