§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now amend the Fire Precautions Act 1971 to provide greater consultation with local fire brigades regarding planning decisions over access to new covered shopping centres before they are built.
§ Mr. MayhewMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, in his reply to a question by the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 23 July explained the arrangements under which fire authorities and others are consulted about proposals for new enclosed shopping centre developments. We have no reason to think that these are inadequate.
§ Mr. Skinnerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now introduce legislation making sprinkler and ventilation systems compulsory in all individual shops within covered shopping centres; and if he will make a statement;
(2) if he will now conduct an inquiry into the adequacy of fire protection regulations in covered shopping centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitelawI am asking the appropriate sub-committee of the central fire brigades advisory councils to646W consider whether additional measures—including measures for requiring the installation of automatic sprinkler systems or other protection equipment—are needed to ensure a satisfactory standard of fire safety in enclosed shopping centres. The fire precautions appropriate to individual shops within such centres will be considered in that context.